Are guardian angels real? This story gives us some pretty good proof, as a good Samaritan saves a young mother from a horrible life of poverty.
“I was day tripping to Vancouver from Seattle and stopped in for lunch at a little café. From my window, I saw a young teenage girl out in the cold, squatted down in a closed up businesses’ doorway. She was holding a small bundle in her arms. She was panhandling, but people were mostly walking by and ignoring her. She looked just broken.
I finished up my meal and went outside, went through my wallet, and thought I’d give her $5 for some food. I got up to her, and she was sobbing, she looked like she was fourteen or fifteen. And that bundle in her arms was a baby wrapped up. I felt like I just got punched in the chest. She looked up, putting on a game face and asked for any change. I asked her if she would like some lunch. Right next door was a small grocery store, so I got a can of formula for the baby and took her back to the café, even though I’d just eaten. She was very thankful, got a burger, and just inhaled it. I also got her some pie and ice cream. She opened up and we talked. She was fifteen, got pregnant, parents were angry, and she had been fighting with them. She ran away. She had been gone almost a full year.
I asked her if she would like to go home, and she got silent. I coaxed her, and she said her parents wouldn’t want her back. I coaxed further, and she admitted that she stole $5,000 in cash from her dad. Turns out $5,000 doesn’t last long at all, and the streets are tough on a fifteen-year-old. She did want to go back, but she was afraid no one wanted her back after what she did.
We talked more, and I wanted her to use my phone to call home, but she wouldn’t. I told her I’d call and see if her folks wanted to talk to her, but she hesitated and gave some more excuses. Eventually, she agreed. She dialed the number and I took the phone. Her mom picked up and I said hello. I awkwardly introduced myself and said how her daughter would like to speak to her. At first, I hear only silence, but then I hear crying. I gave the phone to the girl, and she was just quiet while listening to her Mom cry. Eventually, she uttered a small, ‘Hello.’ And she cried. They talked, she gave the phone back to me, and I talked to her mom some more.
I drove her down to the bus station and bought her a bus ticket home. I gave her $100 cash for incidentals, and some formula, diapers, wipes, and snacks for the road. We got to the bus, and she just cried, saying thank you over and over again. I gave her a kiss on the forehead and a hug, kissed her baby, and she got on the bus. Now I get a Christmas card every year from her. She is twenty-one now and in college. Her name is Makayla, and her baby was Joe. I’ve never really told anyone about this. I just feel good knowing I did something good in this world. Maybe it’ll make up for the things I’ve messed up.”