A Leaky Washer, a Folded Note, and the Kindness That Changed Everything

I did what I always do when someone’s in my home working: I offered him tea.

He looked surprised.

“Are you sure?” he asked, almost shyly.

“Of course,” I said. “You’ve been on your feet all day. How do you take it?”

We made small talk. Nothing profound. I asked how long he’d been in town. He told me just under a year. I asked if he liked it. He said he wasn’t sure yet.

He finished the repair in under 30 minutes, and I paid him. As he was gathering his tools, he paused, looked nervous, and pulled something from his pocket—a small piece of folded paper.

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