First Day Of School Lunch
Josette Duran was making lunch for her son's first day at school. She didn't expect Dylan to ask that she make two lunches instead of just one. He had a serious look on his face when he asked her this.
Josette had a hunch that something wasn't right. She trusted it, but she would be shocked when she found out the truth.
A Close Relationship
Josette lived with her 14-year-old son in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dylan was a good kid who never got in trouble at school. He was kind and curious and got good grades.
Dylan had a close relationship with his mother, and they never kept secrets from one another. So when Dylan asked her to prepare two lunches without any further explanation, his mother couldn't help but be curious.
Nutritious Lunch
Josette loved surprising her son with yummy snacks when she prepared lunches for him. His lunch box was usually filled with a sandwich, a fruit, a bag of chips, and a drink.
Josette looked forward to that part of her day. It meant that she could ensure her son got all the nutrients he needed while at school.
More Than Enough
She believed she was preparing more than enough food for Dylan because of the large portions. He had never come home saying he was hungry, so she thought he was satisfied.
Millions of questions bounced around in Joesette's head when her son made his request. But she was right in thinking that Dylan struggled to voice the truth.
Questions
His mother felt uneasy when he asked her to prepare a second lunch. She started questioning her son to find out why he suddenly needed double the food.
"What's the matter?" she asked. "Am I not packing enough food?" But when she got no reply from her son, she knew something was wrong.
Worried
Josette could see the boy was overcome with worry, and she didn't like seeing him with that facial expression. She needed to find out what was making her boy so upset.
She quickly packed him the two lunches he asked for, thinking he might have felt embarrassed about how hungry he was. He might have thought that he was eating too much.
Every Single Day
Dylan asked her to pack a second lunch for him every morning since then. He seemed afraid or upset and worried he would go to school without the second packed lunch.
Josette grew more and more worried about her son. Why was she so adamant about the second lunch every single day? Why did he seem so concerned about it every morning?
Worrying About Her Son
Josette couldn't deny that something was bothering her son, but she knew it wasn't hunger. Dylan clammed up whenever she tried to get him to talk.
Josette worried over her son more and more each day. It got to the point where she thought about visiting the school and talking to his teachers to find out what was happening.
Something Had To Be Done
She had been fretting about him for a few days before she decided she needed to do something. That's when she told Dylan she would have a word with his teachers at school.
Dylan's face grew grave and pale before tears sprung to his eyes. He begged his mother not to go.
The Second Lunch Wasn’t For Him
Josette felt her heart breaking as she looked at her hurting son. There was no doubt that he had been hiding something from her, but it had hurt him to do so.
He knew he had to tell his mother the truth, so he took a deep breath to calm his nerves. "I didn't eat the second lunch," he began. "It wasn't for me."
Josette Was Confused
Josette was stunned. All this time, she thought she was making lunch for her son, but instead, another person was eating it. This made absolutely no sense.
“Who are you giving it to?” she asked him. Josette prepared herself for the worst-case scenario: her son was getting bullied at school.
He Was Giving It To Someone Else
Josette’s heart was racing. Someone was taking advantage of her son and possibly hurting him, and she wasn’t there to protect him from the bullies.
Her worst nightmare came true. Bullying is one of the worst teenage problems, and she always feared Dylan would one day become a victim of it.
He Wanted To Help His Friend
Josette had a lump in her throat, but before she could say anything, Dylan finally revealed the truth. He told her the reason for asking her to make an extra lunch wasn’t because he was hungry but so that his friend could have it.
Dylan started noticing that one of his classmates only had a fruit cup for lunch, and he couldn’t figure out why.
He Couldn’t Afford A Meal
After some time, he realized his friend’s family simply couldn’t afford to provide him with a proper lunch. Dylan couldn’t stand seeing the boy starving at lunchtime and decided to help him out.
He didn’t feel comfortable telling his mother at first, as he wasn’t sure how she would react.
She Felt So Proud Of Her Son
When Josette learned the truth, her eyes filled with tears of happiness. She felt so proud of her son. Dylan always puts others before himself, and helping people makes him happy.
Josette and her son know how difficult it is to ask for help. A few years ago, they were living on the streets.
They Used To Be Homeless
When they used to be homeless, asking for help made Dylan and his mom feel embarrassed and ashamed.
They isolated themselves from the rest of their family members, as they didn’t want them to know the truth. They got through these difficult times on their own. Josette still remembers it as if it was yesterday.
They Didn’t Give Up
Josette and Dylan didn’t give up on themselves. They knew just how strong they were and one day, their persistence paid off. Now they have a place to call home.
