He was about to grab onto her when a powerful voice intervened. “Get your hands off that lady, my friend, or you and I are going to tango!”

At the sound of that voice, the teen leaped back and turned around. Molly was stunned to see the homeless man who’d helped her onto the bus walking towards the teens.

The man looked a lot bigger, and he held his head high. “You two boys can go quietly, or I can help you off, but you’re getting off the bus,” he said calmly.

The teens looked at him and Molly saw a shadow of fear cross their faces. It was one thing to pick on a helpless old woman, it was another to tangle with the tall wiry man standing before them.

Tom’s clothes might be ragged and worn, but he moved like a man who knew how to take care of himself. At that moment the bus stopped, and the two teens scurried down the steps, looking back fearfully over their shoulders at Tom.

Tom stepped towards Molly and asked gently, “Ma’am, did those boys hurt you? Do you need help?”

Tom nodded. “Of course, Ma’am. Anything I can do.”

When they arrived at Molly’s stop, Tom helped her down and walked her to her apartment building. Molly insisted that Tom come up and have a slice of apple pie and a cup of coffee.

Over the pie and coffee, Molly learned Tom’s story and she frowned. “I wonder…” she said and fished out her cell phone. She started talking to someone, asking if a certain job was still available, then turned to Tom with a triumphant smile.

“My son has a farm upstate, and his right-hand man just quit. He’s looking for a hardworking man and I think you might be it!”

Tom was stunned! “But…I don’t know anything about farming!”

“I told my son that, but I also told him you were strong and determined and that you could learn anything,” Molly said. “And you have a mighty big incentive to make it. Am I wrong?”

Tom shook his head with tears in his eyes. “The job comes with a pretty little cottage and a good salary, insurance, and everything,” Molly added. “I have a feeling that in a few months you’ll have your Daisy back!”

And it all worked out just as Molly had predicted. Tom and Molly’s son worked well together, and six months after he started working, Child Services gave Daisy back to her daddy and they started a new life.

What can we learn from each other?

• By helping others, we help ourselves. Tom helped Molly, and in return, he got his life and his daughter back.
• Don’t judge people by their appearance. Molly wasn’t impressed by Tom’s ragged looks, but he ended up being her rescuer.

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