A boy goes to the flea market to buy old music tapes, but he takes pity on an elderly man selling an old suitcase, and that act of kindness changes his life.
Martin Farmer’s life wasn’t easy and it contained few pleasures. He was seventeen years old, but he was already carrying a heavy load of responsibility. His mother was ill, and his father had passed away two years before, leaving him as the man of the house.
Shortly after that, a motorbike accident had left Martin with severe injuries to his left leg, which ended his brilliant football career, and he had been counting on football to pay his way through college…
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Money was short so Martin worked after school every day and all day Saturdays to make ends meet and help pay for his mom’s medication. Once in a while he took $5 out of his savings and went to the local flea market to look for old music tapes from the 80s and the 90s.
Those monthly trips to the flea market were his only pleasure — his only hobby. That Sunday, Martin was recovering from a particularly hard week. He had worked hard, but his mother’s medical bills had come in the mail.
His week’s paycheck wasn’t enough to keep the wolves at bay forever, Martin knew that. He and his mother had a heated argument on Saturday night. He wanted to quit school and work full time, but his mother disagreed.
This morning he got up early, made her breakfast, and then headed out for the flea market. At least for a couple of hours, he’d stop thinking about his problems.
It was a beautiful morning so the fair was full of people browsing through the trash and treasures of other people’s lives, and Martin headed for one particular vendor he knew well.
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He was standing by the man’s table, going through a treasure trove of old tapes when an old man arrived and set up a pile of old bags and suitcases next door. The man immediately started advertising his wares:
“Suitcases, bags, and briefcases!” he cried in his old cracked voice, “Five dollars apiece, best bargain of your life!”
A woman passing by stopped, looked, and sniffed. “Old junk is what you’ve got! There’s so much mildew on that suitcase it will probably fall apart!”
“Go on, lady!” the old man wheeled. “Help an old man out! I’m clearing out my old treasures and I can sure use the money! Things are tight…”
Another man walked past and nudged a briefcase with his foot. “Old man, I wouldn’t even give a dollar for this piece of trash! You’re not going to sell anything!”
Miracles are found where and when we least expect them.
The old man shook his head. “You’re wrong. The right person will come along because this here is a suitcase full of hope,” he said. “Cause it looks like a suitcase to you, but I promise you, it’s a dream come true!”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Martin smiled. He turned to the man and said, “I could use a lot of hope right about now! How much for the dream come true?”
“Young man,” the old man said smiling happily. “This here marvel is 100% genuine leather, made in the 1930s, and it can be yours for only $5!”
Smiling, Martin fished in his pocket for his single $5 note and handed it to the man. “Here you go,” he said.
The man was smiling hugely, and he grabbed Martin’s hand. “You’re a kind boy,” he said. “And you deserve what you’re getting!”
Martin laughed, picked up the old suitcase which was a lot heavier than he’d imagined, and waved a regretful goodbye to the music man. “Next time!” he promised and headed home for lunch.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
When he arrived home, his mother complained about the suitcase right away. “Martin! Did you have to buy junk? We have enough of that! Put it in the garage or it will fill the house with dust!”
Martin obediently carried the suitcase into the garage. He was about to place it on top of an old table when he once again noticed how heavy it was. He opened the suitcase and was surprised to see that it was filled with packages wrapped in newspaper.
Curious, he ripped the newspaper and found a wad of $20 bills! Quickly Martin unwrapped the other packages. It was all money! Thousands of dollars, hundreds of thousands of dollars!
Martin screamed for his mother and she came running. She was speechless at the sight of the piles of money. She didn’t complain about the dust…
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
That night, Martin and his mom counted and recounted the money. There was $300,000! “There’s enough for the medical bills, and the medication…” said Martin.
“Oh, and for college,” said Martin’s mom. “And maybe then we pay off the mortgage…”
“But mom,” Martin said softly. “It’s not our money. The man sold me this suitcase for five dollars and he looked very poor. I’m sure he didn’t know about the money.”
Mrs. Farmer carefully put all the money back in the old suitcase. “In that case, you have to find him, Martin,” she said. “And give it all back to him.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash
Over the next three weeks, Martin haunted the street markets and flea markets looking for the old man, but he was nowhere to be found. Then one day he saw him at a bus stop, carrying another old suitcase.
“Wait!” Martin cried. “Listen, do you remember me? You sold me an old suitcase? I have to give it back to you!”
“Give it back?” asked the old man. “I don’t want it back!”
“Please, you don’t understand,” Martin said. “The suitcase was full of money, your money!”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
The old man started laughing. “I know THAT!” he said. “Do you remember what I told you? The suitcase was full of hope and dreams come true. That’s what it’s for. Use it well.”
The old man turned and started to walk away, but Martin ran after him. “But I thought you were poor!”
The man smiled. “No, son. I’m a man who spent his entire life making money and now I find I have more than anyone should have. So I give it to those who are kind enough to help those in need. And that’s you!”
Martin went home and told his mother the old man’s story. They decided to use the money to help her get well and to pay for his college, and from that day on, they included the Suitcase Man in their prayers.
What can we learn from this story?
- Miracles are found where and when we least expect them. Martin and his mother were at the end of their rope when they found the money in the suitcase.
- Acts of kindness are always rewarded. Martin spent his precious $5 to help a man he thought was poorer than he was and received a gift that made his dreams come true.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a young waitress who gave an old homeless man free meals after she recognizes his old broken-down western boots.
This account is inspired by our reader’s story and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.
