“Oh, geez. I must have lost my wallet. I’m so sorry. I’ll have to come back for these things later,” Mary said to the cashier, who started picking up the items and putting them back. Meanwhile, Mary closed her purse, prepared to walk away when the boy behind her in line spoke up.

“Wait, ma’am. You don’t have many things anyway. I’ll pay for them,” he said. He couldn’t be older than 12, and Mary noticed that he didn’t look particularly well-off.

“Oh, no. I couldn’t put you out like that,” Mary countered.

“I insist, ma’am. Sometimes, we have to do good things, and karma will reward us later, right? That’s what my grandmother says all the time,” the boy said, paying for everything that Mary had picked out. Luckily, it was only a few essentials.

Touched by the boy’s generosity, Mary thanked him profusely. She asked for his name, and he told her it was Tommy. He lived with his grandmother in a small house a few blocks away.

A few days later, Tommy was sitting in his small living room, helping his grandmother with some chores. Life had been tough for them ever since his grandmother fell ill and required expensive treatments that they couldn’t afford. Despite their struggles, his grandmother always reminded him to do good deeds and believe in the kindness of others.

As Tommy worked, he heard a knock at the door. He opened it to find Mary standing there, holding an envelope.

“Hello, Tommy. I wanted to thank you again for your kindness the other day,” Mary began. “I also wanted to give you this.” She handed him the envelope.

Tommy opened it to find a check for $230,000. His eyes widened in shock. “But… but why?” he stammered.

Mary smiled warmly. “I’m a retired businesswoman, and I’ve been fortunate in life. When you helped me, I realized how much we can make a difference in each other’s lives. I wanted to help you and your grandmother. Use this for her treatment and anything else you need.”

Tears welled up in Tommy’s eyes. He couldn’t believe the immense generosity of this stranger he had helped on a whim. He hugged Mary tightly, overcome with gratitude. That evening, Tommy and his grandmother sat down to discuss the future. With the money, they could afford the best medical treatment for her and ensure that Tommy could continue his education without financial worries.

Mary’s act of kindness transformed their lives in ways they never imagined. Tommy learned firsthand the power of good deeds and how they can come back to us in unexpected and life-changing ways. He continued to live by his grandmother’s words, always doing good and believing in the kindness of others, knowing that karma would always find its way back.