Homeless Man Asked Me to Buy Him Coffee on His Birthday — Hours Later, He Sat Next to Me in First Class
Jimmy was taken aback when the homeless man he had previously purchased coffee for boarded the aircraft and took a seat next to him in first class. Why was he requesting money in the first place, and who was he?
Prior to meeting Kathy, I had never given destiny any thought.
She entered my life three months ago, and in just a few weeks, she became everything to me. I couldn’t help but notice how everything with her fell into place, even if some branded me crazy for popping the question after only a month.
Our view on life, our passion of skiing, and even our obsession with science fiction books were all similar. The cosmos seemed to be whispering to me, “She’s the one.”
Now here I was, taking a plane to her parents’ first meeting.
Kathy alerted me to David, her father. She described him as a strict man who was difficult to get along with. However, she also maintained that he loved her more than anything else and had a decent heart.
To tell the truth, I was afraid. I didn’t want to ruin my one chance to show that I was deserving of his daughter.
I had left home much earlier than necessary due to nervousness, which caused me to arrive at the airport too early. I hid at a small, welcoming coffee shop across the street to pass the time.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee and the buzz of discussion were a pleasant diversion from the thoughts racing through my mind.
It was then that I saw him.
The raggedly dressed man shuffled in. He had worked hard throughout his life, as seen by the wrinkles on his face. Even though he was exhausted, his eyes darted about the room as if he was looking for something, and his shoulders were slightly hunched.
I observed him walking up to a couple of tables and whispering to the occupants.
The majority either avoided eye contact, shook their heads, or apologized awkwardly. Then he came to a halt before my table.
“Excuse me,” he murmured courteously. “Do you have any spare change? Only enough for a cup of coffee.
I paused. My initial reaction was to say no. I wasn’t sure how much to trust him, not because I didn’t care. Some folks are sincere, while others are merely seeking favors, you know.
But there was something odd about him. He seems ashamed to be asking and wasn’t overbearing.
He said, “Jamaican Blue Mountain,” with a hint of sheepishness. “I’ve heard it’s really good.”
It nearly made me chuckle. It was the most expensive choice available. I briefly believed he could be kidding. But I stopped as he glanced at me.
I questioned, “Why that one?”
“It’s my birthday,” he said with amusement. “I’ve always wanted to give it a go. I thought, “Why not today?”
I wanted to roll my eyes, part of me.
Yes, I thought, it’s your birthday.
However, a different part of me chose to believe him.
“Alright,” I said as I got up. “Let’s get you that coffee.”
A sincere smile spread across his face. The words “thank you,” he said.
But I did more than simply buy him coffee. Since a birthday wouldn’t be complete without cake, I added a slice to the order. I pointed to the vacant chair at my table as I gave him the tray.
“Sit,” I said. “Tell me your story.”
He paused for a moment, as though he wasn’t sure if I meant it.
Then he took a seat, holding the coffee cup as if it were a holy object. Then he began to speak.
David was a man who had lost everything years prior, losing his home, work, and family. Bad luck and betrayal had contributed, but he made no excuses.
It was impossible not to listen to his straightforward and honest speech.
I understood as I sat there that this was more than simply a man seeking assistance. Despite being broken by life, this person had persevered.
I couldn’t quite swallow the lump in my throat that had formed by the time he had concluded his story. He attempted to reject the $100 I gave him before I left.
I said to him, “Think of this as a gift from my side, man.” “And happy birthday!”
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I felt like I had done a modest, kind act for a stranger when I left that café. I never thought I would see him again. Or that a few hours later, he would completely upend my world.
As I sipped another cup of coffee in the first-class waiting area, the airport was humming with its typical pandemonium.
My anxiety over meeting Kathy’s parents had subsided a little, but I was still very much aware of her father. What if I wasn’t liked by him? What if he believed that I wasn’t suitable for her?
Kathy had already arrived at her parents’ house when I took up my phone to SMS her.
I wrote, I’m really anxious. What’s going on over there?
“It’s all right,” she replied via text. Dad will adore you, I’m sure of it.
I waited in line and took a seat next to the window when the boarding call arrived.
Kathy encouraged that I treat myself for once, even though I felt like I didn’t deserve first class. I kept thinking about the man from the café as I buckled up and looked around. I was still thinking about his narrative.
With the $100 I had given him, I intended to brighten his birthday a bit.
A figure entered the aisle as I was getting settled in. I stared at his face and my heart almost stopped.
He was the one. The same guy from the coffee shop.
However, he was not dressed in the ragged garments from before.
No, this man had a shiny watch on his wrist, his hair combed, and he wore a smart, fitted suit.
He smirked when he saw me.
He slid onto the seat beside me and said nonchalantly, “Mind if I join you?”
I gazed, my mind unable to comprehend what I was seeing. “What… what’s going on here?”
