Man Shares Groceries With Old Man Asking for Alms, Recognizes Him as Person From His Childhood — Story of the Day

A former bully accidentally meets the man he used to make fun of when he tries to do a good deed for a haggard-looking beggar. Did karma never get to him?

Robert Dean was hurting as he paid for purchases in Mary’s Mart — the town’s largest supermarket. As the clerk finished with him, rather than leave the premises, he stood near the exit, lost in thought.

“Why did I buy so many groceries?” he wondered, staring down at his full hands.

Robert was a one-year-old divorcée who still hadn’t gotten used to living independently, which is why he sometimes went overboard when shopping.

I might have to throw many of these away because cooking isn’t something I’m very good at anyway, he told himself.

While he kept contemplating all that, an older-looking man moved into his field of view. He quickly caught Robert’s eyes — a perfect candidate for his brilliant idea.

He also remembered that the older man was the one at the store entrance begging for alms. He slowly approached the man and offered him his goods, tea, biscuits, and some real food.

At first, the old man refused. “I couldn’t possibly take what you’re offering, it’s quite unprecedented for a person like you to be giving things out for free. Is this a prank?”

The older-looking man’s words confused Robert, who just wanted to share his food to avoid wasting it. But it made perfect sense to the beggar. He had recognized Robert regardless of his age.

“I assure you, old man, this is no prank, I simply don’t want all this to go to waste is all,” he said.

It took some moments, but the man eventually agreed, but he couldn’t look Robert in the eye due to his shame. He pulled his hoodie tighter to hide more of his features.

As Robert handed him some of the packages he’d gotten at the supermarket, he remembered the crutch the beggar had been using to move around.

“You can’t walk properly can you?” he asked.

“Ahem,” the other man cleared his throat, trying to evade the question to protect his vulnerability.

“Well I think you won’t be able to bring so many things to where you sleep if you can even walk well, kind sir,” Robert said. “Why don’t you let...