The Unknown Legacy & Unstoppable Fate

Do Unto Others

 The Reliable Narrator:

    Samuel basically grew up under the care of different nannies throughout the years. Each sent packing after multiple complaints about his behavior though. They could not take the constant pranks like whoopee cushions, glue in their shoes and waking up to lizards in their beds as well as his brutal defiant streak. He became famous at the Willow Tree Mall as "The Kid Who Could Not be Moved" while refusing to budge from his spot sat in front of the electronics store untill Nanny Marigold agreed to buy him an extra-large chocolate Sundae. Needless to say that was her last day of work.  Indeed, he would be a typical spoiled, pretentious brat if not for one nanny through his formative years, Lucille Perry.

    Lucille was a formidable woman who could turn Samuel's behavior around with just a look. She saw to it that he would know just how fortunate he was in life, and that he would gain a good work ethic. She did not put up with him demanding things and made sure he would help her with chores especially if he was naughty. Lucille also taught him to appreciate what he had through her many hours of community service. she would sign both of them up to complete during the week. A devout Catholic upbringing led Lucille to have an open and giving heart. They would sort donations together at the homeless shelter and work at the soup kitchen. 

   Samuel was stubborn about participating at first as expected.  He actually sported a disgusted face when they pulled into the dirty parking lot of the homeless shelter for the first time. The idea of touching clothes that belonged to someone else sickened him. Knowing better than to flat-out refuse Ms. Lucille though, he slowly made his way inside the building. To be sure, he made his annoyance known to every volunteer near him that day though. He grunted and groaned as he opened boxes and threw pants and shirts into messy piles. 

   Things didn't change untill a little girl with pig tails wandered into the room, likely without permission from her parents. From the state of her clothes, she and her family must have been residents of the shelter.  She skipped up to Samuel and with big  brown eyes asked him if she had seen any princess shoes. Holding her ratty Cinderella doll at her side, she smiled widely and awaited his response.  Rummaging through boxes in the back, he found a pair of sparkly red jelly sandals, he recalled spotting on his lunch break earlier in the day. Not knowing if those would work or not, he handed them to her without a second thought. So, it took him by surprise when she released a high-pitched squeal and wrapped her arms around both of his legs. 

   At that response, a frantic woman,  definitely her mother,  burst into the room. Her alarmed face softened at the sight of her daughter twirling in circles sporting her new shoes, claiming that she could now attend any royal ball like Cinderella. The mother explained to a still surprised Samuel that her husband lost his job a few months ago, and they have struggled ever since then to find another job or a place to live. This moment was the first time she had seen her daughter truly smile in a few months. Grateful to him for taking the time to acknowledge let alone fulfill her request , she promised to knit him something special when she acquired some yarn. His kindness meant more than any other donation or handout

    Her words stuck with him and weighed heavy. She explained that people tended to treat them as less than so it was refreshing to not feel dismissed. Realizing that he had in fact judged them just not out loud made his view-point start to change and he started to take volunteering more seriously. Seeing how some people suffer but persevere helped open his eyes to the things that truly matter in life, human connection and relationships. He saw how much it meant to the people they helped for someone to care and to share a conversation.   

     Across town,  Paige's upbringing was different but instilled in her the same principles.