A poor janitor buys an old doll for her daughter at a flea market and hears a crackling sound as she hands it to her. What she discovers brings her to tears.
“Oh, this one’s lovely. Eve will love it!” Pauline exclaimed as she stopped by a stall where a woman was selling toys.
Pauline was a single mother to her 8-year-old daughter Eve and worked as a janitor. Her husband had died years ago due to cancer, and since then, she’d been raising Eve on her own.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
When Pauline saw the doll at the flea market, she knew it would be the best birthday present for Eve. Unfortunately, she didn’t have enough money to buy anything expensive, so looking for something at the flea market was her best option.
When Pauline decided to buy the doll, she was so preoccupied with the thoughts of Eve that she didn’t bother to inspect it. Two days later, when she gave it to Eve on her birthday, she heard a weird crackling sound coming from the doll…
A few days earlier…
“Mommy,” said Eve sadly. “Can you get me a doll?”
“Honey,” Pauline gently replied. “You know we’re on a tight budget this month. Mommy will buy you one next month. That’s a promise.”
“But mommy…” Eve’s voice began to crack. “My birthday is in two days. Did you forget about it?”
“Oh, no, no, sweetheart! Not at all!” Pauline said, but she had actually forgotten and felt terrible about it.
“Are you still not going to get me a doll? I don’t have any friends, mommy. Nobody wants to be friends with me because we are poor. That doll can be my best friend…”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Oh honey,” Pauline hugged Eve. “I will get you the doll. Promise. Don’t be sad, ok?”
Pauline knew the kids at Eve’s school didn’t treat her well because she wasn’t as rich as them, but there wasn’t much she could do about it. Children can be cruel at times.
Present day…
Pauline was delighted after buying the doll. She couldn’t wait to give it to Eve and see her beautiful smile. The doll was one of those vintage kinds, holding a tiny baby in her arms.
“Oh, Eve will be so happy!” Pauline thought on her way back home.
***
And Eve was. The little girl’s joy knew no bounds when Pauline showed her the doll on her birthday.
Sometimes, the cause of someone’s smile is the source of another person’s grief.
“Ta-da! Mommy got the doll for Evie!” Pauline exclaimed, holding the doll in her hands. “Can mommy have a kiss for that?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“It’s so pretty! Thank you, mommy!” Eve chirped as she kissed Pauline on the cheek.
As Pauline handed over the doll to Eve, she suddenly heard a strange crackling sound.
“What was that?” Pauline wondered.
She shook the doll, holding it close to her ears, and heard the crackling again.
“Mommy! Give it here! I wanna hold my doll! Please! Please!” Eve said, excited to play with it.
“One second, honey. I think there’s something in here…”
It was then that Pauline examined the doll and found a secret pocket sewn into the doll’s outfit. She undid the loose threads around it, and a note fell from it.
Eve quickly picked it up and said, “Mommy, it says, ‘Happy Birthday, Mommy.’ It’s not your birthday! It’s my birthday! This is so silly!”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
When Pauline read the note, she noticed the message seemed like it was scribbled by a child. At that point, the thought of the woman selling the doll flashed through Pauline’s mind.
***
The next day, she returned to the flea market with the doll, and luckily, the woman’s stall was still there.
“Oh, I’m glad I found you here!” Pauline said. “I bought this doll yesterday, and I found a note inside…”
When the woman, Miriam, saw the note, her eyes welled up. “My daughter got this doll for me,” she said quietly. “She passed away two days before my birthday…My husband and I, oh, I’m sorry…” The woman covered her face as her tears started to flow.
“I’m really sorry for your loss,” Pauline said apologetically. “I had no idea. I know I can’t take away your pain, but if it helps, I can give you a hug.”
“Oh, thank you…” Miriam said. Pauline gave her a warm hug, after which Miriam revealed her sad story, which brought tears to Pauline’s eyes.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“My little daughter was diagnosed with cancer,” Miriam said. “We needed money for her chemotherapy. My husband and I work at a factory. We didn’t have enough money to cover her hospital bills, so we set up a stall here to sell our old furniture and things we didn’t need.”
“But we couldn’t save our daughter…She—she left us too soon. We’re selling her toys because every time I look at them, it just makes me sad.”
“One night, when I held my baby girl’s hand, she asked me to be happy. She had said, ‘Mumma, when I’m gone, please remember me with a smile.’ So I decided to sell the toys. She had bought that doll, saying it would remind me of her. I’m sorry I feel like I’m oversharing with you, but my heart feels really relieved today. Thank you for listening to me.”
As Miriam finished, she broke down into tears again. Pauline consoled her, and the two women talked about their lives for a while. Pauline told her how she’d been raising Eve by herself and invited her over to spend time with them.