Arrogant Neighbor Fills In My Pond – My Clever Retaliation Teaches Him Not to Underestimate an Elderly Lady
The grandchildren adore frolicking in it, and sometimes I jest they might favor the pond over me!
All was serene until Brian became my neighbor five years ago. Right from the start, he was troubled by my pond.
“Margaret!” he’d shout from beyond the fence. “Those frogs disrupt my sleep! Can’t you quiet them down?”
With a grin, I’d respond, “Oh, Brian, they’re merely serenading you. No charge at all!”
He continued to grumble. “What about the mosquitoes? Your pond is a breeding ground!”
“Now, Brian,” I’d retort, “my pond is spotless. Perhaps those mosquitoes are from the clutter in your own yard.”
He’d storm off, and I assumed he’d adjust over time. However, I misjudged.
One day, I took a short trip to visit my sister, expecting nothing more than leisurely chats and card games. I returned to a shocking sight that chilled me to the core.
Arriving home, the familiar glint of water was missing, replaced by soil. Heart plummeting, I rushed from my car.
My neighbor, kindly Mrs. Johnson, approached hastily. “Margaret! Thank goodness you’re here. I tried to halt them, but they claimed to have authorization!”
“Stop whom? What authorization?” I stammered, fixated on the muddy remnant of my once-beloved pond.
“A team arrived yesterday, tasked by a company to drain and fill your pond,” Mrs. Johnson explained. “I protested that you were away, yet they presented official documents!”
Feeling betrayed, I realized twenty years of cherished memories had vanished overnight. I knew who was responsible.
“Brian,” I clenched my fists, seething.
“What will you do?” Mrs. Johnson inquired, her expression laden with concern.
I straightened up. “Well, I’ll show him why you shouldn’t trifle with a woman like Margaret!”
Firstly, I contacted my family. My daughter Lisa was incensed. “Mom, this is unlawful! We should inform the authorities!”
“Just wait, dear,” I counseled.
“Let’s gather evidence first.”
Then, my perceptive granddaughter Jessie reminded, “Grandma! What about the wildlife camera in the oak tree? It might have recorded something!”
Indeed, that camera captured our ace in the hole.
The footage unmistakably showed Brian, directing the team to destroy my pond. He seemed pleased with his stealthy mischief.
“Caught you,” I smirked.
Brian presumed I would overlook his actions due to my age and solitude. He underestimated my resourcefulness.
I immediately phoned the local wildlife conservation office.
“Good day,” I began politely. “I need to report the ruin of a protected natural area.”
The agent sounded puzzled. “Protected area, ma’am?”
“Absolutely,” I continued. “My pond hosted an endangered fish species, registered with your office years ago. And it’s been filled in without any lawful clearance.”
The conservation office doesn’t take such matters lightly.
Shortly, they were at Brian’s doorstep, imposing a hefty fine that surely made him wince.
“Gentlemen, we’re here concerning the illegal obliteration of a protected site on your neighbor’s land,” they informed Brian.
Brian blanched. “What? Protected site? It was merely a pond!”
“A pond that housed a recognized endangered fish species, Mr. Thompson. You authorized its destruction without proper consent.”
“This is absurd!” Brian protested. “That old pond was an eyesore! I was cleaning up the neighborhood!”
“Unfortunately, that ‘cleanup’ has resulted in a $50,000 penalty for breaching environmental laws,” they countered.
Brian was aghast. “$50,000? You must be joking! That pond was—”
I savored his dismay from afar, but my plans were not yet complete.
I called my grandson Ethan, a sharp attorney in the city.
“Ethan, dear,” I said. “How about assisting your grandmother in dealing with a neighborhood tyrant?”
Eager to aid, Ethan swiftly served Brian with legal papers for property damage and emotional harm.
While I could have stopped there, one more move remained.
Brian’s wife Karen, who always seemed reasonable, returned from work one evening, and I seized the opportunity for a candid talk.
“Evening, Karen,” I greeted her. “Can we chat for a moment?”
She nodded, weary yet accommodating. “Of course, Margaret. What’s troubling you?”
Over tea, I unveiled the entire saga about the pond – its origins, the joyful memories, and the wildlife it supported.
Karen’s expression shifted from bewilderment to shock. “Margaret, I was unaware,” she exclaimed. “Brian claimed the city mandated the pond’s closure for safety!”
“Well,” I reassured her, patting her hand. “Now you understand the full story.”
Subsequently, the neighborhood was abuzz, and Brian vanished for a while after Karen confronted him about his deceit.
One morning, the buzz of machinery woke me. Peering outside, I was astonished to see a team working in my yard under Karen’s supervision.
“Morning, Margaret. I hope you don’t mind, but I thought it was time to rectify things,” Karen greeted me as the crew worked to restore my pond.
Karen confided about Brian’s other questionable dealings. “This was just him venting his frustrations,” she shared softly.
With the pond reinstated, the environmental charges were withdrawn. Ethan persuaded me to drop the lawsuit as well, always the diplomat.
As for Brian, he disappeared out of state, humbled and defeated. Karen, now a frequent visitor, helped me care for the revived pond, grateful for the chance to make amends.
One serene evening by the restored waters, Karen mused, “Margaret, I never imagined I’d appreciate Brian’s mistake.”
Curious, I asked, “Why is that?”
She grinned, clinking our iced tea glasses. “If he hadn’t interfered, I might never have discovered such an incredible neighbor.”
Here I am, 74 and invigorated, with a rejuvenated pond, a new ally, and a tale for future family gatherings. Life always surprises, doesn’t it?
And if there’s a moral here, it’s never to underestimate a grandmother with a resolve and a competent attorney!
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