Jimmy was stunned when the homeless man he’d bought coffee for earlier boarded the plane and sat beside him in first class. Who was he and why was he asking for money in the first place?
I’d never thought much about destiny until I met Kathy.
Three months ago, she walked into my life, and within weeks, she became my world. People called me crazy for proposing after just a month, but I couldn’t ignore the way everything fell into place with her.
A woman sitting in her living room | Source: Midjourney
We shared the same outlook on life, the same love for skiing, and even a mutual obsession with science fiction novels. It felt like the universe was nudging me, whispering, she’s the one.
Now, here I was, flying out to meet her parents for the first time.
Kathy warned me about her dad, David. She called him a stern man who didn’t give his approval easily. But she also insisted he had a good heart and loved her more than anything.
A woman sitting with her phone in her hand | Source: Midjourney
To be honest, I was scared. I knew I just had one shot to prove I was worthy of his daughter, and I didn’t want to mess it up.
I’d arrived at the airport too early, nerves pushing me to leave home long before I needed to. To kill time, I ducked into a cozy little coffee shop across the street.
The hum of conversations and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee were a welcome distraction from the thoughts swirling in my head.
That’s when I noticed him.
A man sitting in a coffee shop | Source: Midjourney
The man shuffled in, wearing tattered clothes. His face had wrinkles that showed he had worked hard all his life. His shoulders were slightly hunched, and his eyes, though tired, darted around the room like he was searching for something.
I watched as he approached a few tables, speaking softly to the people seated there.
People in a coffee shop | Source: Midjourney
Most people shook their heads, avoided eye contact, or offered an awkward apology. Then, he stopped in front of my table.
“Excuse me,” he said politely. “Could you spare some change? Just enough for a coffee.”
I hesitated. My first instinct was to decline. Not because I didn’t care, but because I wasn’t sure how much to trust him. You know, some people are genuine while others are just looking for handouts.
But something about him felt different. He wasn’t pushy, and he looked embarrassed to be asking.
A close-up shot of an older man | Source: Midjourney
“What kind of coffee do you want?” I asked.
“Jamaican Blue Mountain,” he said, almost sheepishly. “I’ve heard it’s really good.”
I almost laughed. It was the priciest option on the menu. For a moment, I thought he might be joking. But the way he looked at me made me stop.
“Why that one?” I asked.
“It’s my birthday,” he smiled. “Always wanted to try it. Figured… why not today?”
A part of me wanted to roll my eyes.
Sure, it’s your birthday, I thought.
But another part of me decided to believe him.
A man lost in deep thought | Source: Midjourney
“Alright,” I said, standing up. “Let’s get you that coffee.”
His face lit up with a genuine smile. “Thank you,” he said.
I didn’t just buy him the coffee, though. I added a slice of cake to the order because, honestly, what’s a birthday without cake? When I handed him the tray, I gestured to the empty chair at my table.
“Sit,” I said. “Tell me your story.”
For a second, he hesitated, like he wasn’t sure if I meant it.
A coffee mug on a table | Source: Pexels
But then he sat down, cradling the coffee cup like it was something sacred. And he started to talk.
His name was David, and he’d lost everything years ago, including his family, his job, and even his home. Betrayal and bad luck had played their parts, but he didn’t make excuses.
He spoke plainly, with a kind of raw honesty that made it impossible not to listen.
As I sat there, I realized this wasn’t just a man looking for a handout. This was someone who’d been broken by life but hadn’t given up.
A close-up shot of an older man’s eye | Source: Pexels
By the time he finished his story, I felt a lump in my throat I couldn’t quite swallow. I slipped him $100 before leaving, but he tried to refuse it.
“Consider this a gift from my side, man,” I told him. “And happy birthday!”
I walked out of that café thinking I’d done a small, good thing for a stranger. I’d never imagined I’d see him again. Or that he’d turn my entire world upside down just a few hours later.
A man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
The airport was buzzing with its usual chaos as I sat in the first-class waiting area, sipping another cup of coffee.
My nerves about meeting Kathy’s parents had calmed somewhat, but the thought of her father loomed large in my mind. What if he didn’t like me? What if he thought I wasn’t good enough for her?
I picked up my phone to text Kathy, who had already reached her parents’ place.
I’m super nervous, I wrote. How’s it going there?
Everything’s great, she texted back. I’m sure Dad’s going to love you.
