(upbeat music)
♪ Let's get this party rockin' ♪
- [Narrator] Today is Cody's 12th birthday,
so Mom invited a few of his classmates
to a small birthday celebration
at La Carretta in Ponchatoula, Louisiana.
♪ The candles on the cake ♪
- It's your birthday, Cody. Smile.
- Happy? But Cody,
well, he's not having much fun.
♪ Make a wish ♪
- What's the matter, sweetie?
- It's been almost an hour, and no one's here.
(intense music)
- [Narrator] When facing similar circumstances,
this mom in Arizona turned to social media.
- [News Anchor] None her son's kindergarten friends
showed up to his birthday party.
She shared a photo showing her son, Teddy,
sitting alone in front of several pizzas.
- [Narrator] And strangers from all over the country
came to Teddy's rescue. (noise maker honks)
- [News Anchor] That prompted dozens and dozens
of birthday wishes from around the country.
- [Narrator] Today, will customers make their presence count
and surprise Cody on his birthday?
- I'm sure your friends will be here soon.
- I obviously don't have any, Mom.
Can we just go home?
- [Narrator] What would you do?
(crowd chatters)
- Sweetie, it's your birthday. Smile.
- [Narrator] This first group of four settles in
while Cody is waiting for his friends to arrive.
- Mom, can we just go home, please?
This is embarrassing.
- Honey, it's okay.
- May I go to the restroom?
- Of course, honey.
- [Narrator] When Cody steps away...
Mom has a few of her own wishes granted.
- I don't know what to do.
I invited like four friends of his,
and no one's responding.
- They're complete (beep).
What can we do to help you?
- I don't know. - I mean,
we'll come sit with you. - We'll come sit.
- [Narrator] And before Mom knows it...
- Mine's 12.
- [Mom] You have a 12 year old?
- [Narrator] Strangers from all over the restaurant
are rallying to Cody's party.
- We would love to come to your party.
- [Mom] You would come?
- Look at this.
They're all standing up and joining in on the party.
- [Crowd] Happy birthday!
- Thank you! (crowd laughs)
Where did you guys come from?
- [Narrator] And the best surprise is saved for last.
- Do you like sports?
- Yes.
- One of my best friends plays women's basketball here
for Southeastern for the college.
And we're gonna get you to try to come to a game.
- Yes! - I can get a poster,
and they can all sign it for you and everything.
- [Narrator] Sounds like our birthday boy
might have more in common with Teddy.
- Happy birthday, man.
- [Narrator] He received a similar gift
from the Phoenix Suns.
- [Teddy] This is the best day ever.
- Thank you. - Back in the restaurant,
it's time to pull up a few more chairs.
- Hi, guys, how is everybody?
This is the show "What Would You Do?"
- No, get out.
- No way.
- So what did you think?
- I just put myself in her shoes.
I would want somebody
to help me to make his day better, so...
- And here you are with a hat on (laughs).
- I think I just bought everybody at the table ice cream.
(crowd laughs) (balloon pops)
- [Narrator] As the day goes on...
- If they don't show up,
I'ma come over there and eat cake (laughs).
- That would make me happy.
- [Narrator] Other customers gift small parts of their day.
- Get these old ladies
to get some of them old ladies over there.
Baby, we gonna...
- [Narrator] Trying to turn Cody's frown...
- You want us to come sit with you?
- [Narrator] Upside down.
- Oh my gosh, this is so nice of you.
- To Cody. - To Cody.
- I'm gonna go tend to some calls.
- [Narrator] These next customers
don't even know each other.
- Happy birthday!
- Are you okay, little dude?
- [Narrator] But with Mom away,
they crash Cody's party together.
- How old are you today?
- I'm turning 12.
I'm just waiting for my friends.
- What's your name? Cody?
My name is Cody, too.
- Are you kidding? - No, my name's Cody.
- Do you mind if we join your birthday party?
'Cause we love to party.
- [Narrator] Now that the Cody's have met,
everyone gets right down to business.
- We're going to the movie after this
if you want to come with us.
- [Narrator] Quickly becoming friends.
- How old are you guys?
- I'm 12.
- I'm nine. - 10.
- I'm eight.
- [Narrator] Sharing laughs.
(poppers explode)
- (excitedly screams) It's a party!
- [Narrator] And making new memories.
- Everybody look this way, we got one more.
(shutter clicks)
- All right, here comes the cake.
Let's see what happens.
- You guys really made my day.
- Aww, we want to make Cody's day.
- One, two, three.
- All right, let's go out there.
♪ Happy birthday, to you ♪
- You didn't have to do this.
- No, but I would never let a child
not enjoy their birthday party.
Children should be happy all the time
but especially on their birthday.
(popper explodes) - Ah, happy birthday, Cody!
(laughs)
- [Narrator] Mom is trying to get the party started
one last time.
- Happy birthday! (crowd applauds)
- [Mom] It's his birthday.
- But my friends aren't here.
- [Narrator] And from a distant table...
- [Jerry] We'll be your friends.
- Jerry Reid - Aw, thank you so much.
- quickly becomes the life of the party.
(group laughs and cheers)
- Thank you so much. - You're welcome.
- Aww, (laughs) this is sweet. Wow!
- [Jerry] How do these go?
(Mom laughs)
Do you know how to blow 'em?
- [Narrator] And this customer comes over bearing gifts.
- How old are you today?
- I'm turning 12.
- [Jerry] 12?
- Whoa, let me get you two more dollars.
- [Narrator] One dollar for every one of Cody's years.
- You got all these noise makers?
(noise maker clicks) - Yeah!
- Woo hoo!
- Ah. - Come on, now,
there's a birthday party. - This is amazing.
(claps) Come on!
- [Narrator] But he's not done.
- Y'all get over here, come on! Woo!
- [Narrator] Calling reinforcements
for one final birthday tradition.
- You guys gonna sing? - Ready, two, three.
♪ Happy birthday, to you ♪
♪ Happy birthday, to Cody ♪ - You want to break it?
♪ Happy birthday, to you ♪
(crowd cheers) (crowd applauds)
- Hey, guys, hold on here.
(crowd laughs)
- How you doin' my man?
- This is what we would do.
We would party.
- Oh, my god.
- You gave him money?
- Yeah?
- You can take it back. (crowd laughs)
- You started everything.
- 'Cause we've all been there.
It was never like this, you know, out in public,
but, you know, people not showing up to my party,
it broke my heart.
I couldn't see him go through it.
- What did you get out of it?
(uplifting music)
- And then he started smiling.
That's what I wanted, a smile on his face
instead of him sittin' over here being alone.
- [Narrator] At the end of his birthday,
Cody may not have been showered with gifts
or with the company of invited guests,
but these new friends he made in Louisiana
more than made up for it.
(page rustles) (noise maker honks)