Boy Gives up Dream Shoes to Buy Boots for Poor Classmate, Soon Truck Stops at His House to Reward Him — Story of the Day

12-year-old David was excited to buy new sneakers after saving up for months but decided to buy boots for his classmate whose shoes were tattered. Little did he know that his kindness would be rewarded in an unexpected way.

David always found himself a window seat on the school bus back home. As always, he opened the window wide and let the afternoon breeze brush across his face as he recollected the game he played that day, moment by moment.

“That was unbelievable, what you did on the field today!” one of his mates had said.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

“I think we’ve got a national-level player on our hands, guys. Get your autographs while you can!” another player teased David, patting his back almost a bit too hard.

That was the distant dream — playing for his country and creating history, like all his soccer heroes.

David could almost taste it; the sweet air of victory and pride when his team and he held the golden championship trophy and smiled for the photographs.

David would constantly rehearse what he would say for the cameras and the papers at the end of the match. How he rose from humble beginnings. And how he owed his mother everything he had become.

“Excuse me, may I sit here?”

David was so deep in his daydream that he didn’t realize one of his classmates had asked permission to sit next to him.

The boy sat down next to David, hugged his backpack, and started dreaming his own dream. ‘I want to become the best soccer player in the school. Just like David. I can’t believe I’m sitting next to him!’

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

The boy was a true fan of David’s game and wouldn’t miss a chance to watch him play. In his mind, David was everything he wanted to be. He wanted to play like him, have tons of friends like him, and even wear those fancy soccer shoes David was wearing.

‘These old tattered shoes should do…for now,’ the boy thought, hiding his feet under the seat out of embarrassment.

Guillermo was always shy and found it challenging to make friends. One day, the boy finally found the courage to talk to his hero.

“Hi, David! I’m Guillermo. I’m your biggest fan!”

“Oh? Hi, Guillermo! Thank you.”

There was an awkward silence as David went back to daydreaming.

“I…really like your shoes!” Guillermo blurted the first thing that came to his mind.

“These? These are really old, and the soles have already started to come off. You should see the new shoes I’ll be getting…” David’s eyes lit up, thinking about the dreamy pair of sneakers he had been saving up for.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

“Tell me more about them!” Guillermo said, slowly tucking his feet under the seat. He didn’t want David to see how ugly and tattered his own shoes were.

“Well, they’re perfect! They’re neon orange, and they’ve got unbeatable grip…”

It had been seven months since David had been raising money to buy the pair of sneakers he wanted. This was the first time the 12-year-old wanted to buy something for himself. And he wanted to do it without burdening his mother. He knew how hard his mother worked, struggling to provide for him and his two younger twin sisters.

“Mom, you don’t need to contribute. Tracy and Katie have their birthdays coming up soon, and you need to save up to throw a tea party, remember?”

David saved up enough money. He did it with the help of a short paper route every morning and the savings from the lemonade stand he had put up the last vacation. Until one day, his piggy bank was full, and he finally had enough to bring his dream shoes home.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

On the bus ride home from school that day, he couldn’t stop talking about it with Guillermo.

“Guillermo! I did it! I’m going straight to the store after homework this evening and buying the best sneakers in town. In fact, I’ll come and pick you up, and you can accompany me to the shop. It’s going to be the best feeling ever!”

Guillermo felt genuine happiness for his idol. That’s when the bus suddenly jolted over a pothole, and one of Guillermo’s shoes fell off onto the bus floor.

David was taken aback at the sight of the worn-out, blackened shoe. It was a pair of thin, low-quality summer shoes that had seen too many seasons. There were holes in the sole, the canvas was coming apart, and there was no sign of a lace.

Guillermo let the other shoe fall, giving in to the feeling of shame.

David had tears in his eyes when he looked at his friend, hiding his face in his palms, sobbing quietly but uncontrollably. The two boys didn’t know what to say to each other for the rest of the ride.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

“Be ready by 5 o’clock!” David finally reminded Guillermo of the evening’s plan to visit the store. There was no way David was going to the store alone. Not after what he had seen.

“Ah, David! Here to pick up your new pair of soccer shoes? I’ve got them packed and ready right here.”

“Hold on, sir. Could you show me a pair of those in a smaller size?” David said, pointing at a pair of comfortable boots.

Always help the needy whenever you can.

The shop owner, Mr. Manning, was confused. “But the ones I packed are your exact size, Dave.”

“Not for me, for my friend here,” Dave replied.

Guillermo couldn’t believe what he had heard. He couldn’t possibly let David do that.

“No, David, I don’t need—”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

David squeezed Guillermo’s hand and blinked softly to quiet him. “I’ve got this, Guillermo. You’re always calling me your hero. Let me try and be one for you.”

