New Bedford Girl Befriends Mailman With a Game of Tic-Tac-Toe
If there's anything that has survived the hands of time and an ever-changing world, it's the loyalty and integrity of a United States Postal Service worker.
I'm talking about your everyday letter carrier, the same people who brave the blazing heat and frigid temperatures of New England. The brave women and men whose creed is, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."
In New Bedford, there's a mailman who adds to that creed by accomplishing one of the smallest yet simplest things a human being can be capable of: kindness.
His name is Bob Daly and he recently acquired a new friendship with 11-year-old Lilly, who just wanted to play a little game of Tic-Tac-Toe.
One day, Lilly's mother Christine Robert returned home and noticed that the inside of her mailbox had a marker and a piece of paper with a game of Tic-Tac-Toe on it and fresh markings from their mailman. Lilly had started a game in hopes that he would reciprocate his move.
"Did he do it?" she asked her mother as she walked into her house.
"Yes, he did," Robert replied.
Lilly had discovered a new trend on the popular social media app TikTok and wanted to see what her mailman would do if she tried it herself. Mission accomplished.
Robert has lived in New Bedford for the past 14 years but has only been acquainted with Daly for the past 2-3 years.
"We have an awesome mailman and he's been playing Tic-Tac-Toe back and forth," Robert said. "Lilly just wanted to make his day and put a smile on his face."
Two strangers, now friends, over a simple game of Tic-Tac-Toe. This is something the world needs more of right now. It's funny the things you come across these days, but I'll tell you one thing, with all the challenges out there, this is one that I can get behind.