Poor Boy Helped an Old Man Fulfill His Dream and Had No Idea His Life Would Change the Next Day
Living in an old trailer with Mom wasn’t ideal, but we made do. One day, while playing outside, an old man named Mr. Thompson pulled up in a black SUV and challenged me to knock down some bottles. When he won, the favor he asked was simple: go fishing with him the next morning.
At the pond, Mr. Thompson shared a painful story about losing his son and the helplessness he felt. After comforting him, we unexpectedly caught the biggest fish I’d ever seen. Soaked and laughing, he thanked me for a day that brought him peace.
The next day, Mr. Thompson’s assistant delivered a package filled with enough money to transform our lives—Mom’s medical care, a new home, and my education were all covered. A few months later, I received a letter from Mr. Thompson, revealing he hadn’t survived his heart surgery, but meeting me gave him peace. He left everything to me, reminding me to never give up.
Years later, I stood in front of the house I built for Mom, knowing Mr. Thompson was watching and proud of the life I’d built with his gift.
