A Homeless Mom
"Can we have some food mom? It has been two days since we had something to eat!" said the little frail girl, pleading with her mom teary-eyed. "Oh, I wish I could get you something, my love!" the woman replied. While finding out a way to feed her little child, Lynda came across something very unexpected - something from the past, long-forgotten and long-buried.
It was at that moment that Lynda realized things were about to take a dark turn! This story could be a prime example of the popular saying “One person’s trash could turn out to be another person’s treasure!”
Strolling the streets
It was a bright Sunday afternoon in the city of New Orleans and everything seemed ordinary that day. Lynda and her daughter, Emma were strolling the streets of New Orleans.
They were scavenging for trash so they could recycle the waste and earn some money to get by. The mother and daughter duo particularly stood out from the crowd because of their ragged and unhygienic clothes. Both of them had no clue what that day had in store for them.
Harmless Emm
“I haven’t eaten for the past two days Momma. I’m starving!’ Said Emma in a hushed tone as she tugged at Lynda’s worn-out t-shirt.
“We still have to collect a few trash cans in order to get enough money for food, babygirl.” Lynda tried to calm her daughter but deep inside, she too, was broken to the core. She constantly wished for a miracle to happen, unaware of the fact that it was destined to happen that afternoon.
Lynda searches for trash
Even though she promised Emma that they would have enough money for dinner that night, her expressions told otherwise.
Lynda kept strolling the streets, holding a trash bag in one hand and Emma’s hand in the other. She knew that she HAD to find enough trash cans to feed her daughter because otherwise, Emma would have to spend yet another night with an empty belly.
Young rich guy approaches
While Lynda and Emma were sitting right beside a trash can, hoping someone would come to dump something recyclable, Alan entered the scene.
He was a 15-year old boy and going by the way he was dressed; it was quite understandable that he belonged to a well-to-do family. He might have been holding just an empty bottle in his hand but that was a bright ray of hope for the homeless mother and daughter.
Lynda’s eyes sparkle
When Lynda sees the young guy approaching the trash can to dump the empty bottle in his hand, her eyes sparkled with hope because she was inching closer to collect enough trash to get enough money for their dinner.
“Hey mister, instead of dumping the bottle in the can, could you please hand it over to me? I and my daughter are homeless and we haven’t eaten for the past two days!” Lynda asked Liam, the 15-year old guy.
Asking for help
“Why would you even need an empty bottle?” Liam was a bit startled by her unusual request but Lynda was quick enough to answer his doubts.
“Actually, I and my daughter are homeless and we collect trash in order to earn money by recycling the waste,” Lynda explained to him, expecting a warm response from young Liam but what she received was starkly opposite to her expectations.
Liam humiliates her
“That’s fine but you people stink and look at how gross your hands are! I don’t want to come any near to both of you!” Liam humiliated Lynda and her daughter for their grossness.
When Liam said those ugly things to them, he had no clue that a big revelation was coming his way that would change his perception forever!
Liam throws trash in the bin
“We know we are dirty and unhygienic, young man but it would seriously make a difference if you could hand over the empty bottle to us.” Lynda, despite being humiliated by such a young guy, kept requesting him.
Her requests made no difference to Liam who thought they belonged to a different world altogether as he threw the empty bottle in the trash bin and walked away.
Lynda picks up the bottle
The popular saying “One man’s trash could be another man’s treasure” came true when Lynda picked out the empty bottle, dirtying her hands in the trash bin.
“Just a few more bottles honey and we will have enough money to eat something!” Lynda said to Emma in an optimistic way. Their miserable life was yet to take an unexpected turn!
Liam heads back to the car
Completely unaware of what he did, Liam walked backed towards his car. It was a Range Rover Autobiography and his mother, Anna was waiting inside.
She was a blonde woman in her 40s and was dressed in designer clothes. Needless to say, their lifestyle was quite contrasting as compared to that of the homeless woman and her daughter. But there’s always more than what just meets the eye.
Anna asks Liam
Anna saw from the car that Liam had a brief interaction with the homeless strangers and she asked “What was that about Liam?”