“Eve will love to meet you,” she said. “And thank you so much for the doll. It made my daughter’s day. I’m sure your daughter is looking at you and smiling. Thank you again,” she added before she left.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
A few days later, Miriam visited Eve and Pauline at the trailer where they lived.
“This is in appreciation of your kind heart and patience in listening to me that day. I hope this helps you and Eve,” Miriam said, handing Pauline an envelope.
When Pauline opened it, she found a couple of dollar bills inside. $3000 in total. “Oh, Miriam, we can’t take this. This is a lot. No, no, this doesn’t feel right…”
“You can take it, Pauline,” Miriam insisted. “A mother’s heart knows how much it hurts when you can’t do enough for your child. We made this by selling the toys. Please keep it. If not for my sake, please keep it for Eve’s sake.”
Pauline cried. “Oh, Miriam, thank you. This will help us a lot. Thanks.”
From then on, Miriam and Pauline became friends, and Miriam loved and spoiled Eve too much. But the best part was that Pauline and Eve’s company helped Miriam heal and move on from her loss.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
What can we learn from this story?
- Help someone in need, and you’ll never regret it. Pauline and Miriam helped each other in whatever way they could. That helped Miriam overcome her grief, and Pauline and Eve found someone who cherished their company.
- Sometimes, the cause of someone’s smile is the source of another person’s grief. Sadly, the doll which made Eve happy on her birthday was a reminder of Miriam’s sad past.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
Tom Brady’s Son Jack, 17, Steals the Spotlight with His Stunning Looks – Is He America’s Next Top Model
Photos of Tom Brady’s son with actress Bridget Moynahan have caused a debate online. People are discussing whether Jack looks more like his mother, his father, or his stepmother as he grows older.
Tom Brady recently went out in public with his two sons, John Edward Thomas “Jack” Moynahan and Benjamin Rein, and it got social media users talking.
The former NFL star posted a casual photo on Instagram, where he is standing with his arms around his sons. In the picture, both Tom and Jack are wearing white T-shirts, while Benjamin is in black.
The strong bond between them is clear. Tom captioned the post, “The gang does @taylorswift. I think I learned I’m a Reputation guy ,” referring to Taylor Swift’s album *Reputation*.
Tom Brady’s latest Instagram post not only showed their family time but also put the spotlight on Jack, whose appearance caught the attention of many online.
One user commented, “Jack is a handsome young man, looks like his mother,” referring to Jack’s mom, actress Bridget Moynahan. Another called him “America’s next top model.” Some said Jack resembles his stepmother, Gisele Bündchen, with one person writing, “Can’t help but think the older boy looks like Gisele.”
Jack’s height also got attention, with someone saying, “He’s taller than you!” Another joked, “I think Jack passed you! Ha ha.”
Fans also commented on the family’s looks, with one writing, “The jawlines are no joke!” and another saying, “Lock Jack up! He’s one of the most beautiful people in the world… What a blessing.”
Even Tom received compliments. One fan wrote, “Sons are so handsome, dad’s not bad either.” Actor Donnie Wahlberg also chimed in, calling Jack the “coolest kid ever.”
In August, Tom celebrated Jack’s 17th birthday with a post featuring photos of Jack, Benjamin, and their sister Vivian. In the post, Tom praised Jack, saying, “You are a blessing in my life, and I’m so grateful to watch you grow into a young man.” He highlighted Jack’s love for family, sports, and his hard work.
Tom also playfully mentioned that Jack now beats him in basketball. Being part of a family with ties to sports and modeling, Jack has many options for his future, and Tom supports him fully.
In a 2023 interview, Tom shared that while Jack played football last year, he prefers basketball and lacrosse, with basketball being his favorite. Tom said he would be happy with whatever Jack chooses and praised his academic success, calling him a “very good student.”
Tom has mentioned that Jack lives in New York City and continues to impress him with his dedication. The proud father is amazed by who Jack is becoming.
Gisele Bündchen, Tom’s ex-wife, has also spoken about her relationship with Jack. In a 2015 interview, she shared how she learned Bridget was pregnant with Jack while she and Tom were dating, which was difficult at first. But over time, her love for her stepson grew, and she now calls him a “sweet bonus child.”
Despite their 2022 divorce, Tom and Gisele continue to co-parent their kids. Tom recently shared his thoughts on fatherhood, saying he wouldn’t pressure his kids to follow in his footsteps in football, but he will support them in whatever they choose.
In an interview last year, Tom acknowledged that his kids face unique challenges because of who their parents are. He expressed his hope that they find their own passions and build strong connections as they grow.
As Jack Moynahan grows up in the public eye, whether he follows his famous parents’ paths or chooses his own, his future will be closely watched.
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