A widowed man travels a long way to retrieve his newborn baby, but when he tries to return home with the child, he is refused entry into the plane.
Bob Hollis was running late. The 40-year-old had just received a call from a Florida hospital telling him a girl had just been born and he was listed as the father.
He would have discounted it as a prank, but he knew his wife was in Florida for a short holiday he organized for her while he renovated their home — it was a surprise.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
The two had no kids of their own and had adopted three because adoption was something they both wanted to be involved in, so they needed to add more rooms to their house, which was why he was renovating.
Among the two, Bob was more particular about getting a foster child because he was one himself, and he had grown up promising himself to take in as many kids as he could.
“If I can help those kids grow up to be the best of themselves then I feel like I’ve made a huge difference,” he told his wife while they were discussing it.
Bob was also father to two grown kids whom he conceived while he was with his former wife, Ellen. The two went their separate ways after the woman decided to cheat with their pool boy, and she was caught.
He met his second wife, Mary, two years later, and after dating for several months, they got married. They tried to have kids but were unsuccessful, and this motivated them to look into adoption, but they never stopped trying to make babies.
One day, their persistence paid off, and Mary conceived a child. It was in preparation of the baby’s arrival that Bob decided to expand the house to include a nursery and an extra room.
After making the decision, he got Mary, who was due in two months, on a plane to Florida — a place she had always wanted to visit. But when she arrived in Florida, the woman immediately went into labor and was subsequently rushed to the hospital.
Unfortunately, she died during childbirth, so Bob was told that because the child was a newborn, it was necessary to fly out immediately. He packed his suitcases and flew to Florida to pick up her daughter.
When his plane landed, he rented a car and made his way to the hospital, where his wife had allegedly passed away.
The news of her death still ate at him, but he knew there would be time to grieve later, so he focused on bringing home their only child together.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Shutterstock
When he arrived at the hospital, he met with the volunteer at the intensive care unit, a woman who was 82 years old and recently widowed.
Her name was Mrs. Sticks, and she had things to tell Bob. “What happened?” he asked her as soon as he entered her office.
“Have a seat Mr. Hollis,” she said calmly.
“I’m better off standing, he replied.
“I’m sorry for your loss Mr. Hollis, but your wife suffered some complications giving birth to your child.”
At that, Bob cried bitterly, and Mrs. Sticks quietly watched him, choosing to let him grieve. After a few minutes, she cleared her throat and spoke.
“As I understand you have come for the child, but I have to make sure that you have what it takes to care for one,” Mrs. Sticks said.
Bob let her know that he was already a father and Mrs. Meredith Sticks nodded appreciatively as if to say, “You’ll do,” but she still gave him her phone number.
“Call me if you need anything,” she said. The kind woman also offered her new acquaintance a ride to the airport on the day of departure.
Things went on smoothly for Bob until it was time to board the plane. When he got to the boarding gate, the woman at the counter refused to let him through.
“Is this your child sir?” she asked.
“Of course she is,” he said.
“I’m sorry but she seems too young to be on an airplane. How old is she?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“She’s four days old. Now can I get through?” Bob said.
“I’m sorry sir, but you’ll have to present her birth certificate and wait till she is at least seven days old before traveling with her,” the woman said sternly.
“What’s this?” Bob asked angrily. “Are you saying I have to remain here for the next couple of days? I have no family here to stay with which is why I must get home today.”
“I’m sorry, it’s the policy,” the woman said and turned her attention to the next person in line.
Bob knew that it would take him quite some time to obtain the document but he also had nowhere to go in Florida and no one to ask for help.
He was preparing to spend the night at the airport when he remembered Mrs. Sticks, the kind woman from the medical center. He would rather not have bothered her, but he had no choice, and the night was quickly approaching.
“Hello Meredith,” he said. “I need your help.”
When Mrs. Sticks found out about Bob’s problem, she immediately promised to return to the airport and bring them to her home — it was an offer that astounded Bob, who knew he would most likely have refused to help if he was in her place.
“Compassion still thrives in this world,” he thought to himself.
Bob stayed at Mrs. Sticks’ house for more than a week before he returned to Texas. The woman didn’t just welcome Bob and his daughter into her home. She helped him cope with the newborn baby as well as the death of his wife by talking to him and comforting him. She even helped him arrange for the proper transportation of his wife’s body, making things easier for him.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
The man could not believe how generous she was and would always call her a real angel — even his daughter seemed to love the woman because the girl would start to glow and giggle just from hearing the woman’s voice.
During his stay, Bob learned that the woman had four grown children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Together they looked after the baby, took relieving walks, and even went to honor the memory of Mrs. Sticks’ departed husband — activities that brought the two even closer.
The man saw in Mrs. Sticks his mother who had passed away a long time ago, and he knew he would miss her a lot when he flew home.
After receiving his daughter’s birth certificate, he was permitted to return home, but Bob continued to keep in touch with the old lady who had helped him.
He had no idea how things would have worked out without her, and he never forgot her kindness, so he visited her every year with his little daughter until she passed away a few years later.
A lawyer reached out to him at her funeral and told him that Mrs. Sticks had left him part of her inheritance, just like she did for her kids.
In honor of her kindness, Bob donated the money to a charity he founded together with her four kids, including her oldest daughter Shirley, whom he fell in love with due to constant exposure to her charms. Later, the two got married, and she became a mother to his six kids.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
What did we gain from this story?
- Kindness leaves a lasting impression. Bob could never forget Mrs. Sticks, who was there for him in his difficult times. Her heart inspired him to found the charity organization, which was a way to share more kindness around.
