I just earned the Asshole of the Day Award from a boy who couldn't be more than 13. He was walking too close behind me, and I thought he was going to pester me to pet my dog (who is moody around kids). With my headphones still playing, I barked at him to go around me. He shrugged. A block later, I was curious if I was right.

I kept looking at him as he crossed the street. He looked so studious and neatly dressed in his uniform. Something was just off. I yelled out and asked him what was he trying to ask me when he was behind me. I took out my headphones to hear him better this time.

He pointed to the three large tote bags I was carrying on my shoulder while walking my dog. He said, "You're carrying three bags. I thought you would want help." 😳🥹😔

Any woman who has worked in downtown Chicago is trained in how to juggle bags and walk fast, with or without a dog. It never crossed my mind that this kid (carrying his own backpack) wanted to help. I’d passed countless grown men after picking up my groceries curbside.

I apologized profusely and gave him heart-shaped hands. He kept strolling home like it was no big deal.

I even stopped about one block later to talk to a neighbor, chat with his wife and daughter, and squat down to play with his energetic Pitbull/Boxer mix. Still had the three fully packed bags on my shoulder, but the weight of them wasn't bothering me.

Still, the fact that this kid, who could have EASILY ignored me or raced past me, thought I needed help with my bags was a valuable lesson in NOT assuming what someone wants when they walk by. His mother and father (or one or the other) raised him right.