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The original was posted on /r/bestofredditorupdates by /u/Direct-Caterpillar77 on 2025-10-31 17:14:42+00:00.
I am not The OOP, OOP is u/WarToad
What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done that no one knows about?
Originally posted to r/AskReddit
TRIGGER WARNING: Teen pregnancy, struggles with poverty
MOOD SPOILER: heartwarming
What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done that no one knows about? Dec 22, 2009
I was day tripping to Vancouver from Seattle and stopped in for lunch at a little cafe. From my window I saw a young teenage girl out in the cold, squatted down in a closed up businesses doorway, holding a small bundle in her arms. She was panhandling, people were mostly walking by ignoring her. She looked just broken.
I finished up my meal and went outside, went through my wallet and thought I’d give her $5 for some food. I got up to her and she was sobbing, she looked like she was 14-15. And that bundle in her arms was a baby wrapped up. I felt like I just got punched in the chest. She looked up putting on a game face and asked for any change, I asked her if she’s like some lunch. Right next door was a small quick-Trip type grocery store, I got a can of formula for the baby (very young, maybe 2-3 months old.), and took her back to the cafe though I’d just eaten. She was very thankful, got a burger and just inhaled it. Got her some pie and ice cream. She opened up and we talked. She was 15, got pregnant, parents were angry and she was fighting with them. She ran away. She’s been gone almost 1 full year.
I asked her if she’s like to go home and she got silent. I coaxed her, she said her parents wouldn’t want her back. I coaxed further, she admitted she stole 5k in cash from her Dad. Turns out 5k doesn’t last long at all and the streets are tough on a 15 year old. Very tough. She did want to go back, but she was afraid no one wanted her back after what she did.
We talked more, I wanted her to use my phone to call home but she wouldn’t. I told her I’d call and see if her folks wanted to talk to her, she hesitated and gave bad excuses but eventually agreed. She dialed the number and I took the phone, her Mom picked up and I said hello. Awkwardly introduced myself and said her daughter would like to speak to her, silence, and I heard crying. Gave the phone to the girl and she was just quiet listening to her Mom cry, and then said hello. And she cried. They talked, she gave the phone back to me, I talked to her Mom some more.
I drove her down to the bus station and bought her a bus ticket home. Gave her $100 cash for incidentals, and some formula, diapers, wipes, snacks for the road.
Got to the bus, and she just cried saying thank you over and over. I gave her a kiss on the forehead and a hug, kissed her baby, and she got on the bus.
I get a chistmas card every year from her. She’s 21 now and in college.
Her name is Makayla and her baby was Joe.
I’ve never really told anyone about this. I just feel good knowing I did something good in this world. Maybe it’ll make up for the things I’ve f-ed up.
Update - What’s your proudest or most-upvoted comment? Feb 12, 2010 (nearly 2 months later)
I had no idea this would take off like wildfire. It was years ago, I’d never really talked about it, and it was just kind of special to me. I really hadn’t thought about it much since then and was remembering more than anything. I jotted it down in a thread and got slammed with envelopes. Hundreds and hundreds of messages and private messages.
One afternoon I finally did something right.
An after-the-fact follow-up… I got Makayla’s Christmas card this year and gave her a call. She’s doing great in school, another couple years left since she started late and works part time too.(Bank Teller) Joe is a lean mean advanced reading machine. Reading books 3-4 years above his age.(7 now.) And he draws Wolverine comics. “He’s Canadian, you know that?” Favorite. Hero. Ever. He wants to grow up to “be a comic book maker and pizzas.” Keep the dream, Joe. Keep the dream! Her Mom and Dad would like to ccome visit me and my little girl.(I’ve never met them, but her Dad sends me bottles of homemade whiskey… which actually is surprisingly good.)
Which has lead to in interesting quandry. Anonomously I told Reddit. I’ve never told anyone in the real world. I didn’t tell anyone when I came home. I just sat on it. Then a day or two went by. How do you bring it up now? 'Oh, by the way, last weekend… " Then a week, a month. By then I was just comfortable with is as a private memory. Now here I am with a new wife and family… whom I’ve never told. It’s just something I hold as my own. And now Makayla’s parents want to visit. How do I just throw out… 'Hey, Sweetie. I know this is something I should have told you years ago, but…"
I dunno. Life moves in mysterious ways.
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