The Best He Could do
It was an exciting day for Azi and his family because they were celebrating someone extraordinary in their lives. Even without having much, Azi asked his daughter if she wanted to walk to the store to buy something special for today. Ysabel said, "Of course, dad! Anything for Grandpa!"
The father and daughter walked cheerfully to the store and picked the best one they could afford. When they reached the counter, the rude cashier said, "You don't have enough for these." Broken-heartedly, the father and daughter left the store with no gifts, but something unexpected happened!
Ordinary Day
After a long tiring day of work from the warehouse, Azi took a deep breath as a sign of relief as he sat down on the bench in front of his boss’ office. He has finally finished his all-day work as a machine operator. He’s patiently waiting for his boss to make him enter the office for him to be able to get his daily wage.
Another 10 minutes had passed but he was still waiting outside the door of the office. After some time of waiting, his boss called him up inside the office. After giving his daily wage, his boss told him that he has some bad news for him. Azi looks at his boss with worry on his face.
The Bad News
As a result of the more considerable losses that the company he’s working on, Azi’s boss decided to cut off some employees to minimize their expenses. Unfortunately, Azi’s boss sadly announced to Azi that he was one of the affected employees.
Azi felt devastated about the bad news that he received. As the only person who works hard to support his family, child, and father, this is hard to process.
Beg for Second Chance
After hearing his boss’ announcement, Azi became so emotional that he tried to beg for a second chance to his boss. He promised to do better even if his boss would pay him less than he is currently earning. He just severely needs his job.
He does not know where to go if he ever loses the job helping him sustain his family’s needs. Azi was a hard-working man, and he could not bear the thought that he did not deserve to stay in his job.
Chance Not Granted
After many attempts of asking his boss to hire him again, Azi's boss's decision can no longer be changed. He has already made up his mind, and he cannot make any alterations anymore. Despite Azi's request to take him back as a machine operator, his boss has not granted it to him.
As much as Azi's boss wanted to keep Azi, he could not bear the risk of additional expenses in the warehouse because this could be a significant threat to the business.
Azi’s Disappointments
With his shoulders down, Azi left his boss’ office with his last wage for that day and with a heavy heart. He felt disappointed about the latest news that he received. He barely can’t synchronize his deep breathings to his fast heartbeats because he feels so low at the moment.
Azi thinks that he is his life’s greatest disappointment, and for today, he has somehow proven his notion to be true. Azi pretended to be alright as he passed the corridor’s hall of all the employees despite his wanting to cry aloud.
Distressed
Going back to the employee’s area, Azi inconsolably fixes up his things inside his bag because it is already the dismissal for work. Unfavorably, for Azi, this will be the last time he sees his work at the warehouse. His system can’t take in everything at the moment, but he sure knows that he was distressed by the bad news.
After fixing all his things up, he directed himself to the exit of the warehouse to return home. Azi’s home was just a few blocks away from the warehouse, and he will have to walk to get home.
Azi’s Reflection
On his way home, he cannot just stop thinking about what happened earlier. He does not know how to tell his father and his daughter about the worst news that he got today. He doesn’t even know how to compose himself when the time comes that he’s going to tell them about the information.
He is just filled with thoughts that make him feel worthless. As his steps came closer to their house, he was also coming closer to the verge of breaking down.
Indecisive
Facing the front door of their house, Azi felt ashamed that he was going to enter their house with the last wage that he would be getting from his job. He is thinking that he would be just staying at the park near their home for a moment to give him peace and calmness before he faced his father and daughter.
Just as he thought of turning back his steps, his daughter cheerfully called him out at their door.
The Comfort of a Home
As much as Azi wants to take a space first before telling his family, he was uplifted by his daughter because the smiles of his daughter ease away from his suffering. He then took steps to their front door and hugged his daughter. While embracing his daughter, his father showed up from the back and welcomed him home.
He also hugged his father, and his father told him that dinner was already served. They went to the dinner table to eat their evening meal.
Telling the Bad News
After eating their evening meal, Azi decided to tell them the truth already. Azi cleared up his throat and prepared himself for speaking up the truth. After some moments of preparation, Azi called out the attention of his father and daughter. When his father and daughter were all ears on him, he blurted out the truth.
