Lonely Old Lady Finds a Runaway Kid in the Middle of the Night Begging Her to Take Him in— Story of the Day

On a frigid evening, elderly Lili encounters a shivering boy named Harry. Desperate and alone, Harry pleads for shelter, and Lili’s compassionate heart cannot refuse. As Harry reveals the horrific conditions of his foster home, Lili takes a brave stand, igniting a journey of rescue and hope.

Lili, an elderly woman with silver hair and kind eyes, walked slowly home late in the evening. The cold night air made her shiver, and she pulled her coat tighter around her.

As she turned the corner, she saw a small figure huddled against a lamppost. It was a young boy, no older than ten, with tousled hair and a thin jacket that did little to protect him from the biting cold.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

“Excuse me, ma’am,” the boy said, his voice trembling. “Can I come home with you? I have nowhere else to go, and it’s so cold.”

Lili’s heart went out to him. She could see the desperation in his eyes. “Of course, dear,” she said gently. “Let’s get you out of this cold.”

She led Harry, the boy, to her small, cozy home. The warmth inside was a stark contrast to the freezing night outside.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

Lili guided Harry to a chair by the fireplace, where he could warm up. She bustled around the kitchen, quickly preparing some cookies and a hot beverage.

“Here you go, sweetheart,” she said, handing him a plate of freshly baked cookies and a steaming cup of cocoa. Harry’s eyes lit up as he took a bite, savoring the warmth and sweetness.

As they sat by the fire, Lili picked up the phone and called the police, wanting to ensure Harry’s safety. While they waited, Harry began to open up.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

“I live in a foster home,” he said quietly. “There are too many of us in a small room.” His voice quivered as he spoke.

Harry told her everything he could. He even tried to tell Lili where the house was so she could help other kids.

“Oh, my dear,” Lili said softly, her heart breaking for him. “No child should have to go through that.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

When the police arrived, Harry clung to Lili’s hand, not wanting to leave. She knelt down to his level, her eyes filled with warmth and reassurance.

“Harry, you need to go with them now,” she said gently. “But don’t worry. I’ll visit you tomorrow with more cookies, just like these. Everything is going to be alright.”

Reluctantly, Harry nodded and let go of her hand. As the police took him to Child Protective Services, Lili watched from her doorway, her heart heavy with concern. She hoped with all her might that she had done the right thing and that Harry and his friends would find the help they needed.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

The following morning, as the sun cast a soft glow through her kitchen window, Lili sat at her small wooden table, her mind still on Harry. She dialed the number for Child Protective Services, her fingers trembling slightly. After a few rings, a woman answered.

“Child Protective Services, how can I help you?”

“Hello, my name is Lili. I took in a young boy named Harry last night and the police brought him to your office. I wanted to check on him.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

There was a brief pause on the other end. “Oh, yes, Harry. We looked into his case, and he was returned to his foster family. There was no evidence of poor treatment.”

Lili’s heart sank. “But he told me about the terrible conditions. He had bruises. Did anyone check on him thoroughly?”

“Ma’am, children sometimes exaggerate,” the woman said, her tone dismissive. “We have protocols, and we followed them. The foster family assured us everything was fine.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

Lili frowned, feeling a surge of determination. “Could you give me the address of the foster family? I just want to make sure he’s truly okay.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t disclose that information,” the woman replied, her voice firm.

“Please,” Lili insisted, her voice shaking with concern. “He might be in real danger.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am. There’s nothing more we can do.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

Feeling frustrated and helpless, Lili hung up the phone. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Harry needed her. She took a deep breath and decided to take matters into her own hands. Lili searched her memory for the neighborhood Harry had mentioned and decided to start there. She knew she had to find him.

After a couple of hours of searching, Lili spotted the house that fit Harry’s description. It was a run-down building with peeling paint and an overgrown yard. She walked up the cracked pathway, her heart pounding in her chest. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

Lili arrived at the foster family’s home, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. The house stood on a neglected lot, with overgrown weeds and a peeling fence.

She took a deep breath and knocked on the door, clutching her purse tightly. The door creaked open, and a woman with a stern face and cold eyes appeared.

“Can I help you?” the woman asked sharply.

“Hello, my name is Lili,” she began, trying to sound confident. “I was sent by Child Protective Services to take some happy pictures of the children for their records.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

The woman eyed her suspiciously. “Why haven’t I heard about this?”

Lili forced a smile. “It was a last-minute decision. We just want to update our records and show how well the children are doing.”

After a tense moment, the woman grudgingly stepped aside. “Fine. Make it quick. They’re in the living room.”

As Lili entered the house, she was struck by the cold, unfriendly atmosphere. The wallpaper was peeling, and the furniture looked old and worn. She followed the woman, who introduced herself as Greta, down a narrow hallway. On a side table, Lili noticed several checks for child support lying about, confirming her worst fears.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

Greta barked orders at the children to tidy up and look presentable. Harry and a few other children shuffled into the living room, their faces pale and eyes downcast. When Harry saw Lili, a spark of recognition and hope lit up his face.

