Most days after school, I would find something to do outside the trailer—anything to take my mind off things. But little did I know that at the age of 13, my life would change.
That day, I was tossing an old, deflated soccer ball at some bottles I’d set up like bowling pins. It wasn’t much, but it helped pass the time.
Then, out of nowhere, this shiny black SUV rolled up next to the trailer. The windows were tinted, and I stared at it for a second, wondering who on earth would come around here in something that fancy.
The door creaked open, and out stepped this old man, probably in his 70s or 80s, leaning on a cane but with a warm smile on his face. He waved.
“Hey there,” he said, slowly walking over. “Mind if I take a shot?” He pointed at the bottles I had lined up.
I blinked. “Uh, sure, I guess,” I said, not really sure what to make of him.
He chuckled. “Tell you what, let’s make it interesting. If I get a strike, I’ll ask you for a favor, and you can’t say no. But if I miss, I’ll hand you a hundred bucks. Deal?”
My eyes practically popped out of my head. A hundred bucks? I could almost hear the register in my brain ringing. “Deal,” I said quickly.
The man leaned down, picked up the deflated ball, and with a flick of his wrist, tossed it. The thing rolled straight into the bottles, knocking every last one down. I stood there, jaw dropped. No way.
The old man laughed, clearly pleased with himself. “Looks like I won,” he said. “Now, for that favor.”
I swallowed, curious. “What do you want me to do?”
“Come fishing with me tomorrow at the old pond,” he said, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Fishing?” I scratched my head. That was it? Seemed like a strange request, but definitely not as bad as I thought it would be. “Uh, okay, I guess. Let me just ask my mom.”
He smiled and nodded. “I’ll wait.”
I jogged back into the trailer, opening the door quietly. Mom was asleep on the couch, her chest rising and falling slowly. She’d had a long shift at the gas station the night before, and I didn’t want to wake her. I stood there for a moment, biting my lip.
“She won’t even know,” I muttered to myself. “I’ll be back before she notices.”
Decision made, I tiptoed back outside. “Alright, I’ll go,” I told the old man, hoping I wasn’t making a mistake.
“Great,” he said, smiling even wider. “We’ll meet tomorrow at dawn. Don’t be late.”
The next morning, the old man picked me up bright and early in his black SUV. We drove in silence at first, heading out of town. The place looked like no one had been there in years, the water was still, with tall grass growing around it. There wasn’t a single person in sight.
“Why here?” I asked, looking around as I grabbed the fishing rods he’d brought.
The old man smiled softly as he set up the gear. “This place… it means a lot to me,” he said, his voice quieter than usual.
We cast our lines into the water and sat side by side. We didn’t talk much for a while. But after about an hour, with no bites on the line, I couldn’t help but ask.
“So… why did you want to come here to fish?” I asked, curious.
The old man glanced at me, his smile tinged with sadness. “Years ago, I used to come here with my son. He was about your age then.” His voice softened even more.
“We were poor, just like you and your mother. Didn’t have much, but we always found time to come here. Funny thing is, we never caught a single fish, no matter how hard we tried.”
I looked at him. “Where’s your son now?”
He was quiet for a long moment, staring out at the water. I noticed his eyes filled with tears.
“He’s gone,” the old man finally said, his voice heavy. “He got sick. The doctors said he needed an urgent operation, but I didn’t have the money. I couldn’t save him.”
I felt my chest tighten. “I’m sorry.”
He shook his head, blinking back tears. “That’s when I promised myself I’d never be in that position again. I worked, I hustled, I built myself up so I’d never feel that helpless. But… I never had another child.”
I didn’t know what to say at first, but something inside me knew what he needed to hear. I stood up, walked over to him, and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Your son’s watching you from heaven,” I said softly. “And one day, he’ll see you catch that fish. You just can’t give up.”
He smiled at me, tears still in his eyes. “Thank you, Adam. You remind me so much of him.”
Just then, the float on one of our rods dipped suddenly into the water.
“Hey, the float!” I yelled.
