A tall, white teacher named Mr. Harrison met a little boy named Alex on a cold winter morning. The boy went into a diner, shivering from being cold and hungry, trying to get some warmth. Mr. Harrison, who was sitting by the window, saw the boy having trouble and chose to help.
With a friendly smile, Mr. Harrison asked Alex to come with him and offered to pay for their food. As they sat down, Mr. Harrison found out that Alex’s mother had two jobs and mostly took care of him by herself. Alex’s drive and energy impressed Mr. Harrison, even though he was having a hard time.
After they finished their meal, Mr. Harrison gave Alex some wise words. He told Alex that kindness can go both ways and that one day Alex would be able to return the kindness that had been shown to him. Alex will always remember what Mr. Harrison said to him as they said goodbye.
After seven years, Mr. Harrison had forgotten all about the kid he had helped. But Alex hadn’t forgotten how nice people had been to him. He worked hard, got grants, and now had a good job. Soon, he was going to return the person who had helped him and made a difference in his life.
Alex had found Mr. Harrison through the diner and came to see him out of the blue one day. Alex came over with a gift basket full of food and other things that people need. As they sat down, Alex told Mr. Harrison that he had come to return the kindness he had shown him years before.
Alex started coming over more often over the next few weeks. He brought food, helped with work, and kept Mr. Harrison company. As their time together grew, Mr. Harrison’s life started to change. His small flat used to be dark and empty, but now it was full of jokes and love.
Mr. Harrison gave Alex a package one day while they were sitting together. Alex found a worn-out cheque inside that was from the day they met. He told Mr Harrison that he had kept the cheque as a reminder of Alex’s promise to return the kindness he had received.
Alex was moved to tears as he looked at the bill. Just like Mr. Harrison had done for him, he promised to keep being kind. While they were hugging, Mr. Harrison realised that his small act of kindness had changed both his and Alex’s lives.
Kindness can make a big difference in people’s lives, as the story of Mr. Harrison and Alex shows. A small act of kindness can start a chain effect that makes other people want to do the same. Kindness can go both ways, as Mr. Harrison said, and its benefits can last for a long time.
