I Was A 16-year-old Orphan Hiding The Fact That I Lived Alone In A Crumbling House. I Returned A Rich Man’s Lost Wallet And He Gave Me A Job Washing Dishes. But When I Begged Him For A Massive Loan To Save My Dying Neighbor, His Reaction To Her Old Photo Left Me Speechless.

The Request

The next morning, Jody went to Mr. Butler’s office and with tears in her eyes begged for a loan for Albert and Betty’s mother to have an operation.

The girl assured him that in order to repay the debt, she would pay half of her salary each month, including overtime and tips.

The older man listened attentively to Jody and then after a pause said:

“Certainly, I’ll help this poor woman. I’m not young anymore and it may so happen that I’d need help myself one day. All the reason more my financial situation lets me do these things. So I’ll instruct the manager and he’ll transfer the money to the clinic’s designated account.”

In an outburst of gratitude, Jody hugged Mr. Butler who began tearing up from her tenderness.

After she finished her shift, she hurried to share the good news with Albert and his little sister. To her surprise, they greeted her with sadness on their faces.

“Mama is sick and has to be taken to the hospital,” said Betty quietly, who was trying her best not to cry.

“It’s okay, I found the money for the operation. Everything will be all right. We’ll save your mother,” Jody replied, knowing that she had to act quickly.

Fortunately, Mr. Butler’s business manager immediately responded to her request and the next morning the money was deposited into the clinic’s account. Thus, Albert’s mother’s surgery was done in time.

A Photograph from the Past

This without a shadow of a doubt saved her life. Throughout the post-operation period, Albert and Betty never left their mother’s side, rejoicing at the color that was restored to her face.

When the woman got better, Albert, having learned the name of the philanthropist who had paid for the operation from Jody, decided to thank him personally. To do this, he went to the restaurant and together with Jody went to Mr. Butler’s office.

But when Albert opened the door and saw the restaurant owner sitting at the table, his facial expression changed and he turned pale.

“Is something wrong, young man?” Mr. Butler asked in astonishment.

“You know, I think… I think I’ve seen you somewhere before. That’s right, in the picture my mother gave me before she went to the hospital. Here, look and see for yourself,” Albert answered and took a photo with frayed crumpled corners out from inside his pocket.

By this time, the owner of the restaurant was pale and clutched at his heart. The picture depicted none other than the young Howard Butler hugging his wife on the day of their wedding.

This picture had disappeared from the family’s archives right before Emily had fled from her parents’ home years ago.

“No, these things just don’t happen. That’s fantastic. What’s your mother’s name, boy?” asked Mr. Butler when he finally got over his initial shock.

“My mother’s name is Emily. Why?” Albert answered, feeling that his answer could somehow change his future.

Jody gasped in surprise and covered her eyes with her hands, and Mr. Butler walked over to the confused boy and put him in a tight hug.

The Reunion

It was only when Albert learned the full story of Howard Butler’s daughter that he realized that Emily and his mother were one in the same person.

Finally, all the doubts were dispelled when Mr. Butler visited Emily in the hospital.

“Oh my god, honey, it’s been such a long time,” exclaimed the old man and knelt at the head of the bed of his only daughter.

Emily immediately recognized her father and tears streamed down her face. All these years of separation they began to ask each other for forgiveness with Jody, Betty, and Albert standing not far away.

Sometimes life is unpredictable and Howard Butler could hardly have known that by hiring an orphan girl he would soon find a family of his own and even have two grandchildren.

And Jody and Albert, united by their shared recent problems, continued to see each other and after a while got married, which made Emily and Mr. Butler very happy.