That evening, as I prepared for the rush of customers and the lively clamor typical of Halloween, I received unexpected news: my babysitter had quit at the very last minute. With no time to find a replacement, I had no choice but to bring my four-year-old son, Micah, to work with me. In his excitement, Micah had already dressed up in a firefighter costume—a role he adored and one that, on Halloween, promised a touch of real heroism. I had hoped that his costume would not only delight him but also serve as a small reminder of the brave work firefighters do.

I quickly found a quiet back booth in the diner where I could leave Micah with a