When Megan returned home from buying a jacket at the thrift shop, she discovered a note with an address and the words, “Help my grandkids.” She decided to go to the address and couldn’t believe what she discovered there. Buying a new outfit can change your outlook for the day. At least, that was Megan’s opinion.
Whatever her day had been like, anything new in her closet might be a great mood shift, especially if it was a steal. Morgan didn’t expect to discover anything when she went into her local thrift/pawn shop one day. However, a worn jacket embellished with gold thread drew her attention. It was lovely and reasonably priced!
Megan liked the concept of buying old items since she was environmentally conscious. She was concerned about ecology, and rapid fashion was a major issue. So everything that could be repurposed was ideal for her. She brought the jacket home without hesitation and began to consider all of the potential clothing combinations she could wear it with.
She couldn’t comprehend why somebody would sell it in such fantastic condition. She must have needed the money severely, she reasoned as she entered her room and began emptying her closet. Megan was perplexed. “I don’t get it. Couldn’t you ask your family for assistance?” Her bed was strewn with fabric as she planned outfits and whirled around in front of the mirror in her new jacket.
She took a selfie with her phone and put her other hand in her pocket. That’s when she felt something and extracted it. It was a scrap of paper with an address in Norfolk, Virginia, not far from her home. But something else piqued her interest. “Help my grandkids!” it said on the note. What does this imply? She pondered and shrugged, crumpling the piece of paper and tossing it to the floor.
She took some selfies and began to fetch the things she had placed out on her bed, reorganizing everything in her closet. She placed her jacket on a rack near her front door so she could grab it quickly before leaving, then went to the kitchen to make some lunch. Megan’s mind wouldn’t let her forget the message on the piece of paper as she ate.
“It could be some sort of joke,” she said quietly, munching on her sandwich and browsing through her phone. “But what if it isn’t?” The question plagued her until she couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed the note from her room floor, flattened it out, and reread the address. “Ok, let’s do this,” she said psyching herself up before rushing out the door with the jacket.
A little kid answered the door. “Hello?” she said in a small voice. “Hmmm… hi,” Megan started, not knowing why a kid would just be allowed to answer to strangers. “Is your grandmother or grandfather here?””We only have a grandma,” the little girl replied, opening the door further and gesturing toward a hallway. Two other kids were standing there with wide eyes and confused expressions.
Megan was probably just as baffled as them. But she entered the house and discovered a disaster.The house didn’t smell bad or anything, but it was clear that no one had cleaned up in a while. There were tons of toys lying around, and the kitchen had dishes littered all over the floor and the sink. It finally sunk in that the note was probably not some prank. These children need help.
Megan asked the little girl again about her grandmother, and she guided her to a bedroom. An older woman was lying on the bed looking too pale for comfort, and as her eyes laid on Megan, she coughed, a sound that resonated in the entire house and seemed to last for a whole minute. When the woman finally stopped coughing, Megan decided to explain herself quickly.
“Ma’am, excuse me for coming in like this. But I bought this jacket and found a note inside.””Oh, thank God. Thank you for responding to the note. That’s so kind of you,” the older woman said, covering her mouth with a handkerchief but gesturing for Megan to move closer. “I made a huge effort yesterday to reach the shop, sell it, and buy something for my grandkids to eat.
But I was afraid that my disease would progress, so I wrote the note, hoping that someone would see it and help.” Megan was puzzled. “I don’t understand. Couldn’t you call any family to help out?”We don’t have anyone else, and I’ve had to spend my pension on medication that’s not working very well,” the older woman explained between intense bouts of coughing.
“I’m sorry. I’m Erica, and I have chemical pneumonia. The doctors don’t know exactly how I got it, but they said it’s not contagious.” “I’m Megan, and I just bought this jacket and decided to come. Do you need me to call 911 or something?” Megan moved closer to the older woman. Erica shook her head, and tears gathered in her eyes. “I don’t know what to do.
I don’t want my grandkids to end up in the system, but I feel so weak now. I don’t know if I’ll ever recover. I just needed someone to listen, I guess.” Her actions didn’t make sense, but somehow, Megan understood the older woman’s plight. She was simply scared of dying and leaving her grandkids behind without any help. She grabbed Erica’s hand, nodding at her. “It’s going to be alright. You’re going to rest and get better.”
Erica looked directly into the younger woman’s eyes, and her tears finally came. Her mouth puckered in a painful expression, and she said, “Thank you. Thank you so much.””I’ll be back,” Megan said, standing up from the bed and leaving the room. The kids were right outside and stared up at her expectantly. “Ok, kids. My name is Megan, and we’re going to surprise your grandma! How about it?”
The children smiled, nodded their heads, and followed Megan around. She gave them easy tasks and did the complicated stuff herself, like cleaning the kitchen, putting dishes in the washer, and arranging everything. Eventually, the house was livable, so she ordered them a pizza, then she Googled home remedies for Erica’s condition.
At the least, she wanted to ease some of that terrible coughing so she prepared a refreshing, calming beverage for Erica from what she found in the kitchen. Megan left their house that night, feeling great about helping out a strange family. She returned for several hours each day afterward. Erica was in bed for most of those days, and Megan worried about what steps to take for her grandchildren.
But luckily, the older woman started getting better a week after Megan came around. Soon enough, Erica was back on her feet and gave Megan the biggest hug in the world. “You’re a saint. You helped us although it really wasn’t your responsibility. You could’ve called CPS on me, and you didn’t. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Erica, sometimes, we all just need a little help. And next time you do, you don’t have to leave a note in a jacket. You can call me anytime,” Megan laughed, and Erica joined her. They became close friends despite their age difference, and Megan always told this story to anyone who would listen.