A rowdy teenager caused trouble for the school janitor and felt guilty. He learned about the man’s life and decided to do something remarkable for him, and only then did he realize something essential.
“Jeez!” Holden spat when he saw the mess he made on the floor. He and his friend were only going to play a prank on another student and paint his locker. However, he dropped the paint can in the middle of the basketball court, which would certainly be noticeable.
“Come on, Holden! Let’s go! Let’s go!” his friend, Andrew, yelled, and they both dropped everything and ran away.
They weren’t bad kids, but they were undoubtedly rowdy and rebellious, skipping classes all the time and trying to prank others. However, they weren’t bullies and didn’t have any malicious intent. Holden just hated school and wanted anarchy like many teenagers did at that age.
“Wow. That’s terrible,” the teenager commented before widening his eyes. “Sorry. That was rude.”
Fortunately, no one discovered what they had done, but Holden passed by the basketball court later and saw the old school janitor cleaning things up and heard the screams of the principal, Mr. Figgins.
“We have the prep rally tomorrow, and scouts from all over the country are coming! This needs to come out immediately!” the principal yelled at the poor old man, who hung his head and tried to clean the mess. However, the paint was oil-based, and it was an arduous task.
“Yes, Mr. Figgins. I’ll make sure it’s ready for tomorrow,” the janitor said and kept scrubbing. The principal threw his arms around some more, yelled some demands, and walked off in a huff.
Holden felt terrible, watching the old man on his knees trying to fix his mistake, so he did something completely uncharacteristic. He walked into the court, grabbed a rag, kneeled, and started cleaning with the janitor.
The old man looked at him for a second. “I guess you did this, right?” he commented and kept scrubbing.
“Sir, please. I’m so sorry. It was a mistake. I didn’t know you would get in trouble for it,” Holden apologized sincerely and continued moving the rag up and down. “Please don’t tell the principal. My mom would kill me.”
The old man sighed and shrugged. “I won’t tell anyone, but you have to help me until this floor is back to normal,” he negotiated, and Holden nodded rapidly.
While they worked, they talked. The janitor’s name was Fred. At first, their conversation was about basketball and football, as the school has some of the best teams in the state. But then, Holden asked the old man why he was working at his age. Based on the wrinkles on his face and his frail arms, he had to be way over 60.
“Well, I need to pay a mortgage, kid,” Fred responded with pursed lips. “And I’m 76.”
“You haven’t paid your mortgage still. Wow. That means I can never dream of having a house of my own,” Holden commented.
“Well, things are hard now, kid. But actually, I never wanted to own a house. I rented most of my life. I bought that house for my daughter. She needed her own place, and I wanted to give her something,” Fred revealed, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “I put a down payment for her and helped her with the mortgage for years. But then, she died in a car accident, and it was all on me.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Holden muttered, and they stayed quiet for a while. “Why don’t you sell the house now?”
“Where would I live, kid? With rent these days, I would be homeless. And I have to keep working to eat,” the janitor continued. He wasn’t bitter or sad. He was just realistic.
“But you might not ever retire!” the teenager added.
“That’s true. I just hope I can pay the mortgage before I die,” he continued.
“How much is it?” Holden asked boldly.
“Well, I believe it’s a little under $30,000.”
“Wow. That’s terrible,” the teenager commented before widening his eyes. “Sorry. That was rude.”
But Fred laughed. “Let’s just work, kid.”
They finally removed all traces of the paint, but they both went home late that night… and Holden couldn’t sleep. He wanted to do something nice for the old man who hadn’t gotten him in trouble.
A few days later, he confessed what he had done to his mother and told her everything; then, he asked her how they could raise money for the old janitor. Maybe, if they paid his mortgage, Fred could retire.
His mother said that he could mow lawns around the neighborhood. It was mowing season, and tons of people were looking for help. So, Holden did so and surprisingly got a ton of clients. He grabbed his dad’s lawnmower and worked hard.
But after a few days, he realized the task was almost impossible. He would have to work for years, just like Fred, to raise the money, so he talked to his neighbors whose kids also went to the school. He took a picture of Fred from the school’s website and posted it online, telling his story, and finally decided to open a crowdfunding link for the janitor.
To his shock, the money started coming in, and $30,000 were raised in just a week.
After that, Holden and his mother talked to the school principal about having a special ceremony to honor Fred and surprise him. The teenager also had to come clean to the principal about the paint on the basketball court. Finally, Mr. Figgins agreed.
The whole school heard the story, and they all gathered at the basketball court and cheered when Fred came in. The old janitor had no idea what was going on as he didn’t have social media. But Holden presented him with the money, and many in the crowd cried as the two of them hugged. Fred officially retired that week.
