Twice a week, 6-year-old Adam Smith鈥檚 teachers know what to expect. Adam will jump up and run to the window, waiting eagerly to hear the garbage truck drive by.
Marie Smith says her son has autism and is nonverbal, but his face lights up when he hears the truck.
Bruce Atkins, a Bladen County employee, drives the garbage truck by Elizabethtown Primary. He noticed Adam waits by the window, and made a point to wave and blow the horn for him when he visited.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to put into words how good it makes you feel for a kid to pay that much attention to someone he doesn鈥檛 even know,鈥� Atkins said.
During one of the last weeks of school, Adam鈥檚 class made a medal to present to Atkins. Atkins said he wanted to return the favor, and brought Adam a toy garbage truck and an honorary plaque from the county.
鈥淚 wanted to show that I appreciated and loved him as much as the appreciation and love he showed toward me,鈥� he said.
Smith said she鈥檚 touched by the gesture, and said Atkins feels like a member of their family.
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