When the boarding call came, I joined the line and found my seat near the window.
The view from an airplane’s window | Source: Pexels
First class felt like a luxury I didn’t deserve, but Kathy insisted I spoil myself for once. As I buckled in and glanced around, I couldn’t help but think about the man from the café. His story had stuck with me.
I hoped the $100 I’d given him would make his birthday a little brighter.
Just as I was settling in, a figure stepped into the aisle. My heart nearly stopped as I looked at his face.
A man sitting in an airplane | Source: Midjourney
It was him. The same man from the café.
But he wasn’t wearing the tattered clothes from earlier.
No, this man was in a sharp, tailored suit, his hair neatly combed, and a gleaming watch on his wrist.
He caught my eye and smirked.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked casually, sliding into the seat next to me.
I stared, my brain refusing to process the scene in front of me. “What… what’s going on here?”
He leaned back, a sly grin on his face. “Let’s call it… a test.”
An older man in an airplane | Source: Midjourney
“A test?” I repeated. “What are you talking about?”
The man chuckled softly as he pulled out a sleek notebook from his bag.
“Let me introduce myself properly. I’m David.” He paused, watching my reaction. “Kathy’s father.”
“Wait… you’re her dad?” I blurted out. “The one I’m flying out to meet?”
“The very same,” he said, still grinning. “You see, I’ve always believed in a hands-on approach. I wanted to see who my daughter’s fiancé really is outside the polished dinner introductions and carefully rehearsed answers.”
A close-up shot of an older man’s face | Source: Midjourney
I couldn’t believe it. Why didn’t Kathy tell me about this? Was she a part of this plan?
“So, this was all an act?” I asked.
“A necessary one,” he replied calmly. “It’s easy to show kindness when everyone’s watching. But I wanted to know how you’d treat a stranger, especially one who seemed to have nothing to offer you. Turns out, you passed the first part.”
“The first part?” I echoed. “How many parts are there?”
He opened the notebook and handed me a pen. “Just one more. Write a letter to Kathy.”
“A letter?”
A young man looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
“Yes,” he said, leaning back in his seat. “Tell her why you love her, why you want to marry her, and how you’ll take care of her. Don’t overthink it. Be honest.”
I stared at the blank page as beads of sweat formed on my temples. This wasn’t what I’d signed up for. But as much as I wanted to protest, I knew I couldn’t.
So, I started writing.
At first, the words came slowly, stumbling over thoughts and emotions. But soon, the pen seemed to move on its own.
A man writing a letter | Source: Pexels
I wrote about how Kathy made me feel complete, how her laughter could brighten my darkest days, and how I wanted to build a life with her filled with trust and joy.
By the time I finished, my hand ached, but my heart felt lighter.
However, I still wasn’t sure if I’d pass the test. What if this was a trick question? What if David’s test wasn’t as simple as it looked?
A close-up shot of a man sitting near in the window seat | Source: Midjourney
After I handed him the notebook, he looked at it for a moment. Then, he looked up with a smile.
“You passed,” he said. “Welcome to the family.”
I felt so relieved after hearing those words.
This man, who had just tested me in the most unexpected way, extended his hand. I shook it firmly, knowing I had crossed the final hurdle.
“Now, let’s see how well you do at home,” he said.
An older man in a black suit | Source: Midjourney
When we finally landed and deboarded, I was both physically and mentally exhausted. As we walked through the terminal, I tried to steady my breathing, hoping I’d done enough to impress him, but my nerves were still fraying at the edges.
The drive to Kathy’s parents’ house was quiet. She and her mother were waiting for us there.
Meanwhile, my mind was racing with thoughts of what the evening would bring. I wasn’t just meeting her parents anymore. I had passed the “test.” But what did that even mean? Would David’s approval be enough? What would happen at their home?
Cars on a road | Source: Pexels
When we arrived, Kathy’s mother, Susan, greeted us warmly. Kathy’s brothers and sister were there too.
David, however, kept his usual serious demeanor, eyeing me across the table. I couldn’t tell if he was still evaluating me or simply reserving judgment.
Dinner was an uncomfortable affair, with everyone making polite conversation while David sat back, watching everything closely.
Every time I spoke, he would nod or grunt, never offering much in return. Kathy’s siblings were easygoing, but David’s silence was almost deafening.
I couldn’t help but wonder, Did I really pass?
A man sitting for dinner in his house | Source: Midjourney
As the meal drew to a close, David set down his wine glass and cleared his throat.
