Harold, an angry and lonely old man, was used to living a quiet life. The most important thing to him was his 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, which he worked on most of the days. That was until he caught Ben, a young boy, trying to break into his car. This disturbed his peaceful life.
Harold could have called the cops and had Ben arrested at the end of the fight. Instead, something strange took place. The family that had just moved across the street from Ben started to make up for what their son had done. They brought over plates of food and said they were sorry a lot. As a way of making up for it, Ben offered to wash Harold’s car.
Harold began to see Ben in a different light as he watched Ben work hard on his car. Harold was hesitant at first, but he ended up giving Ben the chance to work on his car and even hinted that the boy might one day receive the car.
In the days that followed, their strange relationship grew. Ben learnt how to fix up old cars, and Harold learnt how important it is to forgive and give second chances. Ben got into trouble again, this time with a group of kids who were trying to get him to do something he didn’t want to. Harold stepped in to help.
They learnt an important lesson from the teens and were able to trick them. The old man felt proud and important in a way he hadn’t felt in years as they walked back to Harold’s house. The man realised that his life didn’t have to be based on how he seemed and that making friends could bring him happiness and meaning.
The old man couldn’t help but feel like he had found a new start on life as he ate with Ben. And it was all because of the friendship he made with a teenage boy who tried to break into his car.
