A story that will inspire you to take some risks and break some rules.
Welcome back!
Billy
Billy
A number of years ago (1983-1987), I had the opportunity to play the character of Ronald McDonald for the McDonald’s Corporation. My marketplace covered most of Arizona and a portion of Southern California.
One of our standard events was “Ronald Day.” One day each month, we visited as many of the community hospitals as possible, bringing a little happiness into a place where no one ever looks forward to going.
I was very proud to be able to make a difference for children and adults who
were experiencing some “down time.” The warmth and gratification I would
receive stayed with me for weeks. I loved the project, McDonald’s loved the project, the kids and adults loved it and so did the nursing and hospital staffs.
There were two restrictions placed on me during a visit. First I could not go
anywhere in the hospital without McDonald’s personnel (my handlers) as well
as hospital personnel. That way, if I were to walk into a room and frighten a child,
there was someone there to address the issue immediately. And second, I could not physically touch anyone within the hospital. They did not want me transferring germs from one patient to another. I understood why they had this “don’t touch” rule, but I didn’t like it. I believe that touching is the most honest form of communication we will ever know. Printed and spoken words can lie; it is impossible to lie with a warm hug.
Breaking either of these rules, I was told, meant I could lose my job.
Toward the end of my fourth year of “Ronald Days,” as I was heading down a hallway after a long day in grease paint and on my way home, I heard a little voice. “Ronald, Ronald.”
I stopped. The soft little voice was coming through a half- opened door. I
pushed the door open and saw a young boy, about five years old, lying in his dad’s arms, hooked up to more medical equipment than I had ever seen. Mom was on the other side, along with Grandma, Grandpa and a nurse tending to the equipment.
I knew by the feeling in the room that the situation was grave. I asked the
little boy his name - he told me it was Billy - and I did a few simple magic tricks
for him. As I stepped back to say good-bye, I asked Billy if there was anything else I could do for him.
“Ronald, would you hold me?”
Such a simple request. But what ran through my mind was that if I touched him,
I could lose my job. So I told Billy I could not do that right now, but I suggested that he and I color a picture. Upon completing a wonderful piece of art that we were both very proud of, Billy again asked me to hold him. By this time my heart was screaming “yes!” But my mind was screaming louder. “No! You are going
to lose your job!”
This second time that Billy asked me, I had to ponder why I could not grant
the simple request of a little boy who probably would not be going home. I asked
myself why was I being logically and emotionally torn apart by someone I had
never seen before and probably would never see again.
“Hold me.” It was such a simple request, and yet…
I searched for any reasonable response that would allow me to leave. I could not
come up with a single one. It took me a moment to realize that in this situation,
losing my job may not be the disaster I feared.
Was losing my job the worst thing in the world?
Did I have enough self-belief that if I did lose my job, I would be able to pick
up and start again? The answer was a loud, bold, affirming “yes!” I could pick
up and start again. So what was the risk?
Just that if I lost my job, it probably would not be long before I would lose first my car, then my home…and to be honest with you, I really liked those things. But I realized that at the end of my life, the car would have no value and neither would the house. The only things that had steadfast value were experiences.
Once I reminded myself that the real reason I was there was to bring a little
happiness to an unhappy environment, I realized that I really faced no risk at all.
I sent Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa out of the room, and my two McDonald’s escorts out to the van. The nurse tending the medical equipment stayed, but Billy asked her to stand and face the corner. Then I picked up this little wonder of a human being.
He was so frail and so scared. We laughed and cried for 45 minutes, and talked about the things that worried him. Billy was afraid that his little brother might get lost coming home from kindergarten next year, without Billy to show him the way. He worried that his dog wouldn’t get another bone because Billy had hidden the bones in the house before going back to the hospital, and now he couldn’t remember where he put them.
These are problems to a little boy who knows he is not going home.
On my way out of the room, with tear-streaked makeup running down my neck,
I gave Mom and Dad my real name and phone number (another automatic dismissal for a Ronald McDonald, but I figured that I was gone and had nothing to lose), and said if there was anything the McDonald’s Corporation or I could do, to give me a call and consider it done.
Less than 48 hours later, I received a phone call from Billy’s mom. She informed
me that Billy had passed away. She and her husband simply wanted to thank me for making a difference in their little boy’s life.
Billy’s mom told me that shortly after I left the room, Billy looked at her and
said, “Momma, I don’t care anymore if I see Santa this year because I was held by Ronald McDonald.”
Sometimes we must do what is right for the moment, regardless of the perceived risk. Only experiences have value, and the one biggest reason people limit their
experiences is because of the risk involved.
For the record, McDonald’s did find out about Billy and me, but given the
circumstances, permitted me to retain my job. I continued as Ronald for another year before leaving the corporation to share the story of Billy and how important it is to take risks.
Author Jeff McMullen
Somethings are more important than rules…
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
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Hi Gio,
Wow…! A great story. It wetted my eyes. How innocent this little kids are? So inspiring… It really worth the risk that he took for the sake of the little kids happiness.
Love this story very much !
This story DOES inspire me to take risks. Thank you!
Hi Gio,
So touching. It wet my eyes.It was really worth to take that risk for the sake of that moment in that innocent child’s life. Really an inspiring story. I love this very much.
Giovanna,
I cried when I read about Billy’s worries about dying. I have two young nephews and imagined hearing those words in their voices and it broke my heart. Billy’s parents must have been devastated, yet they seem so strong and kind, calling up ‘Ronald’ to thank him so soon after Billy died.
It’s wonderful when your job can made such a difference, especially to a young child. Thanks for sharing this story. It really touched me in a way few stories can.
Rather interesting. Has few times re-read for this purpose to remember. Thanks for interesting article. Waiting for trackback
Thanks for this — that was an intense story and it illustrated to me how wonderful it can be to let go of the social or career masks we usually wear.
You add so much to my lifes moments with these stories and these moments turns into what I call “magic moments” And a magic moment will stay with you for a life time and it allows us to reach for them when we need to keep things in perspective in our lives.
.. I thank you for them and hope all is well.
john
“In the end we’re all just chalklines on the concrete
Drawn only to be washed away
For the time that I’ve been given
I am what I am ”
and I am what I do, not what I have.
these kind of stories changes lifes.
Printed and spoken words can lie; it is impossible to lie with a warm hug. Well isn’t that the truth!
Also “Hold Me” is a very powerful request. We need to hold each other more often.
Great story. What I’ve come to expect over here!
Hi Positively Present
Thanks for your comment and support.
I am glad this story inspire you.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Daphne
This story touched my heart so much that I hope by putting the story here, I can help spread this story and its message.
Thanks for your comment and sharing your thoughts.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Chris
Sometime we just have to break free!
Thanks for your comment and being a part of this story.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi John
Thanks for the kind words. We must keep our perspective.
Thanks for your comment and sharing your thoughts.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Damian
The story of Billy is a very powerful story and I think it touch everyone who read this.
Thanks for your comment and support.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
Hi Tess
Well said, we need to hold each other more often!
Thanks for your comment and sharing your wisdom.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, all i can say only, i feel loss of words, short fo words…….thx fro sharing such a touching n wondeful real life experience u had….
regards to u
Manish.
Hi Manish
I am so glad you enjoy this story so much, I do too. Go on and spread the message. This is a fantastic story to share.
Thanks for your comment and support.
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action