Lloyd and Nathan wandered between the rows of supermarkets like they were in a museum admiring the contents of the shelves with fragrant pastries and sweets scrutinizing the price tags to find something tasty that they could afford they didn't have much money all they could get from the plastic bottles they recycled Lloyd and Nathan were residents of the orphanage when they had no lessons they would sneak into town through a hole in the fence outside the orphanage the boys would play soccer with the city kids and collect recyclable materials using the proceeds to buy themselves and
the other kids some candy or pastry no they were well fed at the orphanage but children of that age always want something special finally the boys chose the sweets they wanted and made their way resolutely to the cash register passing on the way a poorly dressed elderly man who had been choosing something on the Shelf with cut price items for a long time Lloyd walked over to the cash register and placed his purchase on the table the cashier taught him the price and the boy nonchalantly took a handful of coins from his pocket and carefully
counted it he knew for sure he had enough but unexpectedly he was a dying short and Lloyd frantically went through the coins again and again not understanding how this could have happened hurry please if there is no money then put the goods back and go home look what a lion has already gathered behind you said the saleswoman impatiently sorry just a minute please said Lloyd as he reached into his pocket again and was horrified to find a hole in it tears came to the boy's eyes and he looked at the woman with a pleading look
he tried to explain to her what had happened and why he could not pay more but she just burst into vicious curses called Lloyd a beggar and offered him either to pay or get out of the store the cashier was about to call security but the very same old man came up and with shaking hands put the missing coins in front of the woman yeah is this enough he asked quietly you should think better of yourself than doing charity dropped the cashier in response but the elderly man looked reproachfully at the woman sighed heavily and
slowly shuffling gate headed for the exit stunned Lloyd and Nathan grabbed sweets and ran out into the street they were ashamed that they had not thanked the man for his help especially their tutor Mrs Morris had always taught them to be polite and courteous in any situation the elderly man had already gone a few meters away from the store when suddenly something fell out of his pocket he did not notice and walked on not even feeling that he had lost his wallet but the boys had noticed it and they rushed to the find excitedly the
elderly man was already out of sight and Lloyd hiding the wallet in his pocket and looking around commanded let's go quickly the boys ran around the corner of the supermarket and after running a few more meters stopped to catch their breath unable to stand it any longer they looked into the wallet and saw in it a thick stack of large bills they had never seen so much money before and their minds were already running up actions on how to spend such a huge sum they were so excited by the sudden wealth that had fallen upon
them that they had completely forgotten about the real owner of the money only when they found a utility receipt with the name and surname in one of the pockets of the wallet they remembered him Lloyd barely moving his lips read the elderly man's name and looked at his buddy is the address there too asked Nathan hesitantly Lloyd nodded and looked at his friend carefully they felt that they were doing wrong put life in the orphanage made them look at many things differently and after conferring they decided to keep the money for themselves while they were
returning to the orphanage Nathan was thinking of the man who had helped them in the supermarket he was ready to give him back his wallet but he was afraid Lloyd wouldn't understand him but he had no idea that at that moment his friend was thinking the same thing so they walked in contemplation all the way to the orphanage hesitating to make the right choice but apparently the efforts of their tutor Mrs Morris who had been inculcating in them good human qualities since childhood were not in vain once inside the walls of the orphanage the boys
felt even more remorse and decided to ask the teacher how they should act Mrs Morris what if we for example found someone's thing on the street do we have to return it carefully choosing his words asked Nathan I think guys that it doesn't matter where you found not your thing it will still be someone else's and you have to return it to the owner advise the teacher wisely after speaking with the teacher the boys firmly decided that they would return the wallet barely waiting for the next morning they rushed to the needed address listed on
