When Felix, a single father, saw his elderly neighbor, Mrs. White, struggling with her overgrown lawn, he promptly offered his help. Appreciative, Mrs. White gave him an unusual, antique box as a thank-you gesture, but this gift led to unforeseen consequences when Felix was soon contacted by her lawyer for an urgent meeting.
Felix, a single dad in his mid-30s, leaned back in his armchair in his modest, slightly worn living room, half-watching a sitcom on TV. The background laughter did little to mask the loneliness he felt, having lost his wife in a car accident seven years ago.
The only solace Felix found was in his janitorial job and in raising his daughter, Alice, whose presence filled his life with joy, reminiscent of the happiness he used to share with his wife.
One afternoon, an unusual noise from outside caught Felix’s attention. He glanced out the window and saw Mrs. White, his elderly neighbor, struggling with her lawnmower. Known for her independence despite her age, Mrs. White seemed to be in need of help today.
Without a second thought, Felix went over and offered his assistance. “Let me help you with that, Mrs. White,” he said, taking control of the stubborn machine. The two worked together silently under the afternoon sun, their shared effort creating an unspoken bond.
After they had finished, Mrs. White beamed with gratitude. “Felix, you’ve always been so good to me, lending me your strength and time without asking for anything in return.”
Felix, modest as ever, replied, “It’s no trouble at all, Mrs. White.”
Determined to show her appreciation, Mrs. White insisted Felix take a lavishly decorated box. Felix hesitated, uncomfortable with accepting such an extravagant gift. “I can’t accept this, Mrs. White,” he said, the unease clear in his voice.
Understanding his discomfort, Mrs. White handed him a bag of apples instead. “Then, please, at least take these apples for Alice,” she urged.
Felix graciously accepted the apples with a simple “Thank you,” and headed back home.
Inside, he presented the apples to Alice, who accepted them excitedly with a cheerful, “Thank you, Daddy!”
As Felix settled back into his evening routine, Alice discovered the same ornate box hidden within the bag of apples. Intrigued, she brought it to Felix, exclaiming, “Daddy! Look what was in the bag with the apples!”
The mysterious box, now in Felix’s hands, stirred up a flurry of questions. Holding it, he insisted to Alice, “Alice, we can’t keep it. It’s not ours.”
