Arlene sent her seven-year-old, Justin, to visit his father, Pierce, in Orlando. Pierce waited for his son in anticipation of all the fun they would have, but his flight had allegedly arrived, and his son was nowhere to be found. That’s when both parents started worrying and realized their shocking mistake.
Arlene and her son, Justin, were at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia. The seven-year-old was about to board a flight to Orland, Florida, where his father, Pierce, awaited him. It was the first time he had traveled as an unaccompanied minor, but luckily, the airline attendant made her feel safe.
“It’s going to be alright. Many minors travel alone around the country, and we should reach your husband in time,” she stated. “He’ll have an escort, and this flight is best because there are no connections. Everything will be perfect.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Arlene nodded, her face filled with emotion. Justin might be growing, but he was still a child. It was hard to let him go, mainly because he hadn’t seen his father in years. After their bitter divorce, Pierce moved from Virginia to Orlando, Florida, and he was busy most of the time.
“How is that possible?” Arlene wailed, almost starting to cry from the worry and exasperation. But something occurred to her at that moment. “Give me a second.”
However, his company had just given him a two-week vacation, and he invited Justin to come to spend time with him. They were going to the theme parks, so that Arlene couldn’t say no. Her son was too excited because he loved everything relating to superheroes and dinosaurs. It was his dream.
But now, she was almost regretting it. “Ok, Justin. You’re going to with this lady and get on the plane. Listen to the adults around. Don’t run off from your escort, and you’ll reach your dad soon. When you land in Orlando, you call me immediately. And then, call me again when you meet your father. Understand?” she requested, kneeling in front of the kid and holding his arms tenderly.
“Yes, Mom!” he replied, smiling and doing a makeshift military salute. This kid had a great sense of humor. He was going to love that trip.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Ok. Love you. Go on!” she continued and watched as Justin grabbed the attendant’s hand and entered the gate.
She thought about leaving but sat down at an airport café. She was going to wait for the plane to take off. But once she saw that the flight had taken off, she decided to stay and wait for Justin’s call if anything happened. After all, the flight was less than two hours long. The time would pass quickly.
***
Meanwhile, Pierce was waiting for Justin at Orlando International Airport, and he couldn’t wait. He was just as excited as the kid to see all the attractions at the park. It was crazy that he had lived in the city for years but had yet to attend. His work kept him way too busy. This trip was going to be amazing.
He arrived an hour before Justin’s flight and went to the arrival area to wait for him. Finally, the flight landed, and Pierce got closer to the gate so his son could see him immediately. “I should have made a sign,” he muttered to himself as he saw other people waiting for their loved ones. It was too late now. He stayed in the front at all times.
However, many passengers came out, and there was no Justin. According to the unaccompanied minor service, Arlene said that he would have top priority. So, someone should have brought him out already. He didn’t want to call her yet to avoid worrying her. Maybe, Justin had to go to the bathroom, which could explain the delay. He would wait for a while.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
But at one point, no other passengers were coming out of the arrival area. It had been an hour since the plane landed. It shouldn’t take that long. He approached someone from the airline and started asking questions. An attendant came to assist him.
“I’m sorry, sir. There was no one by the name of Justin on that flight. We have no record of an unaccompanied minor serviced hired for it either,” the attendant, shocking Pierce.
“That’s impossible. Please, check again,” he demanded, trying to stay calm, but the sweat on his forehead gave away his fears.
The assistant typed away on her computer, and Pierce’s phone rang. It was Arlene. Hopefully, she knew what was going on. “Hello?”
“Hey, Pierce. Why didn’t you guys call me when Justin arrived? I told him to call me when the plane landed and when you met with him,” Arlene wondered, and he could tell that she was agitated for some reason.
“Arlene, listen. I’m sorry to say this, but Justin has not arrived. An attendant here said that he was not on the flight. I don’t understand what’s going on,” he was forced to reveal, and Arlene yelled in his ear.
“No! That’s crazy! NO! Tell the attendant to check again!” she started yelling. “I’m going to talk to someone on my end too. I’m still at the airport.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Ok. Listen, calm down. Everything will be alright. There must be a mix-up or something,” he said, trying to calm his ex-wife because he knew she was prone to hysterics.
“I’m not calming down! This is our child, Pierce! Talk to you later!” she screamed and hung up.
