“My dog could do a better job with his tongue!” A wealthy man insults a poor boy shining shoes in an underpass and refuses to pay. But fate brings them face-to-face again the very next day, with a surprising twist neither could have expected.
The underground passage echoed with the shuffle of hurried footsteps. Amidst the hustle, 14-year-old Martin sat quietly by the wall, his shoe-shining kit spread before him. His eyes darted hopefully at each passing shoe, praying for a customer…
A teenage boy sitting in an underpass | Source: Midjourney
“Just a handful,” he whispered to himself. “Just a handful today, please.”
As the day wore on, Martin’s stomach growled in protest. The meager breakfast of two bread slices felt like a distant memory. He reached for his water bottle, taking a small sip to quell the hunger pangs.
“You can do this, Martin,” he told himself. “For Mom and Josephine.”
The thought of his paralyzed mother and little sister waiting at home bolstered his courage. He plastered on his best smile, ready to tackle whatever the day would bring.
A sad boy in an underpass | Source: Midjourney
“Shoe shine, sir? Ma’am?” he called out, his voice barely audible above the din of the underpass.
Hours ticked by, but no one stopped. Martin’s hopes began to dwindle, but he refused to give up. As the afternoon sun beat down, he finally allowed himself a moment of respite. Digging into his worn leather bag, he pulled out a small orange, his lunch for the day.
Just as he began to peel it, a pair of dirty brown leather shoes landed in front of him with a heavy thud.
“Hurry up, kid. Clean it. I’m in a rush,” a gruff voice barked.
A brown leather shoe | Source: Pexels
Martin looked up, his heart racing with excitement and trepidation. The man towering above him exuded wealth from head to toe. This could be his chance for a good tip.
“Right away, sir!” Martin said, setting aside his orange and reaching for his supplies.
As he worked on the brown leather shoes, the man’s impatience grew. “What’s taking so long? I don’t have all day!”
A person brushing a brown shoe | Source: Pexels
Martin’s hands trembled slightly, but he focused on giving his best service. “Almost done, sir. I promise it’ll look great.”
The man scoffed. “At your age, I was already making more than my father. I wasn’t shining shoes like some beggar.”
Those words stung poor Martin. It had been three years since a drunk driver had taken his father’s life, leaving their family shattered. The memory of that fateful night still haunted Martin—the screeching tires, the sickening crunch of metal, and the devastating news that followed.
A grave in a cemetery | Source: Pexels
Just months after losing his father, Martin’s world crumbled further when his mother Mariam suffered a stroke, leaving her paralyzed. At just eleven years old, he had shouldered the burden of a provider, sacrificing his childhood to follow in his late father’s footsteps as a shoe shiner.
The memories threatened to overwhelm him, but he pushed them aside. He had a job to finish. He had a family to feed.
“You call this shining?” the man sneered, examining his shoe. “My dog could do a better job with his tongue!”
A wealthy senior man | Source: Freepik
Martin’s cheeks burned with shame. “I’m sorry, sir. I can try again—”
“Forget it,” the man cut him off, pulling out his phone. “Yeah, Sylvester here. Reschedule the meeting to 4. I’ll be late, thanks to this incompetent brat.”
As Sylvester ranted into his phone, Martin’s mind drifted to happier times. He remembered his father’s gentle hands guiding him, teaching him the art of shoe shining.
A distressed teenage boy | Source: Midjourney
“It’s not just about the shine, son,” he’d say. “It’s about dignity. Treat every shoe like it’s the most important one you’ll ever touch.”
“Hey! Are you even listening?” Sylvester’s sharp voice yanked Martin back to reality. “What’s your father doing, sending you out here like this? Too lazy to work himself, huh?”
Martin’s throat tightened. “My father… he passed away, sir.”
Close-up of a sad teenage boy | Source: Midjourney
Sylvester’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, I see. So your mother’s probably moved on with someone else, popping out more kids to send begging, right? Don’t you people have anything better to do?”
Martin’s fists clenched at his sides, but he forced a polite smile. “That’s $7, sir.”
“SEVEN DOLLARS?” Sylvester exploded. “For this pathetic excuse of a shine? I don’t think so, kid.”
Before Martin could react, Sylvester grabbed his shoes and stormed off, leaving Martin empty-handed and heartbroken.
A frustrated senior man | Source: Freepik
“Wait!” he called out, chasing after the man. “Please, sir! I need that money. Please!”
But Sylvester was already in his car, speeding away, leaving poor Martin stranded in a cloud of dust and disappointment.
He slumped against the wall, tears streaming down his face. He looked up at the sky, imagining his father’s face.
“I’m trying, Dad,” he whispered. “I’m really trying.”
His father’s last words echoed in his mind: “Remember, son. Never give up. Each bump is a step closer to your dreams. Remember.”
A sad boy looking up | Source: Midjourney
Wiping his tears, Martin returned to his spot. There was no time for self-pity. No time for tears.