the receipt having found the right house Nathan and Lloyd hesitantly stopped in front of the shabio door and with a loud sigh pressed the doorbell The Familiar shuffling footsteps sounded behind the door and an elderly man from the supermarket appeared on the threshold hello boys what are you doing here ask the elderly man who didn't seem to recognize the kids he had helped yesterday oh here take your wallet you lost it yesterday said Nathan blushing and handed the wallet to the man Mr Bennett looked at the boys confused and his eyes became wet with tears
with difficulty he pulled himself together and with Trembling Hands took the wallet heartily thanking the boys for their honesty then he invited them into the house for tea Lloyd and Nathan went inside the spacious apartment furnished with antique furniture and Mr Bennett having put the kettle on looked at them fatherly thank you boys it's all my savings I was saving up for a present for my wife Mary for her anniversary she's been dreaming about it said the man with excitement in his voice and he wept again and where is she asked Nathan the old man
looked sadly at the boy and pointed to the portrait hanging on the wall tied with a black ribbon oh there she is my Mary she's been dead for a year she was very ill The Children looked at the picture of the elderly woman with a smart and kind face and understood everything meanwhile Mr Bennett continued to tell about his life he and Mary lived together for almost 40 years and never quarreled Mary was very fond of children but they did not manage to have a child at first they worked a lot and then their health
was not good enough but Mary always willingly took care of other people's children especially when she retired in this apartment building where they lived most of their lives she was always ready to help young mothers to babysit and they willingly left their babies with her and what Mary wanted most of all was a nice playground in the yard of their house with a sand pit all sorts of carousels and slides with benches and beautiful flower beds around she turned to the city Administration and the management company several times but all they could get were vain
excuses so Mr Bennett decided to save some of his own money from his pension and fulfill his wife's dream on her birthday but he didn't make it in time Mr Bennett sobered and fell silent again and Lloyd and Nathan felt very unhappy at the thought that just yesterday they were going to keep his money for themselves I didn't expect the money to come back to me you are so good kids you could have spent it on yourselves but you didn't I remember how you were looking at expensive candy in the store it must be difficult
with money in the family right ask the elderly man why from an orphanage Mister we don't have a family whispered Nathan lowering his eyes hearing this Mr Bennett turned pale and apparently having decided something for himself took a purse from the nightstand and calling out the contents handed the money to the boys you guys did a noble thing and I want to do the same take this money and buy yourself and the other kids at the orphanage some sweets and toys and whatever else is missing I won't have time to put up a playground anyway
and it will bring you a lot of use Nathan and Lloyd shook their heads together but Mr Bennett insisted he assured them that he had already made up his mind and no one would be able to dissuade him and he also believed that his beloved Mary looking down from heaven would also be happy about this decision the boys parted with Mr Bennett as true friends back at the orphanage they immediately ran to the teacher handed her the money and told her about this fantastic event Mrs Morris was so touched by this incredible and kind story
that she gathered all the kids together and told the story of Mr Bennett and his wife and what a noble gesture their lonely elderly man had made after Consulting the administration of the orphanage Mrs Morris organized a volunteer group of older children to help fulfill the cherished dream of Mr Bennett's late wife the children cleaned the area in front of the man's apartment building from trash an old grass planted Mary's favorite flowers just as she had dreamed they tied it up old outdoor equipment and horizontal bars repaired and painted old benches and set up a
nice big sandbox with swings and a slide in the middle of the yard the little kids from the neighboring buildings immediately became fond of this playground and Mr Bennett watching them through the window was also happy since that memorable day Lloyd and Nathan came to visit Mr Bennett every weekend and they literally became like grandchildren to him he felt that now he had a real friendly family again where he was deeply loved and cared for two years before Lloyd and Nathan graduated from the orphanage Mr Bennett passed away shortly before his death having a presentment
of his imminent end the elderly man made a will which gave the boys his apartment when they entered adulthood this became a great Anchor Point in their future fate and they never forgot to whom they owed it from frightened boys they grew up into successful men who always had their faith in people honoring their named grandfather they placed a beautiful Granite gravestone which they never left without fresh flowers