With a cunning smile, he leaned back. “Let’s call it… a test.”
“A test?” I said it again. “What are you talking about?”
The man took a stylish notebook out of his bag and laughed quietly.
“Allow me to fully introduce myself. My name is David. He hesitated, observing my response. “Kathy’s father.”
“Wait… you’re her dad?” I spoke without thinking. “The one I’m flying out to meet?”
“The very same,” he continued to smile. I’ve always supported a hands-on approach, you see. Beyond the well-prepared dinner introductions and well-practiced responses, I wanted to know the true nature of my daughter’s fiancé.
It was unbelievable to me. Why hadn’t Kathy informed me of this? Was she involved in this scheme?
“So, this was all an act?” I inquired.
“A necessary one,” he quietly answered. “When everyone is looking, it’s simple to be friendly. However, I was curious about how you would handle a stranger, particularly one who didn’t seem to have much to offer. As it happens, you passed the first section.
“The first part?” I repeated. “How many parts are there?”
He gave me a pen after opening the notebook. “One more, please. Write Kathy a note.
“A letter?”
“Yes,” he leaned back in his chair and murmured. “Explain to her your love for her, your desire to marry her, and your plans for her care. Avoid overanalyzing it. Be truthful.
Sweat gathered on my temples as I gazed at the blank page. I had not signed up for this. Even though I really wanted to object, I knew I couldn’t.
So I wrote.
The words came slowly at first, stumbling over feelings and ideas. The pen soon appeared to move by itself, though.
I wrote about how Kathy gave me a sense of fulfillment, how her laughter could lift my spirits on my worst days, and how I wanted to create a happy, trusting life with her.
My hand hurt when I was done, but my heart felt lighter.
I was still unsure, though, if I would pass the test. What if this question was a trick? Could it be that David’s test was more complicated than it appeared?
I gave him the notepad, and he took a moment to study it. Then he grinned as he looked up.
His words were, “You passed,” “Welcome to the family.”
Hearing those words gave me such a sense of relief.
This man, who had just put me to the ultimate test, held out his hand. Knowing that I had overcome the last obstacle, I gave it a firm shake.
“Now, let’s see how well you do at home,” he replied.
I was psychologically and physically worn out when we eventually touched down and disembarked. I tried to calm myself as we passed through the airport, hoping that I had impressed him enough, but I was still feeling a little uneasy.
It was a peaceful journey to Kathy’s parents’ place. There, she was waiting for us with her mother.
In the meantime, I couldn’t stop thinking about what the evening would hold. I was no longer merely meeting her parents. I’d made it through the “test.” What exactly did that mean, though? Would David’s blessing suffice? At their house, what would happen?
Susan, Kathy’s mother, welcomed us with open arms when we got there. There were also Kathy’s sister and brothers.
But David, looking at me across the table, maintained his customary serious expression. I couldn’t tell if he was just holding off on making a decision or if he was still assessing me.
During the awkward dinner, David sat back and observed everything intently while everyone else engaged in courteous conversation.
He never gave much in reply, just nodding or grunting whenever I spoke. David’s quiet was nearly deafening, but Kathy’s siblings were laid back.
I kept asking myself: Did I actually pass?
David put down his wineglass and cleared his throat as the meal came to an end.
His words, “You’ve done well, Jimmy,” “You have revealed your true self to me. And that has some significance.
My hand was pressed beneath the table by Kathy.
Whispering, “I’ve always known you were the right one for me,” she said.
He grinned and remarked, “I’ve seen enough to know he’ll take care of you,” to his daughter. “You’ve got my blessing.”
Although I was ecstatic at the moment, David’s gaze conveyed an unconscious message.
I felt like everything had come together after supper as Kathy and I assisted her folks with cleaning up.
I discovered a folded piece of paper on the counter at that point.
I opened it up and saw that it was a receipt for coffee from the café I had been to earlier in the morning. The one when David and I first met.
However, the receipt did not pertain to the coffee I purchased for David. At the bottom, there was an extra fee.
“Extra donation — $100.”
I turned to Kathy after picking it up.
“What’s this?” I questioned her.
“Oh, that’s my dad’s way of tying up loose ends.”
Confused, I scowled. “Loose ends?”
Her eyes were sparkling as she leaned on the counter. “Remember that you gave him $100 in the café? He lost it. After you left, he gave it to the café employees and instructed them to count it as an additional donation.
“How do you know that, too? Were you aware of his scheme from the beginning? Did you participate in it?
She smiled mischievously at me.
Her response was, “Well, I was,” “You didn’t believe that the coffee was the only factor, did you? How did Dad find out about your flight, in your opinion? It was me, Jimmy, of course.
I became aware that I would not be marrying into a typical family at that point. They wanted me to understand the value of charity, and these folks were truly unique. And the significance of belonging to this family
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