The next morning, Martin was back at his usual spot, setting up his kit with determination. Suddenly, a commotion nearby caught his attention.
“Help! Someone help!” a woman’s frantic voice pierced the air.
Martin rushed towards the sound, his heart pounding.
A startled senior woman covering her mouth | Source: Freepik
A small crowd had gathered around a fancy car, and to his shock, he recognized the man inside. SYLVESTER. The same entitled man who had insulted him.
“He’s choking on an apple!” someone yelled. “The car doors are locked!”
Without hesitation, Martin grabbed a rock from the roadside and smashed the car window. Glass shattered everywhere as he reached in to unlock the door.
“Stand back!” he shouted, pulling Sylvester out onto the pavement.
A car with a broken window | Source: Pixabay
With all his might, Martin delivered several sharp blows to Sylvester’s back. Suddenly, a chunk of apple flew from Sylvester’s mouth, and he gasped for air.
“You… you saved me,” Sylvester wheezed, looking up at Martin with wide, shocked eyes.
Martin helped him to his feet, his own hands shaking. “Are you okay, sir?”
Sylvester nodded, still catching his breath. “I can’t believe it. After how I treated you yesterday… Why did you help me?”
Martin shrugged. “It was the right thing to do.”
A thoughtful senior man holding his glasses | Source: Pexels
Sylvester’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry, kid. I was horrible to you. Please, let me make it up to you. Name your price. Anything!”
Martin thought for a moment, then looked up. “Just the $7 from yesterday. That’s all I want.”
Sylvester stared at him in disbelief. “But… I could give you so much more. A new start, maybe?”
Martin shook his head. “I don’t need a new start, sir. I just need to take care of my family.”
Side view of a teenage boy | Source: Midjourney
Reluctantly, Sylvester handed over the money. As the crowd dispersed, he lingered, studying Martin’s face. “You’re quite something, kid. What’s your name?”
“Martin, sir.”
Sylvester nodded slowly. “Martin. I won’t forget this… or you.”
As Sylvester walked away to his car, Martin clutched the hard-earned money in his fist. He looked up at the sky again, a small smile beaming on his face.
“I remember, Dad,” he whispered. “I always do.”
A smiling teenage boy looking up | Source: Midjourney
The next morning, Martin was jolted awake by his sister’s excited screams.
“Marty! Marty! Come quick!”
He rushed outside, his mother calling after them in confusion. There, on their doorstep, sat a white bag bulging with cash and a note.
A bag full of cash | Source: Pexels
With trembling hands, Martin read aloud:
“Thanks is a small word for what you did. I know you’d refuse this. But you deserve a happy childhood. Took me just an hour to find your address. The world’s a small place, isn’t it?! Hope we meet again someday, and I hope you’re just the pure heart of gold you are!
— Sylvester.”
Tears of joy and shock filled Martin’s eyes. His sister jumped up and down, and their mother called out from inside, clearly shocked at seeing so much money.
“Martin? What’s going on?” she approached in her wheelchair.
A woman in a wheelchair | Source: Pexels
Martin’s mind raced. This money could change everything: his mother’s treatment, Josephine’s education, and their entire future. But was it right to accept it?
He walked to the small altar in their cottage, grabbing two pieces of paper. On one, he wrote “REMEMBER,” and on the other, “FORGET.” He folded them, shuffling them with his hands.
Lighting a candle before the crucifix, Martin closed his eyes. “Dad,” he whispered, “help me make the right choice.”
A burning wax candle against the backdrop of a cross | Source: Pexels
With a deep breath, he picked up a piece of folded paper and slowly opened it. A small smile lit up his face when he saw the word “REMEMBER.”
In that moment, Martin knew. He would accept the money, not for himself, but for his family. He would remember his father’s lessons, his own struggles, and the kindness that can exist even in the hardest of hearts.
A young boy smiling | Source: Midjourney
“Josephine!” he called out, his voice brewing with emotion. “Go tell Mom we’re going to the doctor today. And then… maybe we’ll stop for ice cream on the way home. Get Mom a new comfy mattress. And lots of groceries for the entire week!”
As Josephine’s delighted squeals filled the air, Martin clutched the note to his chest. He had remembered, and in doing so, he had found a way forward.
Side view of a happy boy | Source: Midjourney
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
After A Successful Surgery, This Black Lab Born With A Cleft Lip And Cleft Palate Can Finally Enjoy Playing In Water
After a successful surgery, this black lab born with a cleft lip and cleft palate can finally enjoy playing in water: If you’re a frequent lurker on Imgur, you’ll have meet the adorable face of Felix. Probably the most-loved dog on the social media platform, Felix sure has captured thousands of hearts with his delightfully charming face.
