Stories by Herremon (3 matches)

She Made My Piano Sing

She was in her late 70s when I met her and no longer physically fit. She was hard of hearing, very opinionated, and spoke broken English very loudly. Plus, she was seldom interested in listening. Instead, she talked almost non-stop.  She had very few friends and had no family anymore, except for a son she last heard from in 1986.  Somehow the winds of fate blew her into my life. I was a young bachelor at the time and, once a year, I used to go to the coast for a holiday. My 10 hour journey passed near the little country town where she lived all by herself. Whenever I felt sorry for her I would pick her up – along with her mountains of luggage – take her to the coast for ten days or so, and then bring her home again. And every year I promised myself that would be ... Read Full Story >>

Grandpa's Investment Pays Off

When I was a student my family went through a few rough financial years. We got by, but only with much effort and many worries. I had a pick-up truck that was forever breaking down and the thought of the 600km drive to school in it was a worrisome one. As I drove away from home my uncle walked up. I stopped and he threw something onto my dashboard. He leaned in the window, speaking softly. "Years ago," he said, "when I was a poor student myself your grandfather once did this to me. I swore one day I would return the gift. And now I have."  Then he walked away without looking back, and I sensed he did so in order to hide his emotions.   A few miles later I opened the envelope. It contained a few bank notes. It was a gift returned more than two decades later to a second ... Read Full Story >>

Buying A Boy A Pair Of Shoes

Last month I bought a 15 year old boy some school shoes. He and his friends hang round a shopping mall quite often where they low-level beg for change. They all dropped out of school after covid. I rarely give them change, but I do talk to them. And I give them small jobs sometimes, like cleaning up the sidewalks in exhange for pay. That way they can get food with dignity.

I've been nagging him for two years to try to get back into school. I'd previously told him that if he was serious, I'd help him. After I'd given up that he would put in the effort, he finally surprised me by telling me that he'd enrolled again but they wouldn't allow him without a uniform and black shoes.

I walked with him to the shop immediately and get him a new pair. I haven't seen him on the streets since, so I hope that means he is now attending.

I hardly remember anything I did last month, except those shoes. I'll forget this year of my life too, in time. But probably not the small thing that happened in it - buying a child a pair of schools so that hopefully he can walk towards a better future.

Thanksgiving Joy For A Homeless Man

87 Year Old Woman Named Rose

Do All, Feel Most

A Simple but Meaningful Act of Gratitude