Lucky day! I gave a chance to a homeless child… Today he’s at university!
Years ago, on an autumn evening, I was making my way home. It was quite chilly outside, and I was bundled up in my coat. The streets were deserted since it was quite late.
Just two blocks from my street, a figure emerged from the shadows of a house and stood before me.
It was a thin boy in a shirt, holding a knife in his trembling hands — I wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or fear. He demanded my wallet, and I handed it over. Then, I took off my coat and offered it to him as well.
He seemed taken aback and asked why I did that. I replied that if he was resorting to this, he probably had no other choice.
The boy began to cry, and I could see that despite his height, he was no older than 15. I suggested he come with me to my home for a cup of tea.
He looked at me with suspicion but decided to follow.
At the time, I was living alone. My wife had left me for someone who earned a lot more than I did.
She never gave me the son I had hoped for. The boy and I entered my home, and he started looking around the living room with curiosity.
“We’re happy here!”
He remarked that he’d never seen so many books before. He asked if I’d read them all and couldn’t believe it when I told him yes.
I told him he could pick one if he wanted. He replied that he’d never read a single book in his life. Then he shared with me that he had no home.
He grew up on the streets and attended school only until the 4th grade. When his mother passed away, they wanted to place him in a home, but he ran away. Since then, he’s managed on his own. When I asked about his father, he fell silent.
That evening, I invited him to stay the night.
I felt such compassion for this homeless child that by morning, I had decided to let him live with me and get him back into school.
I was convinced that if I gave him a chance, I could save his troubled soul. And I was right.
Today, Chris is at university.
He’s studying and working, paying for his tuition all by himself. He doesn’t want to be a burden on me.
I’m confident that once he completes his education, he’ll find a good job and one day start a family.
And I will always support him.
And even though I’m not his father by law, he calls me “Dad.”