Mr. Manning heard this exchange between the boys and felt a warmth of love and affection rise in his chest. He knew exactly what to do.

“Woah, this one looks great on you, friend. And it’s the absolute best we’ve got in this store.”

David was finally satisfied with the pair of boots he had bought for his friend. Guillermo’s shame had turned to overwhelm, gratitude, and pure joy over his unexpected gift.

As the boys left the store and cycled away, Mr. Manning signaled his staff. “Listen, there’s something we need to do right away…”

“David! There’s someone at the door for you! He arrived with an entire truck, actually.” David’s mother couldn’t make heads or tails of the strange visitor, either.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

David rushed to the door and found a familiar face. It was Mr. Manning, the shoe store owner. “I heard you talking to your friend at the store, Dave. I know what you did.”

David’s mother leaned in with a crease of suspicion sitting on her brow.

“I know how much you wanted those spiked sneakers, and I’ve seen you selling lemonade and delivering newspapers. And today, I saw you let all that desire go, just so you could help a friend who was in deeper need than you were.”

David lowered his head out of shyness, catching a glimpse of the proud look on his mother’s face from the corner of his eye.

“And I think this kind of kindness and friendship ought to be celebrated in this day and age. So come on! Get on the back of this truck and pick up as many pairs of shoes as you’d like. For you, your mother, and the twins… Don’t worry about the money; this is all on me.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images

David hesitated, looking to his mother for approval. As soon as she nodded, he dashed towards the truck with eyes shining in excitement.

“Hurry, we’ve still got to get to your friend’s house. There are free shoes for him and his family, too!”

What do we learn from this story?

Always help the needy whenever you can. Although David worked hard to buy new sneakers, he used the money to help Guillermo, who was wearing torn shoes.

An act of kindness can be infectious. The shoe store owner noticed David’s kindness. He was inspired by the boy’s actions and decided to help his and his friend’s family.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a boy who received his favorite sneakers from the thrift shop as a gift on his birthday. He noticed an inscription on it and was shocked to learn about its previous owner.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.

My MIL Left Me During Labor, and What Happened Next Was Unbelievable

My mother-in-lawm. Each time she stepped out, I heard strange voices outside. When I finally saw what it was, I couldn’t move.

When I told Josh I wanted a home birth, his face lit up like a child on Christmas morning. But his mother, Elizabeth, was even more excited. You would have thought we had just given her the keys to a shiny new car.

Oh, Nancy! This is such great news!” Elizabeth exclaimed, putting her hands together. “I have to be there to support you both. I can help with anything you need!”

I looked at Josh, raising my eyebrows. His shrug told me he was leaving the decision up to me.

I don’t know, Elizabeth,” I replied, sounding unsure. “It’s going to be really intense.”

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She waved my worries away. “Nonsense! I’ve been through this myself. I know exactly what you’ll need.”

I bit my lip, thinking it over. Maybe having an extra pair of hands wouldn’t be so bad, right? It would also mean a lot to Josh if I invited his mother to help with our home birth.

“Okay,” I finally agreed. “You can be there.”

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Elizabeth squealed with delight, her excitement so loud it could have scared the neighborhood dogs.

The big day finally came. Our midwife, Rosie, was setting up her things when Elizabeth rushed in, her arms full of bags.

“You won’t regret this, Nancy,” she said, hugging me tightly. “I promise to be the best support you could ask for.”

“I’m here!” she announced, as if we could have missed her entrance. “What do you need me to do?”

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I was about to respond when a contraction hit, taking my breath away. Josh was instantly by my side, his hand on my lower back as I tensed and groaned.

“Just… put your things down for now,” I managed to say.

As the contraction passed, I noticed Elizabeth fidgeting, her eyes darting around the room. She seemed more nervous than excited, and I felt that something was off.

“Are you okay?” I asked, frowning.

She turned, startled. “What? Oh, yes! Just thinking about how I can help. You’re doing great, honey. Just keep pushing.”

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Before I could ask her anything else, she rushed out the door, mumbling something about getting me some water.

Josh squeezed my hand. “Want me to talk to her?”

I shook my head. “No, it’s fine. She’s probably just nervous. It’s our first baby, right?”

As my labor went on, Elizabeth’s behavior became stranger. She would pop in, ask how I was doing, then leave again. Each time she returned, she seemed more flustered.

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During a strong contraction, I held Josh’s hand so tightly I thought I might break it. As the pain faded, I heard a weird sound.

“Josh,” I panted, “do you hear that?”

He tilted his head to listen. “Sounds like… voices?”

I nodded, relieved I wasn’t imagining it. “And is that music?”

Josh frowned, kissed my forehead, and said, “I’ll check it out. I’ll be right back.”

