A poor boy decided to help an old woman up the stairs, even though his friends warned him not to. Eventually, the woman rewarded his kindness by giving him a new home.
Rick was a seven-year-old boy who loved to play outside with his friends. They lived in a small rural town where small cottages lined the farms where their parents worked.
Further down the road where they all lived was an old mansion covered in greenery. There were a lot of trees near the mansion, so Rick and his friends liked to spend time there climbing trees and picking fruit.
Before entering the mansion, a cement staircase had to be climbed to reach the front door. Its sides were beautifully landscaped with colourful flowers and fresh greenery, making it look like something straight out of a Hollywood fantasy movie.
“I heard an old lady lived there,” one of Rick’s friends once said, observing the house from afar.
“I heard she was a witch!” adds another of his friends.
Since that day, they keep a close eye on the mansion, hoping not to encounter the “witch” who is supposed to live there. One day, however, Rick heard a loud cough coming from the direction of the mansion.
“Could it be the old lady?” he said, running from under the trees to check who it was. His friends followed him, curious about the sound they had just heard.
When they saw it was the old lady, the boys were terrified. She was coughing and barely breathing as she climbed the stairs to the mansion.
Rick decided to help the old lady, realizing she wasn’t well. “What are you doing?” shouted his friends. “Don’t touch her!”
Rick refused to listen to his friends and went his way to help the old lady. “Hello, ma’am. Can I help you up the stairs?” he asks her.
The old lady smiled. “Thank you, my boy. I would be very grateful to you.”
The old lady squeezed Rick’s arm as they walked up the stairs. She revealed that she had attempted to go to the grocery store to buy a few items, but did not have the energy to continue. “I didn’t realize it would be such a long walk,” she admitted.
Rick felt bad for the old lady, not only because she was in trouble, but also because he and his friends had misjudged her. “I’ve never seen anyone come out of the mansion before, so I was surprised when I heard you cough. My friends and I are still climbing trees near your house,” Rick shared. “My name is Rick,” he added.
“Well, Rick. I’m glad you heard me today because I don’t know how I could have walked up those stairs on my own. My name is Allison,” replied the old lady.
When they got to the top of the stairs, Allison was relieved. “I’m getting old,” she commented. I’ll get you some milk and cookies,” she says to Rick, who happily complies.
Rick was surprised by the size of Allison’s house. She had a hearth next to a grand staircase that led to the second floor. “I have never seen such a big house,” he said in amazement.
“Where do you live, Rick?” Allison decided to ask as she headed to the kitchen.
“I live in one of the cottages on the nearby farm. I only have my mother left. When I saw that you had trouble climbing stairs, I remembered my grandmother. I miss her so much and I would do anything for her to come back”, admits the boy.
Allison smiled as she handed Rick a plate of hot cookies and a glass of hot milk. “You are a nice boy. I’m sure your grandmother loved you very much.”
After devouring some of the cookies on the plate, Rick peeked around the room and noticed that no one else seemed to live in the house besides Allison.
“Do you live alone, Allison? Where are your kids ?” he asks.
“I have a concierge who came every day because I have heart problems and find it difficult to get around. This week, she quit because she was moving to another state. I haven’t been able to find a replacement for her yet, which is why I have to do things myself,” she explains. You see, I never had children. I loved my husband very much, and when he decided he didn’t want to have kids to focus on his business empire, I happily agreed,” she said, taking a cookie from the plate of Rick and taking a bite for herself.
Rick felt bad for Allison. She was a 91-year-old woman who lived alone and had no one to take care of her. He wanted to help her.
“I can be your guide for now. When you need to go to the grocery store, I can walk you and walk you home. Is that okay with you?” he asked the old lady, who couldn’t help but smile.
“I would love that, my little boy. Thanks for offering. You are so nice !” she said, hugging Rick.
Rick and Allison have agreed to go grocery shopping every Friday together. Rick would pick Allison up from her house and guide her up the stairs. Then they call a taxi, go to the grocery store and come back together.
Once they were done, they would take another taxi home, and Rick would carry the groceries up the stairs while guiding Allison. “I’m so glad I met you, Rick. You are sent from heaven,” Allison told him.
Rick and Allison continued shopping for months, until one day Allison didn’t come out of the house. The door was locked and no one came to answer the door.
Rick got worried and started to get nervous. “What if something bad happens to him?” he thought.
He waited outside the door in case Allison showed up. However, the hours passed, and still, no one came out. Then a tinted black car drove into the property. He rushed up the stairs, thinking it was Allison.
To his surprise, inside the car was a man in a business suit with his mother. “Mom ? What are you doing here?” he asks. To her surprise, inside the car was a man in a business suit with his mother. “Mom ? What are you doing here?” he asks.
“It’s about the old lady,” she replied. “Come on, get in the car. We have to go somewhere.”
Rick’s heart stopped, and his stomach started to twist. “What happened to him, mom? Is she okay?” he asks.
“You’ll see, darling,” she replied quietly.
They ended up being deposited in a lawyer’s office. There, Rick saw Allison. “I was so scared something had happened to you, Allison,” he said, running up to her and hugging her really tight.
“I’m sorry I scared you, Rick. You see, today I went to see your mother. I wanted to thank her for raising a big-hearted boy and let her know how much attention you have given me over the past few months,” Allison revealed.
“I asked your mother to pick you up next to my lawyer so I can meet you all here. We’re here because I wanted to thank you, Rick. Thank you for sharing your pure and kind heart with me. Children can be so cruel, and yet you’re here, proof that good people still exist in the world.”
After Allison’s speech, her lawyer revealed that she wanted to bequeath her mansion, valued at $1.8 million, to Rick. Rick and his mother jumped at this revelation, finding it hard to believe.
“If you don’t mind, I don’t have anywhere else to stay, so I’m going to continue living with you first. Its good. I don’t have much time left to live anyway,” Allison said sadly.
Rick shook his head. “Don’t say that, Allison. You will live many more years — my mother and I will take care of you. We are your family,” he said, hugging her.
Allison lived to be 103 years old. She made the most of her years, spending special times with Rick and her mother, Lisa, who took care of her and showered her with love.
