A kind-hearted young child offers to help an elderly blind woman who has lost her cash and cannot pay her $3 bus fare. Little does she know that her child will find him the next morning.
Oliver was reading in bed while the moonlight barely illuminated the room through the cottage window. Suddenly the voice of his grandmother Anges was heard.
She said, “Oliver, dinner is ready.” “Stop it, boy!”
“No, Grandma, not today.” Oliver groaned. “I was right on top!”
In the dim light of the candle on the bedside table, Oliver was confused as he turned to the next page of his book. He wished he hadn’t put the book down there. Still, he closed his book and headed downstairs for dinner.
Your help may not seem important, but it could be quite important to someone else.
They all gathered around dinner, clasped hands, said a prayer, and began to eat when Oliver sat down. He would slur while talking about a detective novel he was reading, let food get into his mouth, wipe it with his sleeve, and then tell the whole story with all his heart.
Agnes considered looking for another position so Oliver wouldn’t have to skip lunch, but Eva was young and needed care and Agnes’s health wasn’t the best. So she smiled every night when Oliver read aloud from the stories he had just finished. She regretted not being a better grandparent.
After everyone finished eating that evening, Oliver helped Agnes clear the table before returning to his books and falling asleep while reading.
Oliver was re-reading his storybook on the bus the next day when he heard a disturbance and looked up. He watched a bus driver yell at a woman who begged him to let her ride the bus while putting on thick black glasses.
“Worse, sir, I forgot to bring my staff! I was in a hurry,” she informed him. “Well, I appreciate the kind people who helped me get to the bus stop. My daughter needs to see me. The hospital is where she is!”
The driver sternly ordered, “You’d better get off, ma’am.” “I’m tired of people making excuses for not paying the fare!”
She pleaded, “Hey son, I’m not lying.” “Please help me! I’ll ask the hospital staff to pay you!”
The driver indifferently shouted, “OUT!” “I’ve already had other people try it. Save me the time.”
The elderly woman was ready to get out of the car and brace herself for the cold wind blowing through the city when Oliver entered the scene. She knew she wouldn’t convince the driver.
He replied, “Sir, I will pay her fare!” “Please follow me, ma’am. You don’t have to come down.”
The elderly blind woman was assisted into the seat next to him by Oliver, who also paid her fare. She smiled when he asked her about her well-being after he returned to his seat.
She said, “Thank you very much, young man.” You have a beautiful voice like a little child!”
“I’m an adult! I’m not a child.” Oliver said with pride. “My name is Oliver too. How was your daughter?”
She introduced herself as Mary. “I need to see my daughter because she just had a baby. Oliver, I appreciate you helping me today.”
Oliver replied, “It wasn’t a problem, Mary, but it was a problem for me.” He was saving the money he had paid to transport the elderly woman so that he could buy the next book in the series he was reading. But he didn’t see Mary’s trouble.
Oliver, where are you going?” she asked suddenly.
They chatted briefly after Oliver informed him that he was on his way to school before Oliver stopped and got out.
Mary turned to Oliver. Agnes reminded him. She listened to him with the same sympathy as Agnes when he told her he loved literature. “I’ll let grandma know about her. She’d be happy with my work!” He thought as he went to school.
That’s what he did. That evening Oliver talked more of Mary and the thoughtful thing he had done for her than of his novels.
Oliver did a good job, Agnes said. “Honey, that was so nice of you!”
Oliver had no idea that evening that he would meet Mary’s son the next morning. So he was confused the next day when a tall man appeared at his door.
Are you Oliver, the man asked.
Oliver replied, “Yeah, I am,” as Eva and Agnes followed him to the door.
“Son, how can we help you?” Jane asked. Have you ever met Oliver?
The guy smiled. “This is Jake. Oliver assisted my mother yesterday and I wanted to express my gratitude. I got your address by asking the people at the bus stop near your home. I have something for Oliver in a moment.”
The man left for the car and came back with a carton of books!
“In any case!” Oliver shouted when he saw the books. Did Mary mention that I love to read?
Jake nodded. “She did and I hope your surprise was pleasant.
Yes, son, said Agnes. “You had to pay more for them than Oliver. All the things are unacceptable.”
Jake, yes,” Oliver replied sadly. “You can’t get that many books for only $3!”
Oliver, you can keep them all, Jake replied. “Looking at Agnes, he said, “My mom couldn’t visit my sister because she was pregnant. I’m not sure how much of Oliver’s story you’ve heard, ma’am. So she appreciated yesterday’s holiday, which only Oliver made possible. Let me continue now. Please. I am sure.”
Jake finally convinced Agnes to take the books, which were quite valuable to Oliver!
“Mary is top-notch! Tell her I adored those books, Jake!” The boy chirped.
I will mate,” Jake exclaimed with a smile. I’m sure she’ll be happy to hear that.
Afterward, Jake enjoyed a lovely cup of raspberry tea with the cookies Agnes had baked and, seeing that the family was struggling, offered to help with home repairs and energy. Naturally, Agnes objected, but Jake convinced her again and helped them.
What can we take away from this story?
Your help may not seem important to you, but it could be quite important to someone else. Oliver’s payment of $3 to Mary was not a big deal, but it was a big advantage for Mary because otherwise, she would not be able to meet her grandchild.
There are kind people in this crazy world and kindness does exist. Mary recognized Oliver’s charity and sent him books to cheer him up, as Oliver did for her when he helped her.
Tell your friends about this experience. This could motivate them and make their day better.
If you liked this story, you might also like this one about a bus driver who turned away a rich woman because she forgot to pay a $3 toll and left her standing outside in the cold.
Images are for illustration only.