The Day a Poor Boy Fulfilled an Old Man’s Dream—And The Next Day Everything Was Different
I had assumed, at first, that I would be going fishing with an older man I had met by coincidence. However, the letter I got a few months later told me of a secret that would completely alter my life and give me a gift I could never have imagined. I talked myself out of the horrible perception that living in an outdated trailer would be. Just Mom and I were there. Since my dad left when I was six years old, we have had to fend for ourselves. To be honest, Mom seldom ever talks about him, so I don’t recall anything about him. We both shy away from talking about it.
Could you please get the mail, Adam? From the couch, Mom would call. Frequently, she would prop her legs up on pillows and would scowl at every step. She had been in a vehicle accident years prior, which left her with a limp that made it difficult for her to stand or walk for extended periods of time. She put in a lot of overtime at the gas station despite her discomfort in order to support us.
“Sure, Mom,” I would reply, grabbing my coat. I had no problem helping out in little ways. It made me feel like I was making a difference, even if all I was doing was cooking or fetching the mail.
I usually found something to do outside the trailer to kill time after school. I had no idea that turning 13 would bring about such a significant change in my life.
I was throwing an old, flat soccer ball at some bottles I had put up like bowling pins that day. Though it wasn’t much, I was occupied for some time.
Then, out of nowhere, this ostentatious black SUV pulled up next to the trailer. I stared at it through the tinted windows for a time, wondering who in the world would come around here looking so put together.
With a creaking sound, the door opened and an old man, who might have been in his seventies or eighties, came out smiling and using a cane. He waved.
“Hey there,” he said as he walked slowly up. Is it okay if I take a shot? He pointed to the bottles I had lined up.
I blinked. I said, “Yeah, sure, I guess,” not really sure what to think of him.
“How about we make this more interesting?” he asked with a laugh. You must grant me my request for a favor if I receive a strike. However, I’ll offer you $100 if I fail. Alright?
My eyes appeared to pop out of my head. One hundred dollars? I could almost hear the register in my brain ringing. I blurted, “Agree.”
The man bent down to pick up the deflated ball, then threw it with a swift flick of his wrist. It rolled straight into the bottles, knocking them all over. I was stunned and just stood there. Not in that way.
The elderly man chuckled, clearly content with his lot in life. “Looks like I won,” he exclaimed. “For that favor, now.”
Excitement caused me to swallow. “What am I supposed to do?
He said, “Come fishing with me at the old pond tomorrow,” as if that were the most natural thing ever.
“Pennining?” I furrowed my brow. Was it only that? That might have looked like a strange request, but it wasn’t nearly as hard as I had thought. “Well, that’s alright, I suppose. I’ll simply ask my mom.
He smiled and nodded. “I’ll be present.”
I returned to the trailer in silence, carefully opening the door. Mom was dozing off on the couch, her chest gently rising and falling. I was hesitant to startle her after her exhausting stint at the gas station the previous evening. I stood there thinking about what to do next, and I bit my lip.
I said to no one in a whisper, “She won’t even know.” “I’ll return before she realizes it.”
I made my decision and went back outside in silence. I turned to face the old man and responded, “Okay, I’ll do it,” thinking I had understood correctly.
“Very good,” he said, beaming even wider. We’re going to get together tomorrow am. Refrain from being late.
The next morning, the old man came to fetch me up early in his black SUV. Initially, we left town in silence. The river was still, the grass was knee-high, and the place looked like it had been abandoned for years. There was not a single person in sight.
“Why am I here?” I asked, glancing around to get the fishing poles he had packed.
Grinning subtly, the old guy adjusted the device. “This place… it means a lot to me,” he said in a softer-than-usual voice.
We cast our lines into the sea while sitting next to each other. After that, we were silent for a while. However, after about an hour, when there were no bites on the line, I had to ask.
“So, what prompted you to come fishing here?” I inquired, my interest peaked.
The old man looked at me, his smile melancholic. “Many years ago, I used to bring my son here.” He was roughly your age when he did this. His tone grew softer and softer still.
We were impoverished, just like you and your mother. Not much, but we were always able to find time to come here. The strange thing is that we never caught a single fish, even with our greatest attempts.
I looked at him. “Now where is your son?”
He stared out over the sea for a long time without saying anything. His eyes began to brim up with tears.
Eventually, the old man said in a trembling voice, “He’s gone.” “He fell unwell. The doctors said he needed an urgent treatment, but I was unable to pay for it. I could not save him.
