While helping her son Alex with his homework one evening, Shelby stumbled across a video on his phone that left her horrified. In it, Alex and his friends were mocking the school janitor. She wanted to confront him but decided to let karma take care of it.
Helping Alex with his homework had become a part of Shelby’s routine. Even though she hated doing her own homework as a kid, helping Alex, especially with creative projects like the one he had now, had grown on her. This latest project involved taking headshots and sketching them, something far more advanced than what she had done at his age.
As she took pictures of Alex in different lighting conditions, he posed in his school uniform. “Did you get some good ones, Mom?” he asked.
“I think so,” she replied. “Let me check before you change.”
Alex handed her his phone, and as she scrolled through the pictures, Shelby found herself admiring her work. “We got some great shots!” she said, proud of her photography skills. Alex, satisfied, mentioned heading for a shower and asked her to make him a chicken and mayo sandwich, which she happily agreed to.
But as she scrolled through the last few photos, something else appeared—a video. It was only about 30 seconds long, but it was enough to make Shelby’s stomach turn. In the video, Alex and his friends were at school, making fun of the janitor, Mrs. Evans, a kind woman who had worked at the school for years. The boys were laughing and whispering cruel remarks while filming her without her knowledge.
“She’s so old, shouldn’t she be retired by now?” Alex’s voice rang out. “Imagine being that ancient and still cleaning up after kids.”
Shelby paused the video, setting the phone down as she took a deep breath. Disappointment overwhelmed her. She and her husband Alan had raised Alex to respect everyone, no matter their job or background. Yet here he was, being mean-spirited and unkind toward someone who had done nothing but her job.
As angry as she was, Shelby knew better than to confront Alex in the heat of the moment. Instead, she decided on a different approach—one that would make him see the consequences of his actions on his own. There was something Alex didn’t know about Mrs. Evans, something that might change his perspective completely.
Mrs. Evans wasn’t just any janitor. She was the mother of one of the wealthiest men in town, Mr. Evans, who had built a business empire from humble beginnings. Most people in the town knew her story, but Alex clearly didn’t.
A few days later, the perfect opportunity arose. The school was hosting its annual Career Day, where successful professionals were invited to speak to students. Shelby was invited to talk about real estate, and as she checked the list of other speakers, she noticed Mr. Evans would also be attending.
Shelby decided not to mention the video to Alex, choosing instead to let him experience the revelation for himself. That morning, Alex complained about how “pointless” Career Day was and grumbled about wasting his time, not knowing what was in store for him.
Later that day, Shelby was busy answering questions about real estate at her booth, but she knew that Mr. Evans would address the students, likely sharing the story of his upbringing and the role his mother played in his success.
When Alex came home that afternoon, he was unusually quiet. Shelby noticed that he barely touched the pizza she had brought home, and when she asked what was wrong, he mumbled, “Nothing,” clearly unsettled.
After a long pause, he finally spoke up. “Mom, you know the janitor, Mrs. Evans?”
“Yes,” Shelby replied, keeping her tone neutral.
“Her son was at the assembly today… Mr. Evans, the rich guy who runs the car dealership. I didn’t know he was her son.”
Alex went on to explain that Mr. Evans had shared stories about his childhood and how his mother had been a huge influence on his success. Despite having enough money to retire, Mrs. Evans had chosen to continue working as a janitor to stay connected to the community. As Mr. Evans called her up on stage during his talk, the entire audience stood and applauded. Alex admitted that he had felt incredibly small in that moment, realizing the depth of Mrs. Evans’ character.
“I made fun of her,” Alex confessed, his voice shaky with guilt. “I didn’t think about her life or what she’s been through.”
Shelby leaned forward. “And how do you feel about that now?”
Alex sighed deeply. “Like an idiot. I wasn’t just making fun of a janitor—I was mocking someone who’s lived through so much and still gives back.”
Shelby knew the lesson had hit home. Alex didn’t need her to scold him; he had seen for himself the error of his ways. But he wasn’t done.
“I’m going to apologize,” he said. “I need to do something.”
Shelby smiled softly and suggested, “How about we bake some cupcakes and you give them to her as a treat?”
“That sounds like a plan, Mom,” Alex replied, a hint of relief in his voice.
Sometimes, the best lessons don’t come from a lecture, but from seeing the world through someone else’s eyes. And Alex had finally done just that.
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