I normally write uplifting posts, but today something
happened and even though I have seen this before I find myself fighting back
the tears all morning and as I write this.
It’s hard to start writing this because everything happened
so fast, but I’ll start as I walked into the shopping centre.
It was around 8:30am and raining so I wasn’t selling my Big
Issue magazines, I decided to go to my local shopping centre for a packet of
smokes, food and things.
As I walked through the centre I noticed a boy walking
differently, his head right down as if trying to hide while walking fast past
me and heading for the exit doors, I remembered him as he was a son of a family
I helped about 3 years ago with food and a double bed (if I remember right).
As he reached the glass sliding doors two men ran past me
yelling for the boy to stop and caught up to him very quickly. They opened his
backpack, searched and then took hold of the boy each holding and arm and
walking him past me and to the shop. (I don’t want to name the store because of
what happens).
Now I’m not stupid, I knew right away from what I saw he had
just been caught for shoplifting. I remembered thinking what a shame the kid
was younger then my little girl who is 12 year old, but I knew he came from a
poor family and felt sorry for him.
I was shopping in the store when I came across one of the
guys that had caught the boy, I asked “Mate I know the family I helped them a
few years ago, if you don’t mind me asking what was he stealing” this guy
replied “exercise books, pens and things
like that”
I have to say my mind raced a thousand miles an hour and
right away I thought school had just started and he was stealing school supplies
because his parents didn’t.
There was a few more words said but in the end I asked to
speak to the manager talking to him.
The manager told me they were not charging him because of
his age but was barring him from the store for life. I asked the manager to keep
whatever he took in a bag and I would buy all of it if it was for school. Next
thing I know the boy and I are talking and I asked what he took and why? In a
very nice manner, I did this because if
it wasn’t for school then I’d walk away. He pulled out all these stationery supplies
and said these were from him for school, but not all the items in the bag, I
asked what about the other things left? What he said next made me angry and feeling
so sorry for him I wanted to cry, he said “My sister and I get teased at school
so I got them for her” it wasn’t just what he said it was the way he said it,
he was angry, sad and embarrassed about stealing. I couldn’t count how many times he said “sorry”.
Kids tease these kids for being poor or having well let’s
just say their parents couldn’t because
of income or have some addiction and didn’t get them the same items as other
kids at their school.
This broke my heart. Okay now I am tearing up as I write
this.
At the time trying not to tear up I took him straight to the
cashier and placed everything he tried to steal on the counter and kept telling
him I’m going to get everything you need but you have to do something for me
and that’s you have to do your best to get A’s on you report card. He kept
thanking me and trying to convince me he was a good kid.
I’m embarrassed to write this next bit but it’ll show you
all why I help people and why it brings tears writing it.
The checkout lady scanned everything and it came to a total
of $63 and change, when she said that I felt so bad because I have nothing in
the bank and only $57and change on me. I turned to the boy and said I didn’t
have enough and I’m sorry but he would have to put a few things back. He looked
very sad, but started picking items to put back, the thing that got me was he
never picked one item that was for his sister.
Now you see why this is effecting me so much. I’m sorry to
write such a bad posting but really if you look at it like I do it’s
inspirational, this boy is teased at school for being poor and when asked to
put something back he still gets everything for his sister. This kid is an inspiration to me.
P.S Today I quit smoking.
Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you have a great
day.
Grant Richards
Grant the Polite Guy
0412 190 011
Great story Grant - im so glad you helped the young man and his sister
ReplyDeleteGrant, your most recent post brought tears to my eyes. You are an inspiration. Thank you for sharing your stories.
ReplyDelete