Josette thinks Dylan’s friend was probably also feeling ashamed about his situation, and that’s why he didn’t ask for help.
The School Doesn’t Let Any Child Go Hungry
Dylan’s school is known for taking care of everyone. If any family happens to be in a difficult financial situation, their child can receive a meal under a reduced federal and free meal program.
Josette doubts the school was aware of the boy’s situation. Now, he is receiving free meals during lunch.
It Felt Strange Not Making Two Lunches Anymore
Josette admits it feels kind of lonely not making two launches anymore, but she is happy her son’s friend is no longer starving.
She feels relieved knowing Dylan isn’t getting bullied at school. Instead, he took it upon himself to help someone in need. Who knows what would’ve happened to that boy if Dylan didn’t help him.
She Taught Him Well
“I was taught if you can’t be nice, then you be extra nicer,” she said. “And I’ve always raised my son to be that way. I’ve always taught him to be kind and help others,” Josette continued.
Dylan picked up on everything his mother taught him, and helping others comes naturally to him. But a few miles north of their state in Colorado, something equally baffling was taking happening.
Welcome To Aspen
The incident occurred in Aspen, Colorado, and left many in that town speechless. A veteran grandma and her six-year-old granddaughter turned heads everywhere after an incident at the girl's elementary school.
The story was a simple one. Judy, a sixty-seven-year-old pensioner and the sole guardian of Marry, was stumped when she noticed something odd about her granddaughter.
Judy And Marry
Like Josette and Dylan, Judy and Marry's relationship was close. The two had no secrets between themselves, living a harmonious life for many years.
Judy had taken Marry in after the child's parents got involved in a freak accident when she was two. Although times were difficult for the grandma-granddaughter duo, the two always found a way to make ends meet.
An Excellent Grandma
Raising a six-year-old when one is six decades old is by no means an easy feat. Yet Judy did it with an expertise and finesse never seen before.
She raised Marry to be a respectful, active, caring, and loving little girl. She had no idea what the values she instilled in her granddaughter would result down the road.
A Small Knocking Noise
The issue began when Judy heard a slight knocking noise coming from her granddaughter's room some hours after she'd placed her in bed.
Her brows furrowed as she wondered what was happening. Although she and her granddaughter lived in a safe neighborhood, she couldn't help but fear the worst. She jumped out of her bed and sped toward Marry's room.
You Chose The Wrong House
The noise got louder as Judy got closer to her granddaughter's door. Something was knocking against a glass surface. Was someone trying to force their way into Judy's house?
Although Judy was advanced in years, she still armed herself with a baseball bat. She'd spent her working years as a servicewoman and wasn't afraid to protect her home and the ones she loved. But what she found made her take a step back.
What's Happening Here?
Judy slid Marry's door open, realizing the lamp was on. But instead of an intruder, she found her little angel propped over her pink piggy bank on the carpet. She had a tiny pink plastic rod in her hand.
Hiding her bat, Judy hurried down to her, still trying to wrap her head around what was happening. Her granddaughter locked eyes with her, a beautiful smile spreading across her ethereal face.
Why Is She Still Up?
"Shouldn't you be in bed, honey?" Judy began. "What are you doing?" Marry's smile spread fully as she set her pink rod aside.
"I need to get all our money out of the piggy," she reported. "Why?" Judy asked, her brows knitting. It was hours past the little girl's bedtime, yet she livelier than Judy had ever seen her.
What Do You Need The Money For?
Marry explained what she needed the money for. One of her friends from school had been spending lunchtime without a milk box. "Her parents didn't pay for her to get her milk, so I want to do it for her," the six-year-old said.
Judy was taken aback by the revelation. She carried the piggy bank into the living room and safely opened it, revealing the sum that was inside.
Pennies And Quarters
A couple of pennies and quarters fell out, and Judy collected them for her sweet granddaughter. "It's quite a lot," she whispered, although the sum amounted to no more than five dollars. "It will be enough for your friend!"
She helped Marry put the money in the girl's toy purse and took her to bed. But what happened the next day was enough to make the two the talk of the town for months on end.
The Best Hearts In The World
Judy drove Marry to school as she always did. But she followed her into the building, heading for the administrative building as Marry ran to class. After a conversation with the principal, they pinpointed Marry's friend, whose parents had a difficult financial situation.
Judy offered to pay for the child's milk throughout the year, stating that she'd been overwhelmed by her granddaughter's generosity. Truly, children have the best hearts in the world! Disclaimer: To protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.