News Flash: Disabled People Are Still People

My friend and I meet every Thursday for lunch at a local brewpub. My friend has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair.

We’re seated by the hostess, who asks for our drink orders. We each ask for a pint. The hostess looks at me expectantly.

Hostess: “Is that okay?”

Me: “Is what okay?”

Hostess: *Motioning to my friend* “Is he allowed to have beer?”

Me: “I don’t know. Let me check.”

I take out my cell phone and dial a number. My friend’s phone rings, and he answers.

Me: “Hey, [Friend], this is [My Name]. We’re at [Restaurant], and they want to know if it’s okay for you to have a beer.”

Friend: “I guess so. Just this once, though.”

Me: *To the hostess* “He says that it’s okay.”

The hostess just glared at us before leaving, and a few minutes later, a waiter brought us our pints and took our order.

This story is part of the Readers’-Favorite-Stories Of-2023 roundup!

Read the next story!

Read the roundup!