“You’ve done well, Jimmy,” he said. “You’ve shown me who you really are. And that means something.”
Kathy squeezed my hand under the table.
“I’ve always known you were the right one for me,” she whispered.
“I’ve seen enough to know he’ll take care of you,” he said while smiling at his daughter. “You’ve got my blessing.”
A man smiling at his daughter | Source: Midjourney
I was super happy at that point, but there was something unspoken in the way David looked at me.
After dinner, as Kathy and I helped her parents clean up, I thought everything had fallen into place.
That’s when I stumbled upon a folded piece of paper on the counter.
As I unfolded it, I realized it was a receipt for a cup of coffee from the café I had visited earlier that morning. The one where I met David.
A young man looking at a receipt | Source: Midjourney
The receipt wasn’t for the coffee I bought for David, though. There was an additional charge at the bottom.
“Extra donation — $100.”
I picked it up and turned to Kathy.
“What’s this?” I asked her.
“Oh, that’s my dad’s way of tying up loose ends.”
I frowned, confused. “Loose ends?”
She leaned against the counter, her eyes twinkling. “You gave him $100 at the café, remember? He didn’t keep it. He handed it to the café staff and told them to count it as an extra donation after you left.”
“And… how do you know that? Did you know about his plan all along? Were you a part of it?”
A man talking to his fiancée | Source: Midjourney
She gave me a sly smile.
“Well, I was,” she said. “You didn’t think it was just about the coffee, did you? And how do you think Dad knew about your flight? Of course, it was me, Jimmy.”
At that point, I realized I wasn’t marrying into a regular family. These people were very special, and they wanted me to realize the importance of generosity. And what it meant to be a part of this family
A Sick Dog Dumped In Freezing Weather Who Kept Crawling And Trying To Keep Warm
No pup should ever know how heartbreaking it feels to be betrayed by their owners and to be left at the mercy of the streets.
Unfortunately, it’s a sad reality for many dogs.
Pick was one of the canines who ended up on the streets, feeling rejected and unloved. Heartless people dumped him at a local market in the freezing weather.
Trembling with cold, he crawled and tried to find a warm shelter.
Every time he saw people walking past him, he looked at them with his sad eyes as if he was begging them to help him.
Sadly, the passers-by failed to find compassion in their hearts and come to his aid.
After realizing that the people ignored him because he was sick, the pup started losing hope.
Little did he know that his life would soon change in ways he couldn’t even imagine.
Helping The Little Pup
A kind woman who visited the local market noticed the abandoned pup.
Her heart sank when she saw the terrible state he was in. The dog’s eyes were filled with hopelessness and sorrow. He had no fur on his wrinkled skin.
The compassionate human lifted the little canine from the cold concrete and he hid in her shopping bag. He felt scared.
The woman took him home and gave him a bath, hoping that he would feel better.
She drove the pup to the vet for a thorough medical examination.
He was diagnosed with a severe skin disease, and he needed to be quarantined.
The dog’s legs were deformed. The vet reassured the rescuer that the pup would make a full recovery as soon as he got enough calcium.
The Dog Begins Fighting For His Recovery
The good woman brought the little canine home. She and her family showered him with a lot of love and positive affirmations.
She decided to name him Pick and give him a forever home.
The dog felt grateful to his new mom for giving him a second chance at life.
Pick felt determined to fully recover. His skin was itchy, but he never complained. His mom’s love gave him the strength to keep on fighting.
She often took him outside so that he could get natural calcium.
Pick made an effort to walk again. He often stumbled, but he refused to give up.
Little by little, he started feeling better.
Two weeks after his rescue, Pick regained his strength. He started running and smiling more.
He brought a lot of happiness to his mom. Every time she returned home from work, Pick welcomed her, wagging his tail.
His legs recovered completely.
Pick Turns Into A Healthy And Handsome Pup
A month and a half later, the dog’s fur grew back. Pick became a handsome pup. He felt confident and happy, and his eyes shone brighter than ever.
His mom took him swimming for the first time in his life. Pick enjoyed it, and he couldn’t stop smiling.
Pick lives the life of his dreams with his mom, who loves him infinitely.
He went from an unwanted and sick pup whom everyone ignored to a healthy and happy pup.
Many thanks to his incredible mom for showing compassion to Pick when nobody else wanted to help him and for giving him all her love.
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