- Imbibe the culture of giving back. Bob adopted three kids with his late wife because he was from a foster home himself and wanted to find a way to make the lives of kids in orphanages better. It is an act worthy of emulation.
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 young couple who bought a used car and found a wallet under the seat with an old photo inside.
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.
The Elusive Crutch: A Viral Puzzle That’s Got Everyone Scratching Their Heads
The internet is filled with brain-teasing challenges, but every now and then, a puzzle emerges that leaves even the sharpest minds baffled. One such image has recently gone viral—an illustration that asks viewers to find four hidden objects: an egg, a glove, an envelope, and a crutch. Sounds simple, right? Think again.
At first glance, it looks like an ordinary bathroom scene, but hidden within the artwork are objects so cleverly disguised that most people miss them entirely. Do you have what it takes to spot them all? Let’s dive into this tricky puzzle and break it down step by step.
Can You Find the Four Hidden Objects?
Take a close look at the image above. Somewhere within this seemingly normal scene, four everyday objects are hiding in plain sight. Your challenge? Find the egg, glove, envelope, and crutch before reading further.
Don’t be too quick to assume you’ve spotted them all. Many people rush through the puzzle and overlook key details. Do you trust your observation skills? Let’s test them!
Common Mistakes That Trip People Up
Many participants find themselves stuck on this puzzle for a few reasons:
- Overconfidence in First Impressions – Most people assume they’ll find all four objects in seconds. However, the trick lies in the clever way they’re blended into the scene.
- Ignoring Camouflage Techniques – The objects aren’t just “placed” in the picture; they’re hidden by color matching, shape manipulation, and strategic positioning.
- Focusing Only on the Main Characters – While the people in the illustration draw attention, the hidden objects are placed in unexpected locations.
- Giving Up Too Quickly – Some people get frustrated and stop searching before truly analyzing the details.
If you’ve fallen into one of these traps, don’t worry—you’re not alone! Now, let’s break down the puzzle and reveal where each object is hiding.
Video : Find the 4th object
Step-by-Step Breakdown: Finding Each Hidden Object
1. The Egg – A Sneaky Facial Feature 🥚
Location: The egg is cleverly hidden as part of the nose of the man standing on the left side of the image.
At first glance, his nose seems normal, but upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that it has been shaped and shaded to resemble an egg. This is a classic example of camouflaged placement—where an object blends seamlessly into another element of the scene.
Many people fail to spot the egg because they assume they are looking for a traditional, standalone egg. However, this puzzle plays with expectations, making the challenge even more difficult.
2. The Glove – Hidden in the Clothing 🧤
Location: The glove is subtly incorporated into the skirt of the person in the middle.
At first, it appears as just a fold in the fabric, but if you focus on the shape and outline, you’ll see that it’s a perfectly formed glove. The designer of this puzzle used color blending to make the glove look like part of the skirt, tricking the eye into overlooking it.
This is a common technique in optical illusions—using shadows, textures, and positioning to make objects “disappear” into their surroundings.
3. The Envelope – Hiding in the Tiles ✉️
Location: The envelope is disguised as part of the bathroom wall tiles behind the woman in blue.
Unlike the other objects, which rely on shape manipulation, the envelope blends in using color and symmetry. The white tiles create a perfect backdrop, making it difficult to recognize the faint outline of an envelope.
The trick to spotting this one is to change how you look at the image. Instead of focusing on what you expect an envelope to look like, scan the background for anything slightly “off.” That’s where the hidden envelope reveals itself.
4. The Crutch – A Difficult One to Spot 🩼
Location: The crutch is cleverly placed near the bottom right of the image, blending into the chair legs.
This is perhaps the hardest object to find. Most people assume a crutch would be near the people or propped against the wall. Instead, the artist merged it with another element of the scene, making it appear as part of the background furniture.
To find it, you have to look at angles and lines that don’t quite match up with the rest of the objects in the room. Once you notice the slight curvature and the different shading, the crutch stands out.
What Makes This Puzzle So Challenging?
This puzzle is a perfect example of how our brains process visual information. When looking at an image, we naturally focus on key elements—faces, objects in the foreground, and high-contrast details. However, our brains tend to overlook background details that seem unimportant.
This is why the puzzle is so tricky. The artist deliberately placed the objects in unexpected locations and used visual tricks to blend them into their surroundings. Our brain struggles to separate what is “important” from what is “hidden,” leading to the difficulty in spotting all four objects.
The Fun of Optical Illusions and Hidden Object Puzzles
This type of puzzle isn’t just entertaining—it also helps train your observation skills and attention to detail. Studies have shown that engaging in visual challenges like this can:
- Improve focus and concentration
- Enhance problem-solving skills
- Strengthen pattern recognition abilities
- Increase patience and persistence
So, the next time you find yourself struggling with a hidden object puzzle, remember—every moment you spend searching strengthens your brain!
Video : Find 4 hidden objects
Final Challenge: Can You Find the Objects Faster Than Others?
Now that you know where each object is hidden, share this puzzle with your friends and family. See how quickly they can find all four objects. You might be surprised—some people will spot them instantly, while others will take much longer!
🔍 How long did it take you to find them? Share your answer in the comments!
If you enjoyed this challenge, be sure to check out more mind-bending puzzles and hidden object games to keep your brain sharp and entertained. Who knows? The next puzzle might be even trickier!
Now, Are You Ready for Another Challenge?
Stay tuned for more exciting brain teasers and visual puzzles. In the meantime, keep training your eyes—you never know when you’ll need them for the next mind-blowing illusion!
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