Holden later learned that Fred had a granddaughter, Erin, who was only a few years younger than him, and the janitor wanted to pay off the house so she could have it when he was gone. She and Holden became great friends as he started visiting the old man after school and helping out.
He stopped hanging out with Andrew and started taking his classes seriously. The entire experience taught him that you had to work hard for everything.
His rebellious ways wholly disappeared, and he actually graduated at the top of his class a few years later. The entire school staff was shocked and pleased by his 180º turn, as it was something teachers rarely ever saw. And it was all due to Fred and that afternoon spent cleaning some paint off the floor.
What can we learn from this story?
You must apologize and do your best to atone for your errors. Holden got the old janitor in trouble, but he readily apologized and tried to make things better.
It only takes one experience or person to change someone’s perspective on life. After meeting Fred, Holden changed for good, as he learned that life was hard and only those who worked hard and honestly could live happily.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
My Sister Shocked Grandma with a $3,000 Birthday Party Bill – I Taught Her a Lesson
What started as a lovely birthday gesture from my sister to our grandmother turned into a painful confrontation and hurt feelings. I was determined to remedy the situation, and the only way to bring us all together as a family again was to heal the wounds. Read on to learn how I taught my sibling a valuable lesson.
Growing up, family gatherings were always a big deal for us. We’d gather around, laugh, eat, and celebrate each other’s milestones. My sister, Amanda, and I had always been close, sharing our lives’ ups and downs. But last year, she pulled a stunt that nearly tore our family apart.
Two happy women with a cake | Source: Pexels
It all started when Amanda decided to throw a surprise 90th birthday party for our grandmother, Grace. It was supposed to be a small, intimate gathering at our house, but my sister had bigger plans.
She booked a hall in a swanky downtown restaurant and assured everyone that the costs were covered. “Don’t worry about anything, guys,” Amanda said confidently during our family Zoom call. “It’s Grandma’s 90th, so we’re going all out. I’ve got it all handled.”
A happy woman using a laptop | Source: Pexels
We were all excited and ready to enjoy what we assumed would be a perfect day, but I should have known better. My sister had a history of being a bit extravagant, often going overboard with her ideas. But I trusted her like I always did.
The day of the party arrived, and the restaurant hall was beautifully decorated with flowers and balloons. There was also a large banner that read, “Happy 90th Birthday, Grandma!” My grandma was beaming and over the moon, touched by the effort when she arrived to everyone singing “Happy birthday to you!”
A happy woman at a party | Source: Pexels
My granny couldn’t stop smiling because of all the love and attention she was getting. It was a beautiful thing to witness, and I almost got teary-eyed at one point. Everything was going wonderfully.
We all enjoyed delicious food, lively conversations, and a warm and welcoming family atmosphere. Everything seemed perfect. But as the evening was winding down, the mood shifted dramatically in anticipation of the surprise that was about to hit us.
People celebrating at a birthday party | Source: Pexels
A waiter approached our grandmother with a leather folder in hand. “Ma’am, here’s the bill,” he said politely, placing it in front of her. Grandma’s eyes widened as she opened the folder.
“Three thousand dollars?” she gasped, her face turning pale with shock.
My poor grandmother was floored when she realized the WHOLE tab was on her! We were also confused and kept muttering amongst ourselves as we tried to figure out what was going on.
A waiter handing a bill to someone | Source: Pexels
Amanda, seemingly unfazed, turned to Grace and said, “Oh, Grandma, we all know you’re wealthy, so don’t hesitate to pay up for everything. After all, I organized all this for YOU!”
I was so shocked, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing!
The room had fallen silent. But my grandmother’s reaction left me even more floored. Her hands trembled as she closed the folder before asking, her voice shaking with anger, “What makes you think I’m wealthy?”
Two women sitting together while a performer dances in the background | Source: Pexels
Amanda shrugged nonchalantly. “Well, you have a big house and a nice car, and you paid for everyone’s college. That means you have money. Don’t pretend you’re poor.” The room gasped as we listened to them going back and forth.
Grandma’s expression hardened as she said, “I worked HARD to earn a decent life for myself and to pay for my children’s and grandchildren’s education. But that doesn’t mean I’m rich.” Seeing how upset my grandmother was getting, I tried to settle her.
An upset woman looking at something | Source: Pexels
“It’s okay, Grandma, you don’t have to explain yourself, we’ll sort this out,” I said. But the damage was already done, and Grace was livid. She shrugged me off and continued talking to my sister.
“I didn’t ask for this dinner, and if you all came just to eat at my expense…” The weight of her words hung in the air. Without another word, Grandma pulled out her checkbook, wrote a check for the full amount, and left the restaurant.
A younger woman trying to comfort an older one | Source: Pexels
The rest of us sat there, stunned and ashamed. I felt horrible about the whole situation, especially since my sister made it seem like we were all in on it. The way things played out, my Grandma thought we were all involved in Amanda’s plan when we had no idea she would do something like this.
