A poor widowed mother, who could not afford to buy new school supplies for her children, is surprised when police officers show up on her doorstep with several boxes.
Almost everyone in Mary’s neighbourhood was busy getting their children ready for the new school year.
“Hey, Mary, do you want to come shopping with us? We’re going to buy school supplies for our children,” said one of Mary’s neighbours, Mrs Dawson, waving her hand.
Mary hesitated. She didn’t have enough money for school supplies and had to save what little money she had to do her shopping for the week. “No, Mrs Dawson. I can’t afford to buy them this time. I don’t have enough money, but thank you for asking!” – she replied.
“Jesus! I’m sorry to hear that, Mary. But don’t worry… One day everything will change!” – Mrs Dawson said as she left with the other women.
Mary was heartbroken and cried at the thought of her children, Simon and Melissa, aged 9 and 7, going to school in two days without the necessary supplies…
“How am I going to tell them I can’t afford everything they listed,” she sobbed quietly as she looked outside. “Peter, why did you leave us like this?”
Peter was Mary’s late husband, who had died six months earlier on his way home from the factory where he worked. The family was struggling to make ends meet as it was, and Peter’s salary would have helped them considerably.
After his untimely death, Maria went through a difficult time, struggling to raise her children. Her grief was compounded when, due to health problems, she had to give up her job as a waitress. She concentrated on the household and her savings were completely depleted.
Tears streamed down Mary’s face as she blamed fate for the way things had worked out in her life. Then a faint voice from behind interrupted her thoughts.
“Mum, school starts in two days, and we haven’t bought anything yet,” says Simon. “Are we at least going shopping today?”
Mary didn’t know what to say. “Darling, I’ll try to do something. Please give me some time,” she replied, hiding her tears.
The more her children questioned her, the more Mary felt hurt and lost.
“Honey, I said I would do something,” she repeated. But Simon and Melissa were disappointed. They mumbled and walked away, certain that their mother would still do nothing.
Mary, devastated, decided to do something. She wiped away her tears and picked up her phone, giving her a last chance by calling someone she knew for help.
“Hi, Salma, hi! How are you?” she asked. Salma was a friend with whom she had waited tables six months ago.
“I’m fine, Mary! And how are you? I’m glad to hear from you after a long time. So, how are you? Have you found a new job?”
“Not really. I shouldn’t have left that job, but I had no choice because I had to attend Peter’s funeral. And my health was deteriorating. His parents were already having problems with me, and I didn’t want them to criticise me again.”
“Yes, you told me about your in-laws. Did they visit you after that?”
“No… What should I expect? They were already angry with me for marrying their son against their will. And now that he’s gone, they keep accusing me, saying I took him away from them…”
Mary felt a little light-hearted in talking to her friend, although the main reason for her call was to ask for money. However, she decided not to and hung up after their conversation.
At this point, Mary did not know who else to ask.
“Mom, dad, I know you’re watching me struggle from heaven. Your grandchildren need help buying school supplies, and I can’t even afford that much. I have no savings. Please let a miracle happen,” cries Mary, looking up at the sky from her window.
Soon after, she heard sirens and two police cars stopped in front of her house.
“Why are there police officers here?” – she shouted and rushed outside to find out.
A strange sense of fear and curiosity gripped Mary as one of the officers got out of the car and approached her.
“My God, I hope everything is all right. Why is he coming this way?” murmured Mary worriedly.
“Mrs Parker?”
“Yes, Officer. It’s me. What’s wrong?”
“Your husband died six months ago, didn’t he?”
“Well, yes. We moved here quite recently after that. Did something happen?”
“No, ma’am, not really. We just came here to give you something.”
“Give me something? What is it?” Mary looks suspiciously at the officer, who beckons his colleagues to bring something.
At this point, Mary’s gut began to overflow with fear and anxiety. Neighbours gathered around her house, whispering.
“Watch out. Where are the others?” – asks one of the policemen. Mary, puzzled, continues to watch, unable to see what is in the heavy boxes they are unloading from the cars.
“Officer, what’s going on? What are these boxes for?” asked Mary.
“Mrs Parker, we are pleased to provide your children with the school supplies they will need for the next five years!” – The officer replied, making Mary gasp.
“What?!” – she exclaimed. “School supplies for my children? But how do you know they need them?”
“Well, since you are new to this part of town, you must not be aware of our little tradition,” said the officer, piquing the curiosity of the excited mother.
“Tradition? What do you mean?”
“Mrs Parker, every year we choose the most disadvantaged families in the area and give them some help. This time we decided to help your children after your neighbour, Mrs Dawson, informed us of your husband’s death and your current financial crisis.”
As it turned out, when Mrs Dawson found out about Mary’s misfortune that morning, she reported it to the police, prompting them to choose Mary and her children as this year’s recipients of police assistance.
Mary couldn’t believe her eyes. When she looked back she saw Mrs Dawson coming out of the crowd and smiling.
“Mrs Dawson! I don’t know how to thank you,” she cried. “I’m very grateful to you. You made my day today and that means a lot.”
“I hope it helps you, Mary! As I said, that day will come one day too!” – Mrs Dawson exclaimed and left, leaving a delighted Mary with tears of joy.
“And Miss Parker, we would also like you to attend an interview here. It’s a small business in town and they’re hiring a secretary. The boss is a friend of mine. Maybe I could send you there!” – The policeman said, adding more shades of joy to Mary’s weeping eyes.
“Thank you very much, Officer! It really means a lot,” she exclaimed cheerfully.
The occasion had given the poor mother a new lease on life. Meanwhile, Simon and Melissa were so pleased to see boxes full of school supplies!
