Since she couldn’t afford a $250 washing machine, Jessica asked the seller for a discount. He agreed immediately, which surprised her, but when she opened the machine at home, she found something even more surprising.
Jessica and Edward quickly realized that parenting would be tough after having Kathy, their first child. They were young parents dealing with financial struggles, always short on money.
Edward had a failing textile business in Texas, and Jessica worked as a weekend nanny while Edward took care of Kathy. After having a child, their expenses grew, but their income either stayed the same or dropped some months.
It must have been hard on them, too. Perhaps even harder. One weekend as Jessica left work, she glanced at her neighbor Sandra with her kids.
Sandra’s husband drove a truck, while she managed their third child. He was paid piecework, but not a lot. Sandra had worked on a farm for years to support her family, which was their only means of survival.
Jessica, Edward, and their neighbors were barely getting by. After Kathy’s birth, Edward stopped going to bars with friends to save money, and Jessica gave up the small luxuries she had been able to afford before.
For one month, finances were good. Jessica managed to save some money as Edward’s business slowly grew. But then her washing machine broke just as they were about to have a less hectic month.
After thinking it over, Jessica decided against repairing the old machine. The cost of labor and motor replacement was slightly cheaper than buying a new one, but the repaired machine might not last long, especially since it had needed repairs four times in the past year.
Sitting down at her computer, Jessica began looking for a cheap replacement. After an hour of searching, she found one that seemed perfect—but it was $250, and she could only afford $150.
Determined, she went to the store to ask for a discount in person. The seller, James Carter, lived at 1216 East Madison Street, Brownsville, TX. She wrote down the address.
A man about her age answered the door. He appeared calm but had dark circles under his eyes, suggesting fatigue and worry. His voice was deep and weary: “How may I assist you?”
“Hi, James Carter? I’m Jessica Turner. I messaged about the washer. Could I take a look at it?”
“Oh, Jessica. Yes, certainly,” James replied, gesturing for her to come in.
As she entered the house, Jessica noticed the disarray, realizing that James was moving and selling his belongings. The white washing machine sat in the hallway, looking new—just like it had online.
“I hope you remember,” Jessica said, after inspecting the machine. “I’d like to discuss the price. I can’t afford $250! The machine looks great, but I can only pay $150. Since we just had a baby and are struggling financially, would you be willing to offer me a discount?”
James paused, thinking for a moment, then nodded. “Sure, $150 sounds good to me,” he said absentmindedly, before turning to lift the machine.
Jessica’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really? Thank you! I appreciate it so much!”
James gave her a small smile, but his mind seemed elsewhere. They struggled to load the heavy machine into Jessica’s car without proper tools or assistance, sweating and huffing as they worked. After paying James, she was excited to take the machine home.
She reached out to say goodbye, asking if they could meet again, but he declined. “I’m leaving here for good, so we probably won’t meet again. I hope the machine helps you,” he said with a brief but genuine smile. Jessica, touched by his words, thanked him again before leaving.
Once at home, she immediately checked the washing machine. To her surprise, she found $150 in the dryer lint filter, along with a folded note that read:
“It’s a gift for your newborn baby. I didn’t think it was fair to ask someone struggling financially for money. So I returned it. Someone dear to me told me to help those in need if I can.”
Shocked, Jessica wondered when he had put the money in there. It hit her—maybe he had placed it there while helping her move the machine into the yard, as she had gone to get ropes from her car.
She wanted to thank him, but his phone number wasn’t listed online, and returning to his house would take too long. So, she decided to visit him the next day.
By then, it was too late—the man had moved out, and there was a for-sale sign in the yard. Jessica stood outside, saddened, but still grateful.
A year later…
Edward and Jessica had moved into a larger home. Kathy was attending a great school, and Edward’s business was thriving.
One day, while looking out from the balcony of their new home, Jessica thought back to their old place. Sandra was arguing with her husband about a new washing machine. Jessica noticed the damp laundry hanging on their clothesline and felt a pang of sympathy. That poor woman must be doing all the laundry herself. I should help her.
Before leaving, Jessica rang Sandra’s doorbell and left a note with the washing machine: “With love from your neighbor, Jessica.”
When Sandra saw the machine on her doorstep, Jessica could see her joy from across the street. She smiled, recalling how James had helped her. Yes, it feels wonderful to help others. I wonder who inspired him to help those in need, Jessica thought, as they drove off to their new home.
