I work as a grocery store cashier and usually deal with defensive people who take items without paying. One day I approached an elderly man in the bread aisle who had hidden a loaf of bread in his pocket. He was trembling and explained that his pension had run out days ago leaving him with nothing to eat until next week. He was terribly upset and apologetic. Instead of getting angry I realized he reminded me of my grandfather. Even though I only had 200 dollars left until payday I decided to help him buy some food.

I gently took the old man by the arm and gathered a basket for us to use. We walked through the aisles and filled it with milk and meat and cereal and sausage and sweets. The man whose name was Walter expressed his deep concern about how he would pay for the groceries. I reassured him that the food was a complete gift and he did not owe anything. Walter cried tears of gratitude and thanked me repeatedly. Helping him made my heart feel completely full even though I was secretly worried about paying my rent for the upcoming month.

The next morning I woke up to loud knocking and the sound of sirens outside my home. My entire yard was filled with law enforcement  vehicles and an officer was standing at my front door. He asked for me by my name Rebecca and explained he was there regarding the elderly man from the supermarket. The officer handed me a small wooden box and told me Walter wanted me to have it. Inside I found a thick stack of hundred dollar bills and an antique gold police badge and a neatly folded note.

The officer softly explained that Walter Higgins was his father and a decorated former Chief of Police who suffers from memory loss. He had wandered away from his care facility two days prior and became confused believing he was completely broke in the 1970s. Because I found him and treated him with dignity the department and  family wanted me to have the 20,000 dollar reward they had raised for his safe return. The note from Walter expressed his eternal gratitude for my kindness. My small sacrifice brought me enough money to change my life and pay my rent.