“Sir, like I said. There was no Justin on the flight. There’s nothing I can do. Are you sure this is the airline?” the attendant asked.
“Yes! It’s the only flight that arrived at this time from Virginia! My son was on that flight. My ex-wife just confirmed. Please, help me, miss. He’s only seven. Can you call anyone? Should I call the police?” Pierce started asking questions rapidly. The attendant sighed and grabbed her phone.
***
“Justin, where are you? Why didn’t you call me sooner? What’s happening?” Arlene asked desperately on her phone.
“Mom, we have been trying to find Dad for hours, and he’s nowhere. Did you talk to him?” the little boy said through the phone.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Your father is right at the arrival area. He’s just as worried as I am. Please, give the phone to your escort,” Arlene requested and demanded an explanation from the woman, who only reiterated what Justin said earlier. There was no Pierce anywhere in the airport.
She told them to wait until she called again and dialed her ex’s number. “Pierce, Justin called me and said they’ve been looking for you for a long time. What’s going on?” she said, one hand running through her hair in frustration. She knew Justin was safe, but there was no reason why they couldn’t find each other.
“There’s no way, Arlene. That’s impossible. People here are saying he was not on the flight!” Pierce stated.
“How is that possible?” Arlene wailed, almost starting to cry from the worry and exasperation. But something occurred to her at that moment. “Give me a second.”
She went to her emails where she had sent Pierce the flight details. However, she had written them instead of sending a screenshot, and she suddenly realized her big mistake. “Pierce,” she started, again putting the phone in her ear. “Where are you?”
“What do you mean? I’m at Orlando International Airport. Why?” Pierce questioned, confused by her words. But something clicked in his brain at that moment.
“Justin arrived at Orlando Sanford International Airport!” Arlene yelled, and Pierce took off in a run.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Jesus! Arlene, why didn’t you say that in your email! Most flights got to MCO!” he scolded her breathlessly as he ran to his car. “I’ll be there in 30 minutes!”
While Pierce was on his way, Arlene called Justin and explained to his escort what had happened. She was relieved too, and they waited for Pierce to arrive.
Less than an hour later, Justin called her. “I’m with Dad, Mom! Thank you for helping me! I’ll send you pics of Disney soon!”
Arlene hung up the phone with her son and breathed deeply as if she couldn’t get enough air in her lungs. Finally, she walked to her car.
What can we learn from this story?
- You must send all the details of a flight and check several times. These poor parents worried so much because they had not communicated well enough. Luckily, nothing happened, and they resolved the issue.
- It’s always best to fly with your kids. While an unaccompanied minor service is perfect for busy parents and other situations, Arlene should have traveled with her son if she was going to worry so much. She would have avoided worrying so much.
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 woman who adopted a boy she found on the side of the road, and his father showed up years later.
This account is inspired by our reader’s story 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.
A Secret Santa Gift Unlocked the Mystery of My Mother’s Disappearance — Story of the Day
Two years after my mother vanished without a trace, I unwrapped a Secret Santa gift and froze. Inside was her necklace—a piece she’d never part with. I needed to find out who my Secret Santa was and where he had found that treasure.
The office was alive with holiday cheer. Strings of twinkling lights draped across cubicles, and a faint scent of cinnamon lingered in the air. Around me, colleagues laughed and exchanged Secret Santa gifts. I tried to smile but couldn’t shake the emptiness that had settled in my chest.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
For two years, the holidays had been hollow. My mother had vanished without a trace, walking out the door one cold morning and never returning. No note, no goodbye.
The police called it a voluntary disappearance. I called it impossible. Mom would never leave me willingly, not without a reason.
“Your turn, Sophie!” Jenna’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
She stood beside me, clutching her mug of hot chocolate, her cheeks pink from excitement or maybe a marshmallow overdose.
I stepped forward. The attention made my skin prickle, but I reached for the small, gold-wrapped box on the table. My fingers worked quickly, untying the ribbon and peeling back the paper.
I wasn’t expecting much. Maybe a candle or a coffee mug with a cheesy slogan. But the moment I opened the box, the world seemed to tilt.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Inside lay a necklace. HER necklace.
The delicate silver chain glinted under the office lights, and the aquamarine pendant shimmered like a tiny ocean. My breath caught as I turned it over.