The old man’s eyes widened, and we both grabbed the rod at the same time, pulling hard. But as we yanked, we both lost our balance, tumbling into the pond with a loud splash. I gasped as the cold water hit me, and the old man surfaced beside me, laughing like he hadn’t in years.
“Well, this is one way to catch a fish!” he cackled, struggling to hold onto the rod while I helped pull him up.
We finally managed to drag the rod back to shore, and to our surprise, attached to the end was the biggest fish I’d ever seen. The old man jumped to his feet, soaking wet but grinning like a kid.
“We did it!” he shouted, throwing his hands up in triumph. “We actually caught one!”
I couldn’t help but laugh, watching him dance around like he’d just won the lottery. We were soaked to the bone, but in that moment, it didn’t matter.
Later, he drove me back to the trailer. As we pulled up, he turned to me, his face soft and filled with gratitude.
“Thank you, Adam,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “Today meant more to me than you’ll ever know.”
I smiled back. “Thanks for taking me fishing. It was fun.”
He reached out and patted my shoulder, a tear sliding down his cheek. “Take care, son. And don’t give up on those dreams.”
With that, he drove off, leaving me standing there with a strange warmth in my chest.
The next day, there was a knock on our trailer door. I opened it to see a man in a suit standing there, holding a package.
“Adam?” he asked.
“Yeah, that’s me,” I said, eyeing the man suspiciously.
“I’m Mr. Johnson, Mr. Thompson’s assistant. He asked me to deliver this to you,” he said, handing over the package.
I opened it right there on the spot and inside was more money than I’d ever seen in my life. My jaw dropped. “W-what is this for?”
Mr. Johnson smiled kindly. “It’s for you and your mother. Enough to move into a proper house, and for her medical care—rehabilitation, so she can walk without pain. There’s also a provision for private tutors to help you prepare for college. Your education, including one of the best colleges in the country, will be fully covered.”
I couldn’t believe it. My head spun as I tried to process what he was saying. “But… why?”
“Mr. Thompson was very moved by you, Adam. He sees a lot of his own son in you. This is his way of saying thank you.”
Tears filled my eyes. I couldn’t speak, so I just nodded, overwhelmed by the kindness of a man who had once been a stranger but had now changed our lives forever.
Several months passed since that fishing trip. One afternoon, I came home to find a letter on the table, addressed to me. I recognized the handwriting instantly. My hands shook as I opened it.
“If you’re reading this,” the letter began, “then I’m already watching you from heaven with my son.”
I stopped, swallowing hard, and read on.
“The day after we went fishing, I had heart surgery. I didn’t survive, but that’s okay. Meeting you gave me more peace than I ever thought possible. You reminded me of my son and showed me there’s still joy in life, even after loss.
I’ve left you everything you need to succeed. Remember what you told me that day by the pond? You’ll catch that fish too—just don’t give up, right?”
I wiped a tear from my cheek, staring at the words. I could almost hear his voice again, and see him smiling next to me by the water.
Fifteen years later, I stood on the porch of the house I built for Mom, watching her laugh with my kids in the yard.
“You never gave up, Adam,” she said, catching my eye with a smile. “He’d be proud.”
“I think about him a lot,” I admitted, my voice soft. “I hope I’ve made him proud.”
“You have,” she said gently. “He gave you everything, and look at you now.”
I smiled, glancing at my own home next door. “It wasn’t just the money, Mom. It was the reminder to never give up. I’ll carry that with me forever.”
She squeezed my hand. “And he’s watching. I know it.”
I looked up at the sky, feeling that same calm warmth I’d felt all those years ago.
During Our Flight Woman Constantly Insulted the Aircraft Personnel and Passengers – She Ran Out of Plane in Tears
A mean stranger on a flight had everyone on edge, from her fellow passengers to the flight attendants! She kept ruffling feathers, mistreating people, and taking liberties as she wished! However, little did she know that she was going to leave the plane in tears!
An upset woman wearing headset while screaming on a flight | Source: Freepik
Hi all, Miranda here. I have a story to share with you about a stranger who misbehaved on a flight thinking she could get away with it. But me and my fellow passengers put her in her place!
