After seeing a poor old man being thrown out of the shop, the woman decides to pay for his groceries. She did this when she didn’t have much money, which turned out to be a hidden blessing when she received an unexpected reward a few days later.
Anna Collins was a 34-year-old single mother. She lost her husband in an accident while he was at work, leaving her alone to raise their twin sons.
This loss devastated Anna. She and her husband had been together since they were teenagers. She did not know how to live without him, taking on the role of mother of twins.
When the twins turned a year old, Anna was faced with another problem: one of her sons, Adam, could not walk because of the difference in the length of his legs. After consulting with several doctors, the best suggestion they could make was that Adam should undergo therapy to be able to walk normally.
By the time Adam was diagnosed, Anna was barely making ends meet. She had two jobs, one as a waitress in a fast food chain and the other as a pizza delivery girl. While she was working, she left her children with a hired nanny.
Although she worked day and night, the amount she brought home was not enough for Adam’s surgery and subsequent physiotherapy. In addition, she had to take care of her family’s daily expenses.
Every day, Anna tries to find other ways to earn more money. Apart from work, she used to make soya candles at home, which she sold to her colleagues. On some days when she could not sell the candles, she would only eat once a day, hoping to save money.
One Friday, Anna decides to go to the grocery shop to buy food for her twins. It’s a busy day at the shop, with customers rushing to stock up before the weekend.
While waiting in line to pay, she notices an elderly man in front of her, looking confused. “What is it?” – asks the cashier. “Where’s your wallet? I’ve already told you the total amount you have to pay,” she replies, losing patience.
The old man looked around and reached into his pockets for his wallet. – “I thought I had my wallet with me,” he said weakly. “I don’t know where it is”.
“Stop wasting time!” – shouted the cashier. “You’ve brought a whole cartload of groceries to the counter and now you’re telling me you don’t have any money! You’re holding up the queue! If you don’t have the money to pay for what you have, then get out!”
The old man looked at Anna guiltily, and it was obvious that he was about to cry. He turned to the cashier in one last desperate attempt. “I really need to bring these groceries home. My son has nothing to eat and it’s his birthday.”
“I don’t care, sir. If you don’t have the money to pay for these groceries, I won’t let you go with them for free. Please step aside. Don’t hold up the line,” she said again. .
Anne feels sorry for an old man who seems genuinely confused. It was as if he didn’t understand why he went to the grocery store without a wallet and didn’t know what was going on around him.
Although she knows she doesn’t have much money, Anna takes a deep breath and decides to take a leap of faith. – ” You know what, ” she says suddenly, turning to the cashier. “Give him the groceries. I’ll take care of the bill.”
The cashier was as surprised as the old man. Anna herself was surprised that she was willing to do such a thing, especially as she was already struggling to save up for Adam’s treatment. However, she knew she had done the right thing, so she did it anyway.
“You’re an angel,” the old man said to Anna. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you so much. You have no idea what it means to me,” he told her, holding out his hand.
“I know I don’t have anything with me, but could you give me your name and telephone number? I want to do something for you when I get a chance,” the old man told her.
At first Anna thought it strange that he asked her for her number. She did not expect to get anything in return from the old man, especially as he looked as if he could hardly hold himself back.
In spite of this, she wrote her personal details on the old man’s receipt. “Do you know the way home?” – she asks him. The man stands still, looking confused again.
It is then that Anna realises that the man is probably suffering from memory loss. “If you could give me the address, I could take you to your home,” she offers.
Luckily, the old man had a badge around his neck with his address on it. Anna recognised the street. It was only a few blocks from the grocery shop.
“Thank you, sweetheart. I really appreciate you helping me. I’m so distracted,” the old man admits.
Anna helped him carry the groceries and they headed towards the car park where she had parked her pizza delivery car.
After taking him home, Anna goes straight to work. She has been delivering pizzas all night and has almost forgotten what happened a few hours ago.
A few days later, Anna remembers the old man when someone calls her on her mobile phone. The person on the other end introduces himself as the old man’s son.
“I just wanted to thank you for helping my dad the other day. You see, he has Alzheimer’s and he had an attack that day. If you hadn’t been there, something might have happened to him. Thank you,” says the man, who introduces himself as James.
“No problem,” Anna replied. “I’m glad I could help him. Is he all right?” she asks.
James reported that his father is in hospital where he is being treated. “I’m a doctor, so I’m doing everything I can to give him the best possible care,” he explained.
” I see,” Anna said. “I’m going to the hospital soon, too. I’m saving up for my son’s surgery. He has a leg length discrepancy, and he needs surgery,” she said.
There’s silence on the line. – ” Hey?” – Anna said.
“Sorry, I’m still here,” James replies. “It’s just that I’m one of the few doctors in the state who does surgery for leg length discrepancies, and I’ve never heard of your son’s case to help.”
James asked Anna to bring Adam to him the next day so he could study his case, and when he saw Adam, he offered to do the surgery for free.
Anna was shocked. The surgery cost $35,000. “Are you willing to operate on my son for free?” – she says, tears streaming down her face.
James nods. “You were generous at the grocery store with my father. I want to do the same, this time for your son.”
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