There it was. “AMELIA,” etched into the back. My hands trembled.
“Sophie? You okay?” Jenna whispered to me.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“I’m fine. It’s just… this necklace. It belonged to my mom.”
“Oh, wow! That’s a coincidence,” she said, leaning in for a better look. “It’s gorgeous.”
Coincidence? No. It can’t be. How did this end up here? Who had given it to me?
For the first time in two years, I had a tiny, fragile thread to follow. And I wasn’t letting it go.
***
The next morning, I walked into the office with the necklace tucked safely in my pocket. My mind buzzed with questions, but one stood out: “Who was my Secret Santa?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
By mid-morning, I couldn’t hold back any longer. As a group of colleagues gathered around the coffee machine, I approached cautiously.
“Hey, does anyone know who might’ve been my Secret Santa?”
Jenna, always the cheerful one, piped up first. “Secret Santa is supposed to be anonymous, Sophie. That’s the fun of it!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“I know, but…” I hesitated, pulling the necklace out of my pocket and letting it dangle from my fingers. “This is my mother’s necklace. She’s been missing for two years, and… well, it’s the first clue I’ve had.”
The room fell silent. Even Jenna didn’t seem to know what to say. Then, from across the room, Margaret’s voice rang out, sharp as ever.
“Who else could it be?” She rolled her eyes, walking toward us. “Thomas, obviously. He’s the only one around here who’d buy something from a flea market and call it a gift.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
I blinked, surprised by her bluntness. Margaret had been after Thomas for months, dropping not-so-subtle hints and invitations to dinner until, finally, he gave in and agreed to go out with her. So, she guarded him like a hawk, as if every interaction he had was a potential threat to their fragile new relationship.
“Thomas?” I turned to look at him, standing awkwardly behind Margaret.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Uh, yeah,” he said, scratching the back of his neck. “I just thought it was pretty and…”
Margaret smirked. “Exactly. Typical Thomas.”
I ignored her tone, focusing instead on him. “Where did you get it? Do you remember the seller?”
“Yeah, it was a stall at the flea market downtown. I can show you where. If you want.”
“No, you can’t,” Margaret interjected, placing a hand on his arm. “You have work to finish, Thomas. Remember the reports? Or do you want to stay late again?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Her voice dripped with jealousy. The tension between them made me squirm.
“It’s fine,” I said quickly, not wanting to cause a scene. “I’ll check it out myself. Thanks anyway, Thomas.”
Frustration bubbled inside me as I left the office. Margaret’s possessiveness was maddening, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it. I headed straight to the flea market, determined to find the seller.
***
The market was overwhelming, with its endless stalls and the chatter of bargaining voices. It took over an hour, but I finally found the vendor. When I showed him the necklace, his face lit up in recognition.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“I remember this piece,” he said, his voice tinged with nostalgia. “That aquamarine is rare. It cost a fortune! I bought it from a woman outside a small shop in another town. She seemed… troubled.”
My heart raced. “Do you remember the shop?”
He scribbled down an address on a scrap of paper and handed it to me. “Here you go, miss.”
I glanced at the paper and frowned. “Wait… this is in another state?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
The man nodded. “Oh, yes. It’s a small shop just over the border. Quite the journey.”
I sighed. “Great. Just my luck.”
Armed with the address, I tried booking a train and found out they were all full. As I stood there, weighing my options, a familiar voice called out behind me.
“Need a ride?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
I turned to see Thomas, slightly out of breath but smiling. “Margaret wasn’t thrilled, but I couldn’t let you do this alone.”
“Thomas! I need to get to another state by evening. But it’s Christmas Eve. Margaret is already…”
He cut me off with a shrug and a grin. “Margaret will get over it. Besides, this seems more important.”
For a brief moment, we were driving in silence. The thought of finding my mother kept my nerves buzzing like static. In a few hours, we pulled into a dimly lit station.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Thomas jumped out to pay while I stretched, feeling the chill of the evening air. A few minutes later, he returned, his face pale.
“I’ve got bad news,” he muttered, holding his card up. “It’s declined. Again.”
I stared at him. “You’re kidding.”
“It’s Margaret’s doing. She froze my account. I’d bet my last dollar on it.”