See, I’ve been traveling quite a lot lately, but my most recent flight has to have been the craziest! I generally tend to book rows six or seven when I can because they aren’t too expensive. The other thing I like about the rows is that they’re close enough to the front to make them convenient.
A woman on a phone seated next to a man on a plane | Source: Freepik
Today, while walking through the congested aisles of the plane, I settled into what I believed was my assigned seat, 7D. On my way out, I was in 7F, and in my mind, I believed 7D was my return seat.
Mistakes happen, especially when you’re a frequent flyer like me who can’t seem to keep track of seat assignments. It was a minor hiccup — or so I thought until she arrived.
An annoyed-looking woman holding luggage | Source: Freepik
As the woman approached to claim my row, she believed she had the aisle seat. Without noticing that I was in the wrong row, I told her, “No, that’s my seat,” and politely stood up to let her in.
However, I eventually realized when the row became congested that I had misread my ticket. But the correction was met with unexpected vehemence.
“YOU ARE THAT STUPID THAT YOU CHOSE the wrong seat!” she screamed, her face contorted with irritation.
I scrambled to retrieve my bag, attempting to calm the brewing storm. But my sincere apologies fell on deaf ears. “People like YOU should not be allowed on flights!” she ranted.
A woman holding a phone while seated on a plane | Source: Pexels
Not wanting to worsen the situation, I said nothing as I scurried to my correct row. Little did I know that her bad behavior was about to get worse!
Her temper was a fuse, lit and unstoppable! Within less than ten minutes of peace, after we ascended, her barrage began. She yelled at a flight attendant, “This meal is atrocious! How dare you serve this?” over food SHE CHOSE HERSELF before hurling the plastic tray like a frisbee!
It wasn’t just the objects she threw; words, sharp and cutting, followed each action. Each utterance and behavior was more shocking than the last! No one was safe as she attacked, dissed, and threw tantrums at flight attendants and other passengers alike!
A plate of food on a flight | Source: Unsplash
A nearby passenger tried to intervene, “Hey, calm down, lady. There’s no need to treat people like that,” only to receive a splash of water and a tirade. “You think you can ignore ME? I’ll show you what happens!” she shrieked, punctuating her rage with kicks to his seat.
Literally, everyone on the flight hated this woman’s guts!
The cabin was aghast, whispers swirling like a storm. “Can you believe her?” “Somebody should do something!” The tension was palpable, a collective breath held in anticipation of her next outburst.
A flight attendant walking on a plane | Source: Pexels
As the flight drew on, the guy in front of me, the one who got soaked, passed me a note. He’d quietly hatched a plan and was trying to get the other passengers on board. My face lit up with a smirk as I read the note that said:
“Read and pass it on when she gets up to go to the exit, upon landing we’ll get up and see her off shouting…”
The rest of the note instructed us to shout, “Passenger 7D, you are unbearable. Learn to behave, not like a Neanderthal!” I won’t lie, I giggled a bit as I read the note!
A woman reading a note | Source: Pexels
At that moment, I knew the rude woman wasn’t going to get away with her messy ways as I passed the note on! Words and notes between the rest of the passengers passed along in hurried whispers.
We were united by circumstance, an impromptu alliance formed at 30,000 feet! The excitement among us was so palpable. I wondered, “Does this woman notice that something’s happening around her?”
But she remained oblivious, too focused on being mean to see the obvious.
Flight attendants dealing with passengers | Source: Unsplash
Our conspiratorial spirits lifted as the wheels touched down! The woman quickly stood, presumably to make a swift exit without being deterred by the rest of us. But just before leaving someone got up in front of her, obstructing her way.
This stopped us from our plan as she was now amid another hysteria. Suddenly, an unexpected hero turned up to save us all! The main pilot had made his way towards her and unknown to her, he was standing right behind her.
An upset woman standing with her luggage | Source: Freepik
Speaking loudly to get her immediate attention, he says, “I apologize for all the inconvenience you’ve suffered on this flight.” Thinking she was going to get away with all the abuse she’d exposed us to, some of us wanted to speak up.
