I’m Corinne, a thirty-seven-year-old single mom living in a small mountain town. My son, Theo, ten, is thoughtful, gentle, and kind to every living thing — from bus drivers to beetles.
One spring, I noticed Theo’s lunchbox was always empty. Curious, I followed him one day and saw him behind the old hardware store, tearing his sandwich in half to feed a scrappy stray dog he’d named Rusty. Day after day, Theo shared his lunch with Rusty, and eventually, word spread. Some kids teased him at school, but Theo didn’t care — Rusty’s happiness mattered more than anyone’s opinion.
Then a red SUV appeared. A man, Gideon, approached, and Rusty ran straight to him. Gideon explained Rusty had belonged to his son, who had died in a car accident