My chest tightened. “I apologize.”
He shook his head, blinking back tears. At that moment, I vowed to myself that I would never place myself in that predicament again. I hustled, worked, and developed so that I would never feel that helpless. But I never had any more children.
I wasn’t sure what to say at first, but I sensed he needed to hear it. I stood up and positioned my hand on his shoulder as I stood next to him.
“Your son is watching you from heaven,” I said in a whisper. And one day he’ll witness you landing that fish. There is no way to give up.
He smiled at me, his eyes still full of sorrow. “Thank you, Adam. You actually bring him to mind.
All of a sudden, the bobber on one of our fishing rods sank to the bottom.
“Observe the float!” I yelled.
When the old man’s eyes widened, we both grabbed the rod and tugged hard. But as we struggled, we both stumbled and fell noisily into the pond. I gasped when the icy water struck me, and the elderly man next me burst out laughing as if he hadn’t laughed in years.
He exclaimed, “Well, this is one way to catch a fish!” as I helped pull him up. and made an effort to hold onto the pole.
We were surprised to discover the biggest fish I had ever seen attached to the end of the pole when we eventually managed to drag it back to the coast. The old man rose suddenly, dripping wet but grinning broadly like a child.
“We did it!” he exclaimed, pumping his fists in triumph. “We did manage to catch one!”
I couldn’t help but laugh as I watched him twirl around like he just won the lottery. That didn’t matter at the moment, even though we were soaked to the bone.
Later, he brought me back to the trailer. As we pulled up, he turned to face me, his demeanor grateful and pleasant.
“Thank you, Adam,” he murmured in a voice full of emotion. “I treasured today more than you can ever know.”
I smiled right back. “Thank you for taking me fishing. It was pleasurable.
He reached across to rub my shoulder, a tear slipping down his cheek. “My son, use caution. And continue working toward those goals.
He drove off, leaving me standing there with an odd feeling of warmth in my chest.
The next day, there came a knock on our trailer door. When I opened it, a man in a suit was standing there with a package.
“Adam?” he asked.
“Yes, that describes me,” I responded, glancing at him doubtfully.
“This is Mr. Johnson, I’m Mr. Thompson’s assistant. He asked me to bring it to you,” he said, passing her the package.
When I opened it there and there, there was more money inside than I had ever seen in my life. My jaw dropped wildly. “What’s this for, W?”
Mr. Johnson smiled sweetly. That is, for you and your mother. Sufficient to enable her to relocate to a decent house, obtain healthcare, and go through rehabilitation to be able to walk without discomfort. There’s also the option of individual coaching to help you prepare for college. You will receive full funding for your study, including admission to one of the best colleges in the country.
I found it to be really unbelievable. My mind was racing as I tried to process all he was saying. “However… why?”
Adam, you had a profound impact on Mr. Thompson. You really remind him of his own son. It’s how he shows his appreciation.
I was overcome with emotion as I stood there, touched by the generosity of a man who had once been stranger to us but had now made a lasting effect on our lives. I was at a loss for words, so all I could do was nod in acknowledgment.
Several months had passed since that fishing trip. One afternoon, I came home to find a message written to me on the table. I recognized the penmanship right away. My hands shook as I opened it.
The letter began, “If you are reading this, then my son and I are already watching you from heaven.”
I inhaled deeply and carried on reading.
“The day after our fishing trip, I had heart surgery. I don’t know why I survived, but it’s alright. I never would have thought that I would feel more at peace after meeting you. You reminded me of my child and showed me that joy can persist even in the midst of grief.
I’ve provided you with everything you need to succeed. Remember what you told me that day at the pond? You’ll catch that fish too if you don’t give up, right?
I wiped a tear from my face and returned my attention to the text. I could almost see him smiling next to me beside the lake, and I could hear his voice again.
Fifteen years later, I stood on the porch of the house I built for Mom and watched her laugh with my kids in the backyard.
“You never gave up, Adam,” she said, meeting my gaze with a smile. “He would be pleased.”
With hesitation, I admitted, “I think about him a lot.” “I hope I’ve done him justice.”
“You have,” she said in a quiet voice. “Look at you now, he gave you everything.”
I looked at the house next door and smiled. It wasn’t all about the money, mom. It acted as a prompt to never give up. I will never forget that.
She pressed her hand to mine. And he’s watching. That is something I know.
I looked up at the sky and felt the same calm warmth that I had felt all those years before.