“Hi, Harry,” Lili said warmly, trying to hide her worry. “I’m just here to take some pictures for the record.”

Harry nodded, his eyes darting nervously to Greta. The other children stood in a line, their expressions blank. Lili’s heart ached as she snapped a few photos, noting the thinness of the children and the fear in their eyes.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

As she moved around the room, pretending to take more pictures, Lili’s mind raced. She knew she needed to gather evidence quickly. “Could I take a picture of the children by the kitchen table?” she asked, hoping to get a glimpse of more of the house.

Greta narrowed her eyes. “Why would you need that?”

“Just to show their daily life,” Lili replied smoothly. “It helps to have a variety of settings.”

Greta grudgingly agreed and led the children to the kitchen. As they walked, Lili glanced around, taking in the bare cupboards and the dirty dishes piled in the sink. The house clearly wasn’t a nurturing environment.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

Suddenly, Greta’s suspicion seemed to deepen. She stepped away and pulled out her phone, dialing a number. “Hello, Child Protective Services? Did you send someone over to take pictures today?”

Lili’s heart raced. She knew her time was running out. She quickly snapped a few more photos, capturing the bleakness of the children’s surroundings. Greta’s face turned red with anger as she listened to the response on the other end.

“You lied!” Greta shouted, her eyes blazing. “Get out of my house right now, or I’ll call the police!”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

Lili didn’t wait to be told twice. She hurried towards the door, her mind already formulating a plan to save Harry and the other children. As she stepped outside, Greta’s husband appeared, looking just as furious.

“Don’t you ever come back here!” he yelled. “Or you’ll regret it!”

Lili nodded, her heart pounding as she made her way to her car. As she drove away, her determination solidified. She knew she couldn’t leave those children in such a terrible situation. She would find a way to help them, no matter the cost.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

That night, Lili couldn’t shake the thought of Harry and the other children trapped in that terrible house. She knew she had to act. She gathered a heavy ladder from her garage, struggling under its weight as she loaded it into her car. Her heart pounded with both fear and determination as she drove back to the foster family’s home under the cover of darkness.

When she arrived, she parked a little distance away, careful not to make any noise. She quietly carried the ladder to the side of the house, positioning it under the window she remembered as the children’s room. The house was eerily silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

Lili tapped lightly on the window. After a few tense moments, Harry’s face appeared. His eyes widened in surprise and relief when he saw her. Lili motioned for him to be quiet and signaled him to gather the other children. Harry nodded and disappeared back into the room.

One by one, the children carefully climbed out of the window and down the ladder. Lili stood at the bottom, helping each child safely to the ground. Her heart ached with each tiny, cold hand that grasped hers. Finally, all the children were out. They moved quickly and quietly to Lili’s car, piling in as silently as possible.

As Lili drove away, she felt a brief moment of relief. But her heart skipped a beat when she saw flashing lights in her rearview mirror. A police car pulled them over, and an officer approached, looking stern.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

“Ma’am, what were you doing with these children?” he demanded.

Before Lili could respond, Harry spoke up from the back seat. “Officer, please! We had to get away!”

The other children nodded in agreement, their faces earnest and scared. The officer looked at them, then back at Lili, seeing the desperation in their eyes.

“Is this true?” he asked the children.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

“Yes!” they all said in unison. “We were treated very badly.”

The officer’s expression softened. He stepped back and radioed for backup. “Alright,” he said gently. “We’ll take it from here. We’ll make sure you’re all safe.”

Lili felt a wave of relief wash over her. The police let her go and agreed to take the children back to the services and investigate the foster family. As she drove home, she knew she had done the right thing. Harry and the other children would finally be safe.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

A year later, Lili drove through a peaceful neighborhood, the sun shining brightly overhead. Beside her sat Harry, now officially her adopted son. His face beamed with happiness, a stark contrast to the frightened boy she had met a year ago.

“Are you excited to see everyone?” Lili asked, glancing at Harry with a warm smile.

“Yes, I can’t wait to see how they’re doing,” Harry replied eagerly.

Their first stop was a cozy house with a neatly trimmed lawn. As they walked up to the door, it opened to reveal a young girl who immediately hugged Lili and Harry. Her new parents stood behind her, smiling warmly.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

“Thank you so much for visiting,” the mother said. “She’s doing so well in school and making lots of friends.”

Lili’s heart swelled with joy as they moved to the next house. Each visit was filled with similar stories of happiness and growth. The children, once scared and neglected, were now thriving in loving environments.

As they drove home, Harry turned to Lili. “I’m so glad you found us that night, Lili. You changed our lives.”

Lili squeezed his hand, her eyes misty with emotion. “No, Harry. You all changed mine.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

Meet the Boy Who Mows Lawns to Give a Janitor the Retirement He Deserves

A noisy teenager caused trouble for the school janitor and later felt guilty. He learned about the janitor’s life and decided to do something special for him. That’s when he realized something important.