“The old lady and her daughter were asking for the empty bottle to recycling it but they were so gross mom! They stank so bad and their hands were so dirty!” Liam answered her mom but her reply was something that would shake him to the core!
Liam further explains
“So did you give the empty bottle to them?” Anna asked Liam firmly to which he replied “Obviously not, mom! They were stinking like pigs and their hands were so dirty. I didn’t want myself to be contaminated by their grossness.”
Anna was taken a little aback by her son’s harsh remarks. She didn’t say anything but her head went on a trip down memory lane. What was she thinking?
Anna confronts Liam
Recovering from her own thoughts, Anna decided to confront Liam and in a stern tone, she said “What you did was absolutely wrong. You shouldn’t treat ANYONE like that and moreover, she’s a homeless single mother!”
Liam kept his head down and listened attentively to what his mother had to say. What he did next was a bit surprising for everyone present there.
Anna reveals the truth
“I wanted to tell you about your father for so long but I guess, it’s about time now. He left us the very next moment you were born.” Anna explained to Liam as he listened to her carefully.
“It became so hard to pay the bills and take care of you at the same time.” She said to Liam as a tear dropped on her cheeks. Liam wiped it off but he wasn’t prepared, not one bit for what was going to be revealed later.
Anna’s struggles
With a newborn baby to take care of and pending bills, Anna led a rather struggling life in her past. “It wasn’t easy, Liam. Your father left us with a huge debt and I had to repay it by selling off the house.”
Liam was shocked at this discovery that his mother, at one point in time, was homeless too. Liam started feeling bad for the lady whom he treated in such a bad way.
The Samaritan
“We would have starved to death on the road, with no roof above our heads if it wasn’t for one lady that appeared out of nowhere.” Anna continued revealing her life’s story to Liam who was completely unaware of all of it.
“She taught me how to collect trash, recycle it and earn money. We used to stay together the whole day, roaming the local streets to collect trash so I could feed you.” Anna reminisced about the noble lady.
A better life
“It was a big slump in life and it felt like we were going to spend the rest of our lives living in this big pit.” Anna kept staring out the window as she got zoned out a little.
“Slowly and steadily, I had enough money to get a rented home and to build a better life then onwards.” Liam kept on listening to his mother’s journey of rags to riches. They both were still unaware of the fact that a huge surprise was about to knock on their doors.
Anna becomes rich
After renting a small apartment and getting a mediocre job, Anna didn’t look back and kept climbing upwards to become a businesswoman.
She kept on emphasizing on the fact that one should always treat people equally. Irrespective of the fact that whether they are multi-millionaire or homeless.
Liam’s realization
“I didn’t know anything about it, mom. You protected me from this truth since I was born but I am glad that you finally told me all about it. I feel extremely guilty now.” Liam was being hit by a stark realization that he was dead wrong.
His mother’s big revelation about their past opened his eyes and what he did next is bound to make your heart warm.
Liam goes back to the woman
After contemplating for a while, Liam impulsively got out of the car and started walking towards Lynda and Emma. He stopped in his tracks and turned back to his car.
He asked Anna to give him another empty bottle. As he walked towards Lynda to hand over the bottle, Anna kept sitting in the car. Even if everything seemed normal at that moment, she was about to receive a bolt from the blue!
The apology
“I’m sorry for the way I treated you earlier. No one deserves such kind of treatment, especially a humble woman like you. Here, take this.” Liam offered the empty bottle to Lynda.
Lynda, being the good woman that she was, accepted his apology and took the bottle from Liam.
Enough money
It might have seemed like just an empty bottle but for Lynda, her livelihood was dependent on it. “We will have enough money to have food tonight. Thanks again, young man!” Lynda seemed content with what she had.
Despite facing utter humiliation from such a young guy at first, she was grateful to him. The Almighty works in mysterious ways and she was about to be blessed for her humility in the most unexpected manner!
Anna gets out of the car
While their conversation was going on, Anna was patiently waiting for Liam to get back inside the car but out of impulse, she decided to step out of the car and be a part of their conversation.
It might have been an impulsive decision on her part, but she was taking steps towards a big, big surprise that she wouldn’t have seen coming even in her wildest dreams!