I groaned, pulling out my wallet. “I’ve got fifty bucks, but that’s not enough to fill the tank and get us there.”
For a moment, we stood in silence.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Need a hand?” a deep voice called out.
We turned to see a truck driver stepping out of his rig. He was a burly man with kind eyes and a worn Santa hat perched on his head.
“We’re trying to get to the next town,” I explained. “We’re almost out of gas, and… well, we’re stuck.”
He scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Tell you what. I’m heading that way myself. Got room in the cab if you don’t mind hitching a ride.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Thomas and I exchanged a quick glance. “We’d really appreciate it.”
“Hop in,” he said with a nod, gesturing toward the passenger door.
The ride was bumpy but surprisingly comfortable. The truck driver, who introduced himself as Joe, chatted with us about Christmas, his family, and the long hours he’d been pulling on the road. His kindness was a balm to my frayed nerves. When we arrived at the town, the shop’s door was locked, and a sign on the window read:
“Sorry, We’re Closed.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Now what?” I whispered, the weight of the journey threatening to crush me.
Before Thomas could respond, the hum of a taxi interrupted us. The car stopped abruptly and out stepped Margaret, her cheeks flushed with anger.
“You’ve got some nerve,” she snapped, marching toward Thomas. “Tracking you wasn’t easy, you know. And all for her?” She pointed at me with disdain.
“Margaret, it’s not what you think,” Thomas began, but she was already on a roll.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“The necklace, Thomas! What kind of ‘colleague’ gift is that? Did you think I wouldn’t figure it out?”
“It’s my mother’s,” I interrupted, showing her the name on it. “See? Amelia. I’m here because of her.”
Margaret looked skeptical, but before she could respond, Joe cleared his throat. “Excuse me, but that necklace… It saved someone’s life once.”
We all turned to him in surprise. Joe nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“A woman sacrificed it once. She said it was her most valuable possession, but she didn’t hesitate to part with it. It’s a long story. I can take you to her.”
My breath caught. “You know her?”
“I think so,” he said. “If she’s who I think she is, she’ll be at the shelter. She’s always there, especially on the holidays.”
Shelter… Does that mean she’s ended up homeless?
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
My heart twisted at the thought, but I nodded. “Let’s go.”
***
Despite the biting cold outside, the shelter glowed with warmth. Golden lights twinkled in the frosted windows, and inside, the hum of chatter and laughter mixed with the scent of spiced cider and fresh-baked cookies. My heart pounded as we stepped through the doors. The weight of hope and fear pressed down on me.
Is she here? Can this really be it?
We were greeted by a kind woman bustling about, her apron dusted with flour. She paused when she saw the necklace in my hand and gasped softly.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“That’s a beautiful piece,” she said, her voice tinged with recognition. “I know it well. It saved me, you know.”
My throat tightened. “It was my mother’s. Do you know where it came from?”
“Come with me.”
The woman introduced herself as Alice, the owner of that small shop in town we’d already been to. She explained how, two years ago, she’d been on the brink of losing everything—the shop and the shelter.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Then, a woman had appeared, disoriented but determined. She’d insisted on selling the necklace, refusing to take no for an answer. That woman was Amelia. My mother, Amelia.
Tears stung my eyes as Alice continued. “She’s been with me ever since, helping me run the shelter and shop. She’s remarkable, even though… she struggles with her memory. But she’s here tonight. I never leave her alone on the holidays.”
The room seemed to blur as I waited. And then I saw her.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
My mother stepped into the room. Her frame was thinner, her hair streaked with gray, but her eyes—those familiar, loving eyes—met mine. For a moment, she paused, and then tears filled her gaze.
“Mom,” I whispered, my voice breaking as I ran to her. She held me tightly, and the world around us faded.
We spent the evening in the warm embrace of the shelter’s community. Even Margaret, moved by Alice’s story, softened, donating generously and offering heartfelt apologies.
That night, I realized Christmas wasn’t just about presents or tradition. It was about love, hope, and second chances. Miracles, I thought, happen in the most unexpected ways.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.
If you enjoyed this story, read this one: For months after Mark’s death, I was drowning in grief, clinging to signs I thought he was sending me. 11:11, 10:10, 09:09. They gave me hope, a lifeline. But a stranger turned those signs into something more.
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.
Leave a Reply