But the pilot held his hand up. A smile flashed across the woman’s face for a moment. “For the inconvenience, you will be given a discount on your next flight with our airlines.” At this moment the hysterical woman speaks, saying:
“Yes, and I also want to be transferred to business class and get my money back for this flight.”
A rude woman pointing at someone | Source: Freepik
But the next moment she turns pale when he says “Woman, did you think I was addressing you? Noooo, I was talking to other passengers.” Facing her directly he added, “But something else awaits you.”
He continued, “Upon arrival, airport security is already waiting for you. Someone told them that you managed to bring dangerous objects onto the plane.” The shock on her face mimicked the expressions we all had!
A shocked woman | Source: Getty Images
“And if you don’t apologize RIGHT NOW, I will make sure that you are blacklisted as a passenger and you will no longer be able to fly!” he insisted to our delight!
Looking back at the people she was sitting with on the plane, including the flight attendants, it was obvious she was torn. Her face, once twisted in anger, crumpled under the weight of the reprimand.
A pilot standing in front of a flight attendant | Source: Freepik
At that moment, it became clear that she was human like the rest of us and could feel pain as well!
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she said softly, “I am sorry for how I behaved during the flight and I promise to do better in future.” Looking up at the pilot, he flicked his head in the direction of the exit, as to say, “Apology sufficient, you may leave.”
The woman rushed towards the exit. Each step hastened until she was running out!
A woman’s mascara running as she cries | Source: Getty Images
As silence fell and we collected ourselves, there was a surreal moment of reflection. The ordeal had transformed us, passengers bound by an unwelcome drama into a united group determined to get revenge.
We exchanged looks of disbelief and relief; the shared adversity had morphed into an unlikely bond. The collective was finally free from our tormentor! Seeing the glee on the faces of the flight attendants and the other passengers the woman had harassed, we couldn’t help but give a collective shout!
People clapped their hands at our victory, and it felt like justice was served that day!
A pilot shaking hands with a passenger | Source: Pexels
As we got off the plane, each person either shook the pilot’s hand or gave him a warm hug!
Waiting for my baggage I realized that the flight exemplified the highs and lows of human nature. It was a reminder of the thin line between order and chaos. In the crowded confines of a plane, we navigated more than just the skies by traversing the complex landscape of societal norms.
I felt proud to be a human being that day, and what started as a bad flight, ended off on a high note (pun intended)!
A happy woman seated at the airport | Source: Pexels
Well, that nasty woman seems to have gotten exactly what she deserves! In the following story, another rude woman gets put in her place when she tries bullying a young boy on the subway. Read on for all the delicious drama and the link to the story has more thrilling tales inside!
Sassy Mom Picks on Teen in Subway – The Boy’s Mother Put the Stranger in Her Place!
Let’s dive into the drama that unfolded one unusually warm spring afternoon. So, Sabrina was just chilling on her daily subway commute, navigating the sweet spot of crowdedness—enough people to feel the city vibe, but still some breathing room.
A woman sitting on the subway | Source: Pexels
Now, picture this: At the back of the subway car, there’s this kid, around 11 or 12, totally zoned out into his phone. He’s sitting in one of those priority seats meant for the elderly or those with disabilities.
Enter stage right, a woman bursts through the subway doors, towing a little kid in tow, and spots the boy in the seat. Her glare could’ve melted steel, but the boy? Oblivious, still glued to his screen.
A woman holding a child about to board the subway | Source: Pexels
Cue the confrontation. The woman strides up, launching into a tirade about the boy taking up a reserved seat when he seems perfectly fit. The subway audience is all ears, almost siding with her, until—plot twist—the boy’s mom steps in.
Calm yet fierce, she hints at an impending regret for the accuser. The boy then reveals his prosthetic limb, silencing the car in one swift motion. The angry woman, now embarrassed, beats a hasty retreat at the next stop.
A boy using his phone while seated | Source: Pexels
This unexpected subway saga leaves everyone, including Sabrina, musing on how quick we are to judge without knowing the full story. It’s a reminder that behind every scene in the bustling backdrop of city life, there’s often more than meets the eye. How’s that for a slice of daily drama?
An embarrassed woman on the subway | Source: Freepik
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.
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