Born with a harelip and a birth defect, Felix has had his justifiable share of struggles. Fortunately, this January, he had surgery to repair his mouth and it had been successful! Now, Felix is as happy and healthy as the other good boy out there, and he even had his first splash in the river recently, which wouldn’t are possible a year ago! “I got Felix as an 11-day old puppy. I used to be the rescue worker who was called in by the breeder after they noticed that one among the puppies from their litter wasn’t thriving, and was, in fact, dying because he had a severe birth defect and harelip, and wasn’t ready to nurse off of his mother properly,” Jamie, Felix’s rescuer and then the owner shared with Bored Panda. “He had developed bronchopneumonia at now and wasn’t getting to live another 24 hours. I took him home with me and tube-fed him for subsequent 7 weeks. I treated his pneumonia also . he’s now a 14-month-old adult Black Lab!”
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the explanation for a harelip and palate is unknown,” Jamie told Bored Panda. “It may be a birth defect found in animals and humans, and is assumed to flow from to improper nutrition within the mother, or exposure to chemicals during gestation.” Sadly, the hare lip and palate aren’t the sole medical conditions that this adorable boy has. But he doesn’t let catch on in the way of his happiness! “Felix also has some digestive issues because his colon formed on the precise opposite side of his body that it had been supposed to! Weird but it works. He only has one functioning eyeball, his jaws don’t match up, and therefore the right side of his face seems like a melted candle, but aside from that he’s ok I suppose,” Felix’s owner told us. “None of his teeth match up either, so he has got to mostly eat canned foods. Sometimes I give him hard food so he can desire “one of the gang” but it’s quite hard for him to scoop it up. Keeps him busy though.”
Image credits: thevaiobandit101
“Felix had corrective surgery on January 31st to correct his clefts,” Jamie, Felix’s owner shared with Bored Panda. “He features a unilateral birth defect that involved both hard and soft palates. His Doctor was ready to reconstruct the roof of his mouth using his own tissue, and even rebuilt his taste bud, because it was nonexistent. Ever since his surgery, probably thanks to his skull shifting, he suffers from a neurological tic now that causes him to spin and bark at the air occasionally. We try new medications to assist him out thereupon .”
Felix’s owner told Bored Panda that the bomber was unable to eat and drink normally before his surgery. “I had to use a specialized tool that I made to wash the food out of his cleft whenever he ate,” she explained. “He also had to be regularly sedated so it might be cleaned and flushed at the vet. Just one occasion there was a whole salmon skin up there (we sleep in Alaska), and once more there was a plastic dental floss stuck up in there. He was quite a multitude .”
Fortunately, for Felix, he lives during a big and loving family. “Felix has 4 siblings!” Jamie told Bored Panda. “I have another dog with a cleft (not as severe and didn’t require surgery). His name is Sammy and he’s an Australian Cattle Dog. I even have a miniature dachshund named PB who is 12 years old. I even have daughter, a terrier from Bethel Alaska. And eventually , there’s Meera, who seems like a 20-pound brindle whippet. they’re an odd bunch, and everyone from the rescue. I work for a veterinarian who does exclusively rescue work. He’s an excellent man. Felix gets along great with all of his brothers and sisters, also as his cat friend, and any and every one fosters that I bring home. I even have fostered overflow 400 dogs since 2013.”
Apparently, Felix is feeling happy and safe living with his loving owner and siblings. “Felix is that the happiest dog I’ve ever had,” Jamie shared. “He is blissfully unaware of his health problems, and he has more energy than he or I do know what to try to to with. i used to be ready to take him swimming for the primary time in his life this past weekend, and he did great. I hope to be ready to train him to be a “real retriever” this summer. If I might have tried to need him swimming before his surgery, he would have drowned in seconds.”
Image credits: thevaiobandit101
If there’s one thing that this happy and energetic goofball likes to do, it’s certainly playing! “Felix likes to play ball – he will roll in the hay allllll day if you’ll throw it,” his owner told Bored Panda. “He is in a position to eat and drink normally now, and he’s the strongest dog I’ve ever known. After his surgery, he had a feeding tube beginning of his neck and that i had to push liquid petfood through it for a couple of weeks. He never complained and stood so still while I did it. He couldn’t have anything in his mouth, which was difficult, because he likes to have something in his mouth in the least times! He has been a true trooper, and that i hope that the remainder of his life are going to be great!” Obviously, Felix is extremely loved in his house. There, he gets to play with other dogs, cats, and his favorite stuffed animals. In fact, he loves the stuffed toys such a lot , he recently ate two of them and had to possess surgery! So, this adorable lab is not any different from other good Labrador boys
“Seeing him like this after his surgeries is that the best reward. What a man ,” Felix’s owner gushes. “He may be a happy boy.” Jamie is quite glad that Felix is a part of her life. “I have had people say that I should have put him down, but I’m glad I didn’t,” she told Bored Panda. “He may be a great advocate for overcoming challenges, looking a touch bit different than your friends, and for having your pets spayed or neutered!” Make sure to see out the Imgur account where Felix’s owner posts his photos and videos! Promise, you won’t be disappointed but rather rewarded with daily heartwarming content!
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