Sam was taught to remain humble and keep his head down from a young age. He never let his school’s bullies bring him down. But would he be able to maintain his integrity when his luck improved?

As a child, Sam used lemons to make lemonade. When he was still a baby, his father died. Since then, when he had time off from school, he had assisted his mother, Susan, in making additional money. Because they were unable to afford a home or an apartment, Sam and Susan lived in a trailer park.

Susan, who was autistic and had trouble finding a stable work, made just enough money to cover Sam’s school tuition and keep the lights on. “We may not have much, but always be grateful for the little that we do have,” Susan would say to her son.

Sam was teased all the time in class. He was frequently referred to by school bullies as a “bum” and a “broke boy.” It was reportedly said to him by one bully, Jared, that “People like you will always be stuck living in trailers.”

Sam learned from his mother that he needed to have a thick skin in order to survive, therefore he never let the taunts depress him. He continued to hope that he and his mother would one day acquire a mansion.

Tobey, their landlord, arrived to collect the rent one day. Tobey had posters all throughout town and was also a local real estate agent. When a huge storm hit town while Tobey was there, he attempted to head home quickly but his car wouldn’t start.

“My stepdad taught me that I’ll never find happiness if there’s bitterness in my heart.”

“Sir, don’t worry. Sam remarked, “I’ll check under the hood to see what’s wrong.” Sam could fix anything with a motor since he was so adept. He worked as a mechanic’s assistant in town on the weekends. Sam had Tobey’s automobile fixed in less than an hour.

“I’m grateful, child. “I’ve never witnessed an engine being fixed in the rain before,” Tobey remarked. “No issue, sir. However, you might want to have it serviced,” Sam said. Tobey gave Sam a side job of washing his car every two weeks after being impressed by his cunning.

Sam came to terms with it and eventually grew to like Tobey, whom he viewed as a father figure. While Sam was busy, Tobey would spend time with Susan whenever he brought his car to be washed. He quickly learned that she possessed a number of impressive paintings of the town and familiar persons.

She was asked by Tobey if she was an artist. “No, I just draw stuff from memory,” Susan said. The two fell in love after Susan found out that Tobey had also been widowed a few years prior. Susan started selling her artwork when Tobey assisted her in setting up a modest art studio.

Jared discovered that Sam wasn’t at school one day. He recommended to his pals that they visit Sam.

“Let’s go see what the broke boy is getting up to in his wrecked hut,” Jared chuckled.

They noticed that Sam and his mother were loading items into a high-end SUV as they approached his trailer. When they learned he was leaving, they started to wonder.

Jared and his buddies attempted to follow Sam, Susan, and Tobey as they drove away. They quickly lost sight of the SUV since it was too fast for them to follow on their motorcycles.

After school the next day, Jared and his pals followed Sam to find out where he had relocated. As it happened, Sam had relocated to a posh apartment building. Jared noticed later that afternoon that Sam’s mother and Tobey were holding hands. Jared had seen Tobey’s posters around town and knew who he was.

“Holy cow, Sam’s mom is dating the real estate guy!” Jared informed his pals. The fact that the same child they had been making fun of for years for being impoverished had moved into a luxurious penthouse astounded them. The fact that Sam didn’t boast about it at all struck them as much stranger. Nothing seems to have changed.

“I was a real piece of work back then, but life has done a good job of humbling me since.”

Jared never made fun of Sam again after that day.

Jared got an invitation in the mail ten years later. “You are cordially invited to a very special 10th-anniversary party…” it said. The name on the invitation looked familiar, and Jared could see that the party was being hosted in a penthouse apartment.

He was shocked to discover that Sam had planned the whole thing when he got there. All of Sam and Jared’s classmates were present, and everything was prepared, including the food and beverages. Everyone wanted to know what Sam did for a living and how he managed to live in such an opulent condo.

In order to make amends for his treatment of him throughout high school, Jared made the decision to talk to him.

“Hey, dude. I sincerely apologize for the bullying I used to do in school. It wasn’t cool. Jared told Sam, “I was a real piece of work back then, but life has done a good job of humbling me since.”

Since he now lives in the same trailer park where Sam once lived, Jared told Sam that he felt like karma had caught up with him. Sam was forgiving of Jared’s behavior at school and showed him kindness.

“I realize you’re going through a difficult moment, but I’ll share with you something my mother used to say to me. Even though you might not have much, Sam advised him to always be thankful for what he did have. Sam was asked by some of his former classmates how he was able to afford such a wonderful apartment.

Sam disclosed that he had taken over his stepfather’s business and that Tobey had taught him the ins and outs of selling luxury real estate. “Many years ago, I learned an important lesson from my stepdad. “He told me that if I have bitterness in my heart, I will never be happy,” Sam remarked.

He went on to say that before Tobey fell in love with Susan, he and his mother had often been late with their rent. Tobey offered them several chances to pay the rent rather than throwing them out.

His generosity ensured that Sam and Susan never experienced total homelessness. Susan and Tobey soon got married and formed an unbreakable family.

All of Sam’s classmates told him that he was the school’s pride and congratulated him on his accomplishment.

What does this narrative teach us?

• Negativity should never bring you down. At school, Sam refused to let Jared bring him down. He remained nice and modest, and Jared eventually realized his errors.
• A small act of kindness has a big impact. For Tobey and his mother, Sam’s small act of kindness changed their lives.

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