I approached him with an idea in mind. “Hey, how much for the bike?” I asked, pretending to be interested in buying it.
His face lit up, almost too quickly, as if he didn’t expect anyone to actually inquire. “Oh, it’s $1700,” he said, giving a rough estimate of what the bike might be worth.
I paused for a moment, playing along. “Hmm, that’s a bit much for me right now, but how about I give you $1700 in cash for it?” I could see him trying to suppress a grin, likely thinking he had struck gold. He nodded eagerly, not knowing I wasn’t actually planning on buying it.
But instead of handing over the money for the bike, I took a different step. I handed him the full $1700 in cash. He stared at the money in my hands, his jaw dropping in disbelief. “Wait… you’re just giving this to me?” he stammered, eyes wide with shock.
I nodded. “I don’t need the bike, but I know you could use the help.”
He hesitated for just a moment, looking at the money in his hands, then, without a second thought, he turned and walked over to a group of people nearby. I watched, puzzled, as he handed out portions of the money to those around him. He didn’t keep a single dollar for himself. Instead, he helped a family in need, gave some to a couple of kids who had been playing nearby, and even offered a bit to a homeless man sitting in the shade.
After a few moments, he came back to me, his eyes filled with gratitude and a humble pride. “You didn’t just change my day,” he said. “You made sure I could help others too.”
It hit me then—this man, who had so little, was a true legend. Instead of holding onto the gift I’d given him, he shared it with others in need. In that moment, I realized that the world needed more people like him—people who, even when life has dealt them a tough hand, still have the kindness to give back.