He told them that his boss needed to lay off some employees because the business wasn’t going well and that he was one of the unlucky ones.
Reassurance
Following up on Azi’s unveiling of the bad news for today, his father and daughter have also felt saddened about it. They comforted Azi and told him that it was all okay and that there were still other jobs that he could get into.
“Finding a new job is time-consuming, but we know that you can do it because we believe that you are always doing your best in your job and for us.”, Mr. Singh, Azi’s father, said. Azi felt reassured by his father’s words.
Special Day
The next day, in the early morning, Azi was woken up by the giggles and tickles of his daughter, Ysabel. Azi, who was still sleepy, carefully brought his daughter to hug him, and she kissed him as she said “Good morning, Dad!” to her father. After some time, Ysabel opened up to his father.
That day was a special day for the family. It was Mr. Singh’s birthday, and Ysabel told his father that she wanted to surprise his grandfather.
Tight Budget
Being hesitant of their budget for a celebration for his father’s birthday, Azi still told his daughter to get dressed. He also said to her that they would go to the grocery store to buy some food and a cake for his father.
Azi has already set aside some of his money for their other expenses, and all he has left is $6 and 12 cents. Despite this, he still wants his daughter to become happy, and he is somehow sure that they can buy something for his father.
Getting Dressed
After telling his daughter to get dressed, Azi also got out of bed and dressed as well. The grocery store is just in front of the park, which is at the corner of the fifth house. After Azi’s done getting dressed, he called out for his daughter to go down the stairs because they were about to leave already.
His daughter quickly showed off in front of him afterward. They wave their goodbyes to his father first before heading out of their house.
Grocery Store
At the grocery store, Azi and his daughter just picked the most important things that they could buy. Ysabel reminded his father to buy a birthday cake for his grandfather. After selecting the items that they ought to buy, they have lined up to pay their orders.
It was a typical day at the grocery store. Many people are also waiting in line because only one cashier is present during the day.
At the Cashier
When it was their turn, the cashier looked at them rudely, and it was as if they were being judged and ridiculed. Meanwhile, the cashier did her job to swipe out the orders and get the total prices. Azi was quite unsure now if their budget was enough for all their demands.
“The total is $14.87.”, said the cashier. Azi was a bit terrified at that time because he knew that they did not have a sufficient amount to pay for all the things they’ve ordered.
Encounters at the Cashier
Giving his payment to the cashier, the cashier counted it, and she told him that his money wasn’t enough. Azi reasoned to look for additional cash in his wallet, but he told the cashier that it was all he had. She suggested Azi return some of the things they ordered to lessen their bills.
Azi, on the other hand, was skeptical about what he would remove from their orders. Eventually, he asked the cashier to take the mayo out.
The Birthday Cake
Although the mayo had already been taken out, Azi’s money still was not enough to pay for all their orders. Hardly thinking if he could also take out the cake, his daughter interrupted his thoughts and told him that the birthday cake was vital because it was for her grandfather.
Ysabel just wanted to make his grandfather feel happy because she noticed that her grandfather was feeling sad these present days.
Annoyed Customer
On the contrary, the other customers waiting in line are now questioning what took Azi and Ysabel so long at the cashier. One customer told them to hurry up. "I don't have all day, Buddy," said the annoyed customer.
Azi just apologized for the delays in their purchases. Then, there's one customer who's just observing everything, and he wanted to help, but he does not want to break at the moment.
Birthday Cake Taken Out
Back at the cashier, even though Azi also wanted to keep the birthday cake, not only that his daughter pleaded with her to do so, but he also wanted to make his father happy. His money is not just enough. Feeling terrible, he told the cashier also to take out the cake.
After taking out the cake, their money is now enough to pay for their remaining items. Azi felt down that he could not even buy a birthday cake.
The Unknown Man
Walking past the line of the customers who had waited long, Azi just looked at them, feeling sorry for the inconvenience that they had caused. Leaving the grocery store, Azi felt awful, and Ysabel was trying to keep a brave face.
Taking their steps on their way home, while Azi was bringing comfort to his daughter, they were called out by someone. An unknown man then came near them and gave them a paper bag. They were shocked to see what was inside the paper bag.