Amanda looked around, her confidence waning. “I didn’t mean for it to go like this,” she said quietly. But the damage was done. What had started and progressed into a lovely celebration was now dampened by conflict.
A guilty-looking woman | Source: Pexels
Everything was spoiled, and the good memories we’d made were now overridden by Amanda’s carelessness. I couldn’t shake the feeling of betrayal. Without saying much, I left the venue and drove home in silence while being deep in thought.
By the time I reached my house, I had decided I needed to teach my sister a lesson she wouldn’t forget. I wanted to get back at her for what she did to our grandmother. So I came up with a cunning and devious plan.
A woman driving at night | Source: Pexels
A few weeks later, I set my plan into motion. I organized a fake “exclusive event” in Amanda’s honor, claiming she was getting a surprise award for her “amazing organizational skills.” I sent out invitations to all our friends and family, making sure everyone knew it was a surprise.
I told Amanda that it was a black-tie affair at a fancy venue and that she was our guest of honor. Since she LOVED attention, my poor clueless sister didn’t even want to know much about why she was being honored.
An invitation card to an event | Source: Pexels
She was thrilled to have an event done specially for her. The special occasion was set for a Friday evening at a fancy venue downtown. I hired actors to play the roles of important guests and even a fake award presenter.
I wanted everything to be perfect the same way Amanda had wanted Grandma’s party to be. My sister arrived that evening, dressed to the nines in a shimmering evening gown. She looked radiant, expecting a night of praise and admiration.
Women dressed up at an event | Source: Pexels
As she entered the venue, she was greeted by applause from the guests. “Welcome, everyone,” the fake presenter announced, stepping onto the stage. “Tonight, we honor Amanda for her exceptional organizational skills and her ability to make every event memorable.”
My sibling beamed, her smile lighting up the room. She had no idea what was coming next. The presenter continued, “Amanda has a unique talent for managing events, often finding creative ways to ensure everything runs well.”
A host speaking on stage | Source: Pexels
He paused for effect, glancing at me before delivering the punchline. “And by creative ways, I mean her masterful ability to make others pay for her grand schemes.” The room erupted in laughter. Amanda’s smile faltered as she realized this was no ordinary award ceremony.
The presenter, an actor I’d hired, listed several fabricated examples of my sister’s so-called organizational skills, each one more absurd than the last. “And let’s not forget her recent accomplishment, convincing her grandmother to foot the bill for a $3,000 birthday party. Truly, a genius move!”
People laughing at an event | Source: Pexels
Amanda’s face turned crimson. She looked around, mortified, as the guests continued to laugh and clap at her expense as they realized the event was a prank. My sister turned to me, her eyes filled with betrayal but also a look that conveyed that she understood the message.
When the whole performance was done, people settled in to enjoy the rest of the evening. I pulled Amanda aside, away from the prying eyes of the guests. “This is a taste of how it feels to be humiliated in front of people you care about,” I said, my voice low but firm.
Two women having a serious conversation | Source: Pexels
“You better think twice before you treat Grandma or anyone else like that again.”
Amanda’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice breaking. “I never meant to hurt Grandma. I thought it would be a nice surprise.”
“It wasn’t nice, Amanda. It was selfish and thoughtless. You can’t just assume that people have money to spend on your ideas. Grandma deserves better than that.”
Amanda nodded, wiping away her tears. “I understand. I’ll apologize to her. I promise I’ll change.”
An upset woman crying | Source: Freepik
True to her word, Amanda apologized to Grandma the next day. She expressed her regret and promised to never take advantage of anyone’s generosity again. Grandma, ever the forgiving soul, accepted her apology, though it was clear she was still hurt by the incident.
To make amends, my sister and I organized another family dinner, this time at a modest restaurant that Grandma loved. We covered the ENTIRE bill and reimbursed Grandma for the previous dinner. It wasn’t about the money; it was about restoring the trust and respect that had been damaged.
A family enjoying a meal together | Source: Pexels
As we sat around the table, enjoying a much more relaxed and heartfelt evening, Grandma smiled at us, her eyes twinkling with gratitude. “Family is everything,” she said softly. “And I’m glad we’re able to come together like this.”
Looking at Amanda, I could see the sincerity in her eyes. She had learned her lesson, and our family bond was stronger for it. We laughed, shared stories, and created new memories that night, leaving the past behind us.
A happy family enjoying a meal | Source: Pexels
In the end, Amanda’s misguided attempt at a grand gesture turned into a valuable lesson for all. It reminded us of the importance of humility, respect, and understanding the true meaning of generosity. And most importantly, it reaffirmed the strength of our family’s love and commitment to one another.
Two women bonding | Source: Pexels
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