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As he left, Rosie smiled at me. “You’re doing great, Nancy. Not long now.”

When Josh came back, he looked pale, like he had seen a ghost.

“What is it?” I asked, dreading his answer.

He ran his hand through his hair, looking upset. “You’re not going to believe this. My mother is throwing a party. In our living room.”

I stared at him, thinking I must have misheard. “A what?”

“A party,” he repeated, frustration in his voice. “There are at least a dozen people out there.”

The pain of labor was nothing compared to the anger that flooded me. I struggled to get up, ignoring my midwife’s protests.

“Nancy, you shouldn’t—”

“I need to see this for myself,” I growled.

Josh helped me as we made our way to the living room. The scene was surreal. People were chatting and drinking, as if it were a casual Sunday barbecue.

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A banner hung on the wall that read: “WELCOME BABY!”

Elizabeth was in the middle of it all, chatting with a group of women I didn’t recognize. She didn’t even notice us.

“What the heck is going on here?” I shouted, my voice slicing through the chatter.

The room went silent, all eyes on us. Elizabeth turned around, her face going pale when she saw me.

“Nancy! Oh my God! What are you doing here? You’re supposed to—”

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“Elizabeth, what is happening here?”

“Oh, I… we were just…”

“Just what? Turning my home birth into a show?”

Elizabeth looked offended. “Now, Nancy, don’t be dramatic. We’re just celebrating!”

“Celebrating? I’m in labor, Elizabeth! This isn’t a party!”

She waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, you wouldn’t even know we were here! I thought you’d like the support.”

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I felt another contraction coming on and gritted my teeth against the pain and anger. “Support? This is a circus!”

Josh stepped forward, his voice low and serious. “Everyone needs to leave. Now.”

People scrambled to grab their things, and Elizabeth tried one last time. “Nancy, you’re overreacting. This is a happy time!”

I turned to her, my words sharp. “This is my home birth. My moment. If you can’t respect that, you can leave too.”

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Without waiting for a response, I waddled back to the bedroom to finish what I started, leaving Josh to handle the chaos.

Hours later, as I held my newborn son, the earlier drama felt like a distant nightmare. Josh sat beside me, eyes full of wonder as he stroked our baby’s cheek.

“He’s perfect!” he whispered.

I nodded, too overwhelmed for words. We enjoyed the quiet until a soft knock at the door broke the peace.

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Elizabeth peeked in, her eyes red. “Can I… can I come in?”

My jaw tightened. “No!”

Her face fell. “Please, Nancy. I’m so sorry. I just want to see the baby.”

I looked at Josh, feeling torn. He squeezed my hand gently, his eyes understanding but pleading.

“Fine. Five minutes.”

Elizabeth walked in slowly, as if worried I might change my mind. Her face looked pale and drawn as she came closer to the bed.

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“Nancy, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. I got so excited and carried away.”

I didn’t respond, just stared at her. Josh cleared his throat. “Do you want to see your grandson, Mom?”

Elizabeth nodded, tears falling as Josh carefully handed our son to her. As she held him, her whole demeanor changed. The party-planner was gone, replaced by a gentle, awed grandmother.

After a few minutes, I spoke up. “It’s time for him to feed.”

Elizabeth nodded and reluctantly gave the baby back to me. She lingered at the door. “Thank you for letting me see him,” she said softly before leaving.

As the door closed, Josh turned to me. “Are you okay?”

I shook my head. “No. What she did… I can’t just forgive and forget, Josh.”

He nodded and pulled me close. “I understand. We’ll work it out together.”

In the weeks that followed, I struggled with how to move on. Part of me wanted to keep Elizabeth away from our son’s first celebration as revenge for her party crash.

I was still angry and hurt, which made it hard to think about including her.

But as I watched her care for our baby during her visits, always respectful of our space and routines, I realized there was a better way.

When it was time to plan the baby’s first party, I picked up the phone and called her.

“Elizabeth? It’s Nancy. I was hoping you could help with the preparations for the baby’s party next weekend.”

There was a long silence on the line. Finally, she spoke. “You want my help? After what I did?”

“Yes. Because this is what family does. We forgive, learn, and move forward together.”

I could hear tears in her voice as she replied, “Oh, Nancy. Thank you. I promise I won’t let you down.”

True to her word, Elizabeth was calm and helpful during the party. She worked quietly in the background, glowing with pride as we introduced our son to family and friends.

As the last guest left, she came up to me, her eyes shining. “Thank you for letting me be part of this, Nancy. I see now that this is how we celebrate: with love and respect.”

I smiled, feeling the barriers between us break down. “That’s right, Elizabeth. Welcome to the family!”

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