Treating Kids Fare-ly

I’m driving a regional transit bus. I pull up to a stop, and a mother and her kids get on, with the youngest in front. She’s maybe five or six, with a very serious look on her face.

The child steps up to the fare box, which is significantly taller than she, and holds up a transfer card. It’s expired and beaten up and clearly trash.

Mom: “Oh, she grabbed that off the bench, go ahead and ignore that.”

I take her transfer and stick it in the machine. The machine gives the beep that means it can’t read the card. I give her a thumbs up and say:

Me: “You did it!”

The child solemnly nods and walks to a seat.

The mom thanked me for humoring her, but what was I gonna do? Refuse? No way!