Meredith packs her ten-year-old son Andrew’s lunch every morning, even when money is tight. Most days it’s just a peanut butter sandwich, a bruised apple, and a granola bar from the clearance bin. Lately, though, Andrew has been asking for extras. Two granola bars. Two sandwiches. “Just in case.”
She worries but doesn’t push.
Then one morning, right after Andrew leaves for school, two police officers knock on her door and tell her she needs to come with them. Her heart nearly stops.
At the school, Meredith learns the truth.
Andrew has been giving his lunches to a classmate named Haley, a quiet girl whose single dad works long shifts and hasn’t always been able to afford food. Andrew started bringing extra so Haley wouldn’t go hungry — skipping his own snacks and telling teachers he was “always well fed.”
Haley’s father, a police officer named Ben, came to thank Meredith. He admits he didn’t realize how bad things had gotten for his daughter. Andrew never wanted credit. He just said Haley “deserved it.”
A few days later, a package arrives at Meredith’s door. Inside are grocery gift cards, snacks, coffee, and a note from the school letting her know her family has been added to a support program.
Now Meredith still packs Andrew’s lunch every morning — but she always packs one extra.
Because kindness, once it starts, always finds its way back.
