People often say they would love to do something special one day when they are able. Robert Cosby made good on that promise to his mother, Brenda Cosby, by renting out a theater for more than 100 children to watch a movie.
On Saturday, Cosby scheduled a private showing of "The Little Mermaid" at the Marion Theater starting at 9 a.m., and he posted on his Facebook account a week prior for children to sign up for a spot to see the movie that day. Cosby thought it would take a week and that he might get 40 children to RSVP because of his small social media presence.
Within five hours, he had 138 children and parents confirmed to attend, and 101 children showed up at the theater. They got to see the movie, get a wacky pack at the concession stand, received a poster commemorating 'A Mer Mayzing Day,' and received a Little Mermaid Doll or a King Triton doll for the nine boys that attended. The adults even got a bag with happies, including a pound cake from The Pound Cakery in Hattiesburg and an RC Cola, Cosby's favorite.
Cosby didn't want to break his promise to his mom who died last year.
"If it is written on my heart and it's in my power, I want to do it," he said. "I love seeing children just being kids and having fun. There is no feeling like being able to brighten another person's mood or their day."
Cosby said he had 12 orders of dolls, posters and other items and coming to his house up until Friday evening.
"I had no idea I would get this kind of response," he said. "It made it special to do this in Columbia. Without the parents and kids, I'd just be a guy with a lot of movie tickets."
Cosby hopes to do other cool stuff in the future to continue his promise.
