A lame elderly lady is crossing the street with her shopping when her shopping bags bursts. A driver starts honking and a poor homeless boy comes to her rescue.

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Agnes Wilbur hated being old. Nothing worked anymore. Her body ached, her eyesight was dim, and some mornings she could hardly get out of bed. But her mind…

Her mind was clear as a bell, and she knew that the old woman in the mirror was who she was now. Yes, she hated being old, and most of all, she hated how her body betrayed her at the worse times…

Agnes was getting older and her body started to betray her. | Source: Unsplash

Agnes was getting older and her body started to betray her. | Source: Unsplash

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That afternoon, Agnes had gone shopping for groceries. Usually, she phoned in her order, but Mr. Mario, the shop owner, was short-staffed.

So Agnes took her cane and her shopping bag, and off she went. She shortened her shopping list down to the essentials, so she wouldn’t have to carry too much weight home.

Kindness to the frail shows a good heart.

Agnes did alright on her way to the store, but coming back was another story. There was a busy street on Agnes’ way home, with a pedestrian crossing and a traffic light.

By the time she got to the crossing, Agnes was feeling very tired and feeling every one of her seventy-seven years. Three times she tried to cross the street, but she always went back to the curb.

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The cars were speeding by so fast that she was afraid she wouldn’t have time to cross before the traffic light turned green again. Finally, she gathered her courage in both hands and started crossing.

Agnes could no longer walk without her cane. | Source: Unsplash

Agnes could no longer walk without her cane. | Source: Unsplash

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She leaned her weight on her cane with one hand and carried the bag in the other. It was so heavy! To Agnes, it seemed that the road she was crossing was endless.

Her tired feet dragged along, and as hard as tried, she couldn’t go any faster. Before she knew it the light changed. Immediately, the car horns started blaring, which meant that Agnes got even more nervous, and tried to go faster.

That was when the handle of her shopping bag broke. The bag spilled her groceries, spreading them all over the road. One of the drivers waiting for her to move out of the way so they could continue on their way got out of his car.

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“What are you doing, you stupid fat cow!” he screamed. “Could you go any slower?”

“I’m sorry,” gasped Agnes and tried to pick up a tin of tuna.

Agnes had to go shopping all on her own. | Source: Unsplash

Agnes had to go shopping all on her own. | Source: Unsplash

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“Sorry?” the man yelled. “I’ll make you sorry, you old hag!”

That was when a voice broke in: “Don’t talk to the lady like that!” Agnes saw it was a boy in his late teens, wearing torn jeans and worn-out sneakers.

The boy ran to Agnes’ side, holding out his hand to the waiting drivers, asking for patience. But the big burly man who’d been screaming wasn’t placated.

“What?” he shouted. “Is snail woman your granny? Get her the hell out of here! She should be in a retirement home…”

“Show some respect,” the boy said. “This lady is doing her best, and you’re acting like an idiot!”

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Agnes had to cross a very busy street. | Source: Unsplash

Agnes had to cross a very busy street. | Source: Unsplash

The man’s face turned beet-red. “You have some stones, kid!” he cried. “You keep working your mouth and I’ll feed you and your granny a double serving of knuckle sandwich!”

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The boy turned his back on the ranting driver and started picking up Agnes’ groceries. He started sticking them into the ruined grocery bag, and Agnes whispered, “Thank you!”

The boy smiled. He had a lovely smile, Agnes noticed. “You’re welcome, ma’am,” he said. “Always glad to help.”

“I wonder,” Agnes said. “I don’t think I can get my shopping home alone. Would you mind helping me?”

“Of course not!” the boy said. “I’d be glad to help.” The boy picked up the bag and put one arm around Agnes and helped her across the street.

 "I'll make you sorry, you old hag!" | Source: Pexels

“I’ll make you sorry, you old hag!” | Source: Pexels

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The guy who had been screaming gunned his car and took off, narrowly missing Agnes and the boy. Agnes cried out in fright. “It’s OK,” the boy said kindly. “You’re safe.”

Agnes led the boy to her house and offered him some coffee. “Would you like some cookies?” she asked. “I made them this morning.”

“I’d love some!” the boy said. “My grandmother used to make some for me too!”

“What’s your name?” Agnes asked. “You lived with your grandmother?”

The boy said, “I’m Wade. I lived with my grandmother, but then she died. They put me in foster care, but when I was eighteen… that was it. I was on the streets.”

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"Don't talk to the lady like that!" | Source: Unsplash

“Don’t talk to the lady like that!” | Source: Unsplash

“Is that where you live now?” asked Agnes gently.

“Yes,” Wade said, blushing. “Look, I have a job, but it’s not enough to pay for even a room. I’m taking some night courses, so I can get a better job. But it’s not easy.”

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Agnes had a brilliant idea. “Listen, Wade,” she said. “Why don’t you come to live here with me? It’s a big house, there’s plenty of room!”

Wade was stunned. “Ma’am…” he gasped. “Are you sure? You don’t even know me!”

“I know a kind soul when I see one,” Agnes said. “But don’t think it’s charity, Wade! I will expect you to help me with the shopping, and with the dishes, and to get good grades!”

Wade dropped his face between his hands and started sobbing. Agnes placed her arm around his shoulders. “Don’t cry, Wade!” she said. “It’s OK. You’re home.”

Agnes left Wade her house in her will. | Source: Unsplash

Agnes left Wade her house in her will. | Source: Unsplash

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And he was. From then on, Wade and Agnes became a family, and as real families do, they looked out for each other. Wade was no longer alone, and Agnes finally had the grandson she’d always wanted.

To Wade’s surprise, Agnes made a new will, so that when she passed away, her little house, valued at $80,000, would be all his, and he’d never be living on the streets again.

What can we learn from this story?

  • Kindness to the frail shows a good heart. Agnes knew that Wade was a good person because of the way he rescued her from the unpleasant driver.
  • We can make a family out of those who love us and bind it with kindness. Wade’s gesture towards Agnes earned him something he thought he’d never have again: A family.

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Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about an old lady who has a beef with teens from her neighborhood she considers a ‘gang’ until she ends up trapped with them inside an elevator.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.

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