Mary had just finished picking up a few essentials at the grocery store when she realized her wallet was missing. \u201cOh no, I must have left my wallet in John\u2019s car. I\u2019m really sorry, but I\u2019ll have to come back for these later,\u201d she told the cashier, who began to put her items back. As she prepared to leave, a voice behind her stopped her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait, ma\u2019am! You don\u2019t have many things. I can cover it,\u201d offered the boy behind her in line. He looked no older than 12, and Mary could tell from his appearance that he wasn\u2019t from a wealthy family.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh no, I couldn\u2019t let you do that,\u201d Mary replied, feeling embarrassed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI insist, ma\u2019am,\u201d he said with a smile. \u201cSometimes we need to help others. That\u2019s what my grandma always says\u2014karma will reward us later.\u201d Without waiting for her response, he paid for her items, which thankfully weren\u2019t much.<\/p>\n
Mary, who had traveled from San Diego to Santa Ana to care for her daughter, Anastacia, who was down with the flu, thanked the boy as they left the store. \u201cI\u2019m Mary Cummings. What\u2019s your name?\u201d she asked warmly.<\/p>\n
\u201cMark,\u201d the boy replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Mark. You saved me an extra trip. How about I get your number so I can pay you back when I find my wallet?\u201d Mary offered, and Mark quickly wrote his number on the receipt.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it. There\u2019s no rush,\u201d he said with a shrug. \u201cI live nearby.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStill, I believe in paying my debts,\u201d Mary insisted with a smile, and they went their separate ways.<\/p>\n
Later that day, Mary shared the story of the kind boy at the store with her daughter. \u201cIt was just a few items for soup, but it\u2019s heartwarming to see such generosity in a young person,\u201d she remarked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, especially when kids today can be pretty self-centered,\u201d Anastacia replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think this boy comes from much, which makes it even more special,\u201d Mary mused, worried that Mark might have needed that money for something important. Luckily, her friend John was coming the next day to return her wallet.<\/p>\n
The following morning, after retrieving her wallet from John, Mary and Anastacia decided to visit Mark to repay him. They arrived at the address he had given them\u2014a modest but well-kept house with a small garden. Mark answered the door.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"