“People comment about how I changed the young girl’s life. To me however, the encounter changed mine…”

I was day tripping to Vancouver from Seattle and stopped in for lunch at a little café.

From my window I saw a young teenage girl out in the cold, squatted down in a closed up businesses doorway, holding a small bundle in her arms. She was pan-handling. People were mostly walking by ignoring her.

She looked just broken.

I finished up my meal and went outside, went through my wallet and thought I’d give her $5 for some food. I got up to her and she was sobbing, she looked like she was 14-15. And that bundle in her arms was a baby wrapped up.

I felt like I just got punched in the chest.

She looked up, putting on a game face and asked for any change.

I asked her if she’d like some lunch.

Right next door was a small Quick-Trip type grocery store, I got a can of formula for the baby (very young, maybe 2-3 months old.), and took her back to the café, though I’d just eaten. She was very thankful, got a burger and just inhaled it. Got her some pie and ice cream. She opened up and we talked. She was 15, got pregnant, parents were angry and she was fighting with them. She ran away. She’s been gone almost one full year.

I asked her if she’s like to go home and she got silent. I coaxed her, she said her parents wouldn’t want her back. I coaxed further, she admitted she stole $5000 in cash from her Dad. Turns out $5000 doesn’t last long at all, and the streets are tough on a 15 year old. Very tough. She did want to go back, but she was afraid no one wanted her back after what she did.

We talked more, I wanted her to use my phone to call home but she wouldn’t. I told her I’d call and see if her folks wanted to talk to her, she hesitated and gave bad excuses but eventually agreed. She dialled the number and I took the phone, her Mom picked up and I said hello. Awkwardly introduced myself and said her daughter would like to speak to her, silence, and I heard crying. Gave the phone to the girl and she was just quiet listening to her Mom cry, and then said hello. And she cried. They talked, she gave the phone back to me, I talked to her Mom some more.

I drove her down to the bus station and bought her a bus ticket home. Gave her $100 cash for incidentals, and some formula, diapers, wipes, snacks for the road.

Got to the bus, and she just cried saying thank you over and over. I gave her a kiss on the forehead and a hug, kissed her baby, and she got on the bus.

I get a Christmas card every year from her. She’s 21 now and in college.

I’ve never really told anyone about this.

I just feel good knowing I did something good in this world.

Maybe it’ll make up for the things I’ve f-ed up.

This story appeared on Reddit.com on a thread entitled What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done that no one knows about? It was voted top comment of the year.

The Reddit user has since deleted his account. Before he did we approached him and asked his permission to reproduce the story, which he gave.

He also said this: 

“People read and comment about how I changed the young girl’s life. To me however, the encounter changed mine.  How little was required of me to get a young girl back on track. A couple hours of my afternoon, $200 roughly in a meal and a ticket home, just caring enough to listen and make a call. I just can’t help but think what a pittance of a price that is, considering what her life would likely be now if I had just dropped a couple dollars to her and walked on by.

It was a lesson in just how much reaching out, taking a little time, and caring matters.”

Another moving story: The Cab Ride I’ll Never Forget

“Great moments often catch us unawares….”

I looked in the rearview mirror. Her eyes were glistening.

“I don’t have any family left,” she continued. “The doctor says I don’t have very long….”

I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. “What route would you like me to go?” I asked…