Familiar Car
He couldn’t help but feel the unnerving chill run down his spine – the kind you get when you walk into a dark basement or down a pitch-black hallway.
It wasn’t the first time he had seen that car creeping slowly behind him. Whatever was going on, couldn’t be good.
Scorching Walk
Donte Franklin took off another shirt layer and tied it around his neck.
The shift was already going to be hard enough, and he didn’t want to smell like a gym bag for the rest of the day. He trudged along the burning sidewalks under a relentless Oklahoma sun. Two more hours to go.
A Little Jealous
He watched the cars zip by and felt a pang of sadness and a hint of jealousy.
Even the people with bicycles didn’t know how good they had it. It wasn’t just the fact they could feel the cool breeze on their face as they went to work, it was just safer. But why was Franklin forced to tread the pavement?
Long Commute
Jobs were scarce. So, when he landed a position as a cook at Buffalo Wild Wings, he counted his blessings.
However, the salvation of employment came at a cost. The restaurant was 17 miles from his home, and Franklin didn’t have a car. To make it on time, he had to leave 3 hours before his shift even started.
Always There
The pace was relentless, but he never ever missed a shift. His family was too important, and he was the only one that could take care of them.
The long stretches alone gave him far too much time to wonder if he was failing them. But, one day, his sad thoughts were interrupted by something far more troubling.
Silver Car
Out of the corner of his eye he spotted a silver Toyota Camry.
Any other day, or any other car, it wouldn’t have been noteworthy. But this one was driving far too slowly ... as if creeping behind him. He felt the hairs on his neck stand at attention and his heart race faster. Was someone watching him?
Same Driver
Franklin took a deep breathe and turned to face whoever was following him.
The silver car sped up and drove away. Maybe the person had to slow down for other reasons? The uneasy feeling followed him for days ... and so did the silver Camry. At random spot along his route, he would see the same car and the same driver.
Being Watched
His mind raced with terrifying hypotheticals.
And the feeling of dread only grew when the car pulled up beside him and honked. The driver rolled down the window – a middle-aged man with blue sunglasses motioned for Franklin to come closer. “Hey, man. I’ve seen you walking out here. It’s boiling out today. Need a ride?”
Free Ride
Franklin melted with relief. It was so hard to find rides to work.
He grinned, brushed away the worry, and jumped in the passenger side. The driver introduced himself as Michael Lynn and the two chatted for a while. Franklin had no idea that this meeting would change his life.
What's Going On?
Lynn mostly wanted to know why such a young man was out every day in the horrible weather.
Franklin explained his situation. Not only had he lost his mother when he was 16, but he was the only one who could provide for his family. But it was the 17-mile walk that sealed the deal with Lynn.
Reaching Out
Lynn immediately went on social media and explained Franklin’s situation.
At most, Franklin hoped there would be more ride-shares in his future. But he had no idea that the result would be far more than that being picked up in the morning. It was beyond anything he could have imaged.
Amazing Generosity
The donations poured in.
And the total amount in the end? $47k to go towards getting his driver’s license, a car to get to work, and whatever was left over to help his family! Franklin looked at the number and felt a deep ache in his cheat and tears trickle down his cheeks.
A New Bike!
But that wasn’t all! A local bike club donated a bicycle which would tide him over until he could legally drive.
All he wanted in life was to make his family, and his mother, proud. The long walks were one way to honor her memory. But why did a random man do all of this for him?
Just One
“If it can make just one person go help someone else, that’s all that matters," Lynn said in one interview.
Franklin gripped the handles of his new blue bike and thanked fate for what he had just received. But there was one mor thing he was grateful for.
Close Bond
It took a really special person to do so much for a stranger.
To Franklin, Lynn was more than a friend now. They needed to keep each other – he was part of the family now. And from now on, he could go to work with a brighter smile on his face.