“Wow!” Holden exclaimed when he saw the mess he had created on the floor. He and his friend were just trying to play a prank on another student by painting his locker. However, he accidentally dropped the paint can in the middle of the basketball court, which would definitely be noticed.

“Come on, Holden! Let’s go! Let’s go!” his friend, Andrew, shouted, and they both left everything behind and ran away.

Source: Pexels

A noisy teenager caused trouble for the school janitor and later felt guilty. He learned about the janitor’s life and decided to do something special for him. That’s when he realized something important.

Holden and his friend were not bad kids, but they often skipped classes and liked to play pranks on others. They didn’t mean any harm; Holden just didn’t like school and wanted to have fun like many teenagers do.

Source: Pexels

“Wow. That’s terrible,” Holden said when he saw the mess he made. “Sorry. That was rude.” Luckily, no one found out about the incident, but later, he walked by the basketball court and saw the old janitor cleaning up. He also heard the principal, Mr. Figgins, yelling.

“We have the pep rally tomorrow, and scouts from all over are coming! This needs to be cleaned up right away!” the principal shouted at the poor man, who was trying to scrub the floor. The paint was oil-based, making the job hard.

Source: Pexels

Yes, Mr. Figgins. I’ll make sure it’s ready for tomorrow,” the janitor replied, still scrubbing. The principal waved his arms, yelled some more, and stormed off.

Holden felt awful watching the janitor clean the mess caused by his prank, so he did something surprising. He walked onto the court, grabbed a rag, knelt down, and started helping the janitor.

The old man looked at him and said, “I guess you did this, right?” He continued to scrub the floor.

“Sir, I’m really sorry. It was a mistake. I didn’t know you would get in trouble for it,” Holden said sincerely. “Please don’t tell the principal. My mom would be really mad.”

The janitor sighed and replied, “I won’t tell anyone, but you have to help me until this floor is clean.” Holden quickly agreed.

Source: Pexels

As they worked, they talked. The janitor’s name was Fred. At first, they chatted about basketball and football since the school had some of the best teams. But then Holden asked why Fred was still working at his age. He looked to be over 60.

“Well, I need to pay my mortgage,” Fred said with a frown. “I’m 76.”

“Wow, you still haven’t paid it off? That means I can’t even think about having my own house,” Holden said.

“Things are tough right now, kid. I never really wanted a house. I bought that house for my daughter because she needed a place to live,” Fred explained, wiping sweat from his forehead. “I helped her with the mortgage for years, but then she died in a car accident, and now it’s all my responsibility.”

“I’m really sorry to hear that,” Holden said quietly. They were silent for a moment. “Why not sell the house now?”

Source: Pexels

“Where would I go? With rent these days, I’d be homeless. I need to keep working to eat,” Fred said realistically.

“But you might never retire!” Holden added.

“That’s true. I just hope I can pay the mortgage before I die,” he continued.

“How much do you owe?” Holden asked.

“Well, it’s a little under $30,000,” Fred replied.

“Wow. That’s terrible,” Holden said, then widened his eyes. “Sorry, that was rude.”

But Fred laughed. “Let’s just keep working, kid.”

They finally cleaned up the paint, but it took a long time, and Holden went home late that night. He couldn’t sleep, thinking about how to help the old man who didn’t get him in trouble.

Source: Pexels

A few days later, he told his mother everything that happened and asked her how they could raise money for Fred. Maybe if they paid off his mortgage, he could retire.

His mother suggested that Holden mow lawns in the neighborhood. It was the right season, and many people needed help. So he got his dad’s lawnmower and started working hard.

But after a few days, he realized it was going to take a long time to earn the money. So he talked to his neighbors whose kids went to the same school. He took a picture of Fred from the school’s website and posted it online, sharing his story and creating a crowdfunding link to help the janitor.

To his surprise, the donations started coming in, and they raised $30,000 in just a week.

Then Holden and his mother spoke to the school principal about having a special ceremony to honor Fred and surprise him. Holden also had to tell the principal about the paint on the court, and Mr. Figgins agreed.

The whole school heard the story and gathered at the basketball court to cheer when Fred arrived. The old janitor had no idea what was happening since he didn’t use social media. Holden presented him with the money, and many people in the crowd cried as the two hugged. Fred officially retired that week.

Holden later learned that Fred had a granddaughter named Erin, who was only a few years younger than him. The janitor wanted to pay off the house for her to have when he was gone. Erin and Holden became good friends, and he started visiting Fred after school to help out.

He stopped hanging out with Andrew and began taking his classes more seriously. The whole experience taught him that you have to work hard for everything.

Holden changed completely and graduated at the top of his class a few years later. The school staff was shocked and happy with his turnaround, as they rarely saw such changes. And it was all because of Fred and that afternoon spent cleaning up paint.

What can we learn from this story?

You should apologize and do your best to fix your mistakes. Holden got the janitor in trouble but sincerely tried to make it right.

It only takes one experience or person to change someone’s life. After meeting Fred, Holden changed for good, learning that life is tough, and only hard work can lead to happiness.

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