Kindness, no matter how big or small, always goes a long way, and two people, a young boy freezing during a cold December day and a retired teacher whose life revolved around books knew that all too well.
Mr. Harrison turned a page of the worn To Kill a Mockingbird book while sitting at the corner of his favorite diner when a boy he’d never seen before caught his attention.
The young man, around 13 years old, was dressed in shoes too big for his cold feet and a jacket passed on a few times too many. Freezing and confused, he looked around the place and spotted the vending machine. Standing in front of it, he took some coins out of his pockets, counted them, and made a sound that resembled disappointment.
It was obvious he was lacking some coins for a meal, and Mr. Harrison, a retired teacher, wouldn’t let a child go hungry for the day.
“Hey, young man, come here,” Mr. Harrison told the boy.
The boy, however, hesitated to approach closer, as if he feared the elderly man would scold him, although he didn’t do anything wrong.
But Mr. Harrison insisted and the boy finally made a couple steps towards the elderly gentelman.
“Sit here,” Mr. Harrison said and pointed towards the empty chair.
They young boy took the seat.
“What’s you name young man,” Mr. Harrison asked. “I’m Alex,” the boy replied.
Mr. Harrison waved at the waitress and asked her to bring some chicken soup and a turkey sandwich. “It’s on me, Alex.”
But Alex seemed to be to proud to accept the food. “No, Mr., it’s fine, I just came inside to warm myself a little bit…”
“Alex, you have your food and I could use some company.”
Among the bites, Alex shared that he was living with his mother who worked two jobs so he was alone most of the time. Things have been hard lately and his mom was forced to work long hours.
“You know what, Alex,” Mr. Harrison said, “you remind me of a former student of mine. He was as smart and as humble as you are, and he achieved a lot in life, I know the same thing awaits you one day.”
“No, no, Mr.,” Alex said. “I don’t think I’m that smart,” he said as he lowered his head down.
“Young boy, I believe in you. You are always welcome here, don’t forget that,” Mr. Harrison said as Alex was getting ready to leave the diner and return to the cold world that awaited him outside the door.
“Thank you, Mr.,” Alex said, “This means a lot. I will make sure I replay you for your kindness one day,” he said in a low voice.
“You don’t need to repay me, but one day, when you become successful, just pay it forwards,” Mr. Harrison said with a smile on the face before he returned to his book.
Seven years after this encounter, someone knocked on Mr. Harrison’s door. During those years, the elderly man’s health declined and he no longer visited the diner as often as before.
A well-dressed man in his 20s carrying a bag full of groceries was at the door.
“Mr. Harrison, do you remember me?” the man asked.
Mr. Harrison had a hard time recognizing the voice or the face. “Not sure I know you, young man,” he said. But then, when he approached a bit closer, he recognized the man’s eyes. “Alex, is that you?” he asked excitedly.
“Yes, that’s me Mr. Harrison,” Alex said. “The moment I met you at the diner, you not only gave me food, but you also taught me that I need to believe in my self.”
He continued, “That day, I promised myself I would change my life. I started studying really hard, got a scholarship, and graduated university.”
Mr. Harrison never thought that a single meal and a few words of encouragement could have such an impact to a boy of 13 years. But here they were seven years later, learning that the kindness we offer comes in full circles.
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