Alice owned a popular restaurant in town. One evening, she noticed a young boy quietly picking up leftover food from the back. Curious and sensing there was more to the story, she decided to keep an eye on him. What she discovered left her speechless.
“You’re in luck today, kid. We’ve got plenty of leftovers — take it all home,” said Steve, the head chef. He regularly set aside extra food for Christopher, a small boy who often stopped by looking for something to eat.
“Really? That much? Maybe I can even share it with my friends!” Chris replied, his eyes lighting up with joy.
He gratefully accepted the bags of food, flashed a big smile, waved goodbye, and walked away cheerfully.
Alice, however, had no idea that this had become a routine in her restaurant. But something told her that Chris wasn’t just taking food for himself.
She waited a few more days until, on the third day, she saw him again.
“Hi there! Are you here for the leftovers?” Alice asked gently.
“Yes!” Chris said excitedly. “Could you call the chef? I think he kept some packets for me.”
Alice smiled warmly.
“No need — I prepared a fresh meal for you today. I don’t want you eating just leftovers. By the way, what’s your name?”
“My full name is Christopher, but you can call me Chris.”
“And why don’t you eat at home, Chris?” she asked. “Is your mom sick?”
Chris paused for a moment, then said:
“Well… actually, I live in an orphanage, and they don’t feed us very well. But whenever I come here, the staff is really kind to me. I appreciate it a lot. Anyway, I should get going…”
Alice still had a feeling he wasn’t telling the full truth. So that day, she decided to quietly follow him.
And what she saw next stunned her.
Instead of going to an orphanage, Chris walked to a small, modest house. He gently placed the food on the front porch and ran off before anyone could see him.
Moments later, an elderly woman opened the door, looked around in confusion, picked up the food, and went back inside.
Alice was about to knock on the door and ask who the woman was and how she knew Chris — but just then, she got an urgent call from the restaurant and had to leave.
The next day, Alice was already at the restaurant, waiting for Chris.
As soon as he saw her, he looked down and confessed:
“I’m sorry… I lied. I’ve been bringing food to my grandmother. She’s the only family I have left.”
“When my parents passed away, she wasn’t granted custody of me because she didn’t have enough money. She can’t even afford to buy food, so I come here every day, collect what I can, and leave it on her porch without her knowing.”
Deeply moved, Alice went to visit Chris’s grandmother that same day and told her the truth. The woman, whose name was Edith, was stunned to learn that her grandson had been secretly delivering food to her every day.
That day, Alice went to the orphanage and applied for custody of Chris. Fortunately, the process was quick — and soon, he was able to go back and live with his grandmother again.
A few days later, Alice visited them.
Edith held her hands tightly and said:
“I can’t thank you enough. Please come visit us whenever you want. To us, you’re already family.”
Alice smiled softly.
“Actually… I have something to ask you.”
Edith assumed she was going to offer her a job at the restaurant — but instead, her eyes filled with tears when she heard the real question.
“Since I lost my parents, I haven’t had anyone to care for me like a mother would. I’m hoping you’ll accept that role in my life. And as for Chris, I’m responsible for him now — his education, his well-being, everything.”
Edith hugged her tightly.
“Of course, sweetheart. I’ll never be able to repay your kindness. You appeared in our lives like an angel.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” Alice replied. “Because of you, I finally have a family. And that’s the greatest gift I could ever receive.”