Lucky fellow! I gave a chance to a homeless kid… Today, he’s a university student!
Years ago, on an autumn evening, I was heading home. It was quite cold outside, and I was bundled up in my coat. The streets were empty because it was late.
Two blocks from my street, a figure emerged from the shadow of a house and stopped in front of me.
It was a skinny boy in a shirt, holding a knife and trembling—I couldn’t tell if he was cold or scared. He said he wanted my wallet, and I handed it over to him.
Then I took off my coat and offered it to him as well.
He was stunned and asked why I was doing it. I replied that if he was resorting to this, he probably had no other option.
The boy started to cry, and I saw that although tall for his age, he was no more than 15. I suggested he come with me for a cup of tea.
He looked at me skeptically, but he came along anyway.
At that time, I lived alone. My wife had left me for someone who earned much more than I did.
She never gave me the son I wanted. The boy and I entered my home, and he began to look around my living room with curiosity.
We’re happy!
He said he had never seen so many books. He asked if I had read them all and didn’t believe me when I replied, “Yes.”
I told him he could choose one if he wanted. He responded that he had never read a single book in his life.
Then he shared that he had no home.
He grew up on the streets and only went to school until Year 4. When his mother died, they tried to place him in a home, but he ran away. He had been fending for himself ever since. When I asked about his father, he fell silent.
That night, I invited him to stay at my place.
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’d save his troubled soul. And I wasn’t wrong.
Today, Jack is a university student.
He studies and works, paying for his own tuition. He doesn’t want to be a burden to me.
I know that once he finishes his education, he’ll find a good job and one day start a family.
And I will always support him.
Even though I’m not his father by paperwork, he calls me “Dad.”