Expressing Kindness
As Azi and Ysabel opened the paper bag, they were surprised that it was the mayo and the birthday cake inside it. With questioning expressions on their faces, the stranger explained to them that he did not mean to startle Azi and Ysabel.
He saw what happened in the grocery store, and he just wanted to help them. The stranger asks Azi to take the paper bag with them, and when he sees what is inside, his heart is overjoyed.
The Stranger’s Reflection
Azi can’t feel more grateful than before about the kindness of the man. He felt delighted and gave his sincere thanks to the stranger. Azi asks the man why he is so kind to them even if he does not know them.
The man says that he knows what it’s like not to have enough. He has also experienced the way Azi has. For this, now that he has more than enough, the man wanted to bring kindness to everyone unfortunate not to have enough.
Past Memories
The man then remembers what he is like in the past. He shared with Azi and Ysabel that when he was younger, he and his mother were homeless. They barely have enough money to buy food to eat.
He and his mother also went to a grocery store before, and his mother did not have ample funds to purchase some food. They left the store empty-handed and not knowing what they would have to eat during that night.
Signifying Hope
Just as the man and his mother are losing hope, a stranger has given them hope. While he and his mother are strolling down the alley of the street, an unknown man also called them. The unidentified man offered them something. It was a plastic bag with food inside it.
They were also surprised and astonished that they did not know to repay the stranger. The stranger just smiled and gave him a card with a note on it.
Pay it Forward
The card says, "Pay it Forward." The stranger told them to help someone in need someday. And today was the day that he has been waiting for. He had expressed his response to the stranger's kindness that had helped him and his mother when he was younger.
"He thought he was just giving me food but, he gave me so much more than that.", the stranger says. "A life lesson I'll never forget. He made such a big difference in my life, "he added.
A Beautiful Story
Azi and Ysabel were amazed by the story of the man. “That’s a beautiful story.”, Azi uttered to him. Ysabel also shared with the man that his grandfather would be so happy because he got to have a birthday cake on his special day. The stranger also gave Azi some money and a card that says “Pay it Forward.”
The stranger reminded Azi always to remember to pay it forward and help someone else who is in need. Azi willingly accepted the challenge, and Ysabel gave her thanks to the man as well.
Mr. Singh’s Birthday
Heading in separate ways, Azi, Ysabel, and the man left each other with smiles on their faces and warmth of kindness in their hearts. As they got home, they found Mr. Singh in his seat in his room, feeling blue, but his face lightened up when he saw that they brought him a birthday cake.
Azi and Ysabel sang a birthday song to Mr. Singh. After blowing his cake, Mr. Singh expressed his thanks to Azi and Ysabel and could not stop himself from crying and so Ysabel got curious and asked him why he called.
Life Thoughts
Mr. Singh told Ysabel that he was fine, but Azi also worried and asked his father what was wrong. “I turned 76 years old today, and lately, I can’t help but wonder has my life had any purpose?” said Mr. Singh. He questioned himself if he had made any difference in this world. Azi told her father not to be too emotional and enjoy the rest of the day because it was his birthday. Mr. Singh agreed with Azi, and then he asked him how Azi could afford to buy his cake.
Mr. Singh knows that life has been so hard for Azi lately, and Azi honestly told him that he doesn’t have enough money to buy the cake. He shared with his father about the man who bought everything for them. He also told his father that the only thing that the stranger wanted him to do in return was to do it to someone in the future. Azi showed Mr. Singh the card that the stranger gave him. Mr. Singh got flashbacks about the card.
Azi Shared about the Stranger
Mr. Singh then remembered that he helped that stranger that allowed his son and his granddaughter. After the flashbacks, Mr. Singh realized that his life did make a difference. Mr. Singh has proven that he has done his purpose because he got to inspire someone to do kind and be kind. Azi and Ysabel acknowledge this with tender smiles on their hearts and faces. The family then enjoys the remainder of their time celebrating the birthday of Mr. Singh.
Bringing kindness to everyone that we meet every day does not cost us anything. We have always dreamt of a world where love and compassion are freely spreading because we believe that love and kindness bring prosperity and serenity to the world. Being inspired by this story, would you also take the challenge to make a difference? Have you already found your purpose in life?