ST JOHNS COUNTY, FLA- They come by like clockwork every Wednesday at 8am. Most ignore the familiar sounds of the garbage truck's engine and crushing trash, but not one little boy.
For Eli Ridout, 3, this is his favorite time of the week. It has also quickly become garbage men Chris and James' favorite stop.
"You don't see many kids knowing what they want at that age. It makes me excited to see him want to be a garbage man," tells James Padgett with Republic Services.
Dressed in his matching reflective vest while waiting at the end of his driveway, Eli's fascination with the garbage pickup began when he was one-year-old. So when Chris and James took over this route a few months ago, they noticed some little feet were always following their truck.
"What is he going to do with the box? Is he going to crush it?" asks Eli as he follows the garbage truck down the street holding is mother's hand.
"I think it is the crushing and the dumping it in and all of the process of collecting the trash that fascinates him," tells Eli's mother, Meaghan Ridout.
For the men whom other neighbors don't usually talk to, it warms their heart to see Eli every week.
"When I get up on Wednesday, I know I have something to look forward to at work. I get to see little Eli and the grandparents following us around and I guess that makes me feel warm and tingly inside," tells James.
Since Eli wants to be a garbage man someday, they help him look the part with a couple of gifts like hats, toy garbage bins and a vest.
In two years when Eli goes off to kindergarten, the family has another little one in training, though Eli's little sister is still in a stroller.
"We will see if the fascination continues with his sister," laughs Meaghan.
It goes to show sometimes friendships pop up in the most unlikely of places. Though it started with one man's trash… it has become a friendship to treasure.
"Ok we will see you next week!," says Chris waving goodbye to Eli.
"Bye garbage!" he says as they drive to the next street.