The reunion
When Anna first saw homeless Lynda and her daughter, she gasped for breath. She could feel the ground slipping under her feet. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing right in front of her eyes!
“Oh my freaking god! It’s you, Lynda! Liam? She’s the woman who helped me by teaching me how to survive on the streets!” Right after saying this, Anna jumped towards Lynda and hugged her.
Anna raves about Lynda
Even though Anna was finding it hard to contain her emotions, she still explained to Liam the role Lynda played in turning her life around.
“If it wasn’t for you and your support, we wouldn’t be at the place where we are right now. There isn’t a single day that goes by when I don’t think about you.” Anna kept raving about Lynda as she too, couldn’t help but break down in tears.
The gratitude
It was a magical moment for both of them and it felt like two long-lost friends reunited after years of separation. While they both reminisced about their past life, Anna kept on thanking Lynda for her support.
“You taught me the meaning of life that no matter what happens, one shouldn’t give up on hope.” Saying this, Anna held Lynda’s hands.
Anna meets Emma
All this while, Emma was standing behind her mother, trying to make sense of what was happening. Anna went down on her knees and called her out.
“Who’s this little cutie! She looks just like you Lynda, extremely beautiful. I hope when she grows up, she becomes as strong and humble as her mother!” Anna said this while running her hands through Emma’s messy hair.
Updates about their life
“Why are you still doing this job?” Asked curious Anna. “Not everyone has the same fortune as you, dear friend. Despite trying hard for all my life, I never got a chance to turn my destiny around.” Replied Lynda with a smile on her face.
“At this moment, I just want Emma to get out of this pit and lead a better life.” Lynda sounded determined. What Anna did after that will definitely put a wide smile on your face!
Anna’s Offer
Anna felt extremely sorry for her old friend’s condition and she wanted to do something about it. She did exactly that and proposed an offer in front of her.
“Why don’t you come live with us? I have a house big enough and for the time being, we will figure out a job for you in my firm.” Anna sounded optimistic when she proposed this in front of Lynda.
Lynda denies
Lynda might be a homeless single mother but she wasn’t any short of self-esteem as she denied the offer with a firm no. She didn't want that!
“I cannot do that. I don’t want us to be a burden on you and your family.” Lynda tried putting her point in front of Anna.
Anna convinces her
“What the hell are you talking about, sweetie? You and your lovely daughter can never be a burden on us! As I said, I owe everything to you.” Anna tried with all her might to convince Lynda.
“Um, okay… sure. If you say so!” Lynda finally got convinced to stay with them but there were more surprises to come their way.
They sit in the car
When Lynda finally agreed to go along with Anna and Liam, all four of them headed towards their Range Rover Autobiography.
Liam, who previously said some really ugly things to Lynda and Emma, was kind enough to open the car’s door for them. The reality check that Anna gave Liam really worked wonders for him.
Liam apologizes again
When they sat in the car, Liam apologized to Lynda again. “I’m really very sorry for the way I treated you earlier. I promise that I won’t treat anyone like this ever again!” Liam said to Lynda. He even insisted on calling her Aunt Lynda from then on.
Their journey towards Anna’s bungalow was rather nostalgic as the two old friends kept telling about each other’s lives. In the meantime, Liam made friends with Emma who was sitting in the back seat.
A new beginning
When they reached home, Anna showed them their huge bungalow and also allotted them their respective rooms. She even lent her clothes to Lynda and grabbed some old clothes of Liam for Emma.
It was truly a new beginning for Lynda and Emma! And a great opportunity for Anna to pay Lynda back for her nobleness.
The Dinner
After they freshened up, Anna proposed the idea of taking all of them to one of the fanciest restaurants in the city. “Hours earlier, we were struggling to grab even a piece of bread for dinner, and now, you are taking us to this lavish restaurant. You truly are an angel, Anna!” Lynda showed her gratitude.
All 4 of them had an amazing time at the dinner as they laughed, giggled and devoured the scrumptious food. It is pretty evident from this particular instance that one man’s trash could be someone else’s treasure. It isn’t rational for us to look down on people who have less than us and we should always lend a happy hand to everyone who’s in dire need.