Diane Salinger, a stunning woman in her fifties, found herself at a crossroads after losing her husband to Covid and then having her house damaged by a cyclone. She thought about life, and after some consideration, she chose to invest the money she had left in a business in a mid-sized town in Michigan. Her goal was to offer exotic items, so she purchased a little grocery store and hoped for the best.
Fortunately, the neighborhood where she settled was comfortable. They were nice and welcomed her as one of their own. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for her landlord, Chris, who was cranky and appeared to just care about himself.Diane was the most sought-after tenant. She stayed quiet, paid her rent on time, and never asked for anything.
But that December was different. When the due date came, she was $120 short on her rent.When she handed over the envelope to Chris and he began calculating the money, he became enraged, demanding that she pay the rent in full. Diane emphasized that she would receive the money in two weeks, but Chris refused to listen. Nonetheless, she informed him that she was assisting some families in need and that she would be able to pay in full on short notice.Chris began ranting, telling her she could play Mother Theresa all she wanted, but he would not wait a day. He was angry with her and requested her to leave by the end of the week.
“I’m a businessman, not a charity,” he informed her, accusing her of taking advantage of him. Chris could see people leaving Diane’s store with bags full of food, so he assumed her business was doing well enough to meet the rent in full, which irritated him even more.Diane ended up homeless. She was compelled to leave the residence and find another place to stay.
In the meantime, Chris had no remorse for kicking her out. A few days later, he was preparing to pay his sister Vanessa a visit. She was a single mother raising her son all by herself. Her life was difficult, but she was a strong, independent lady whom Chris adored. He put a $20 cash in an envelope for his nephews’ birthdays and went to Vanessa’s.
When she opened the door, the air was filled with the delightful smell of home-cooked food. Vanessa appeared cheerful than usual. She welcomed Chris in and informed him that dinner was ready. When he inquired about his nephew, Vanessa said that he was upstairs playing video games with one of her friends. At that point, Chris’ nephew came downstairs with a girlfriend. It was Diane, the woman Chris had kicked out of his home.
“I had no idea you were Vanessa’s brother,” Diane explained. Chris was stunned. He learned that one of the needy families Diane mentioned was aiding belonged to his sister. “But why isn’t she asking for money from me,” he muttered under his breath. Diane whispered to him, “Because it’s always easier to ask your friends than your family, and Vanessa is one hardworking but very proud woman.”
Chris was ashamed of himself. He realized he had done Diane wrong and wanted to make things right, so he offered her the opportunity to return to the apartment for half the rent she was paying so that she might continue to aid individuals like his sister. Most importantly, he committed to reciprocate Diane’s assistance whenever possible. Diane was pleased to accept the offer. She hoped Chris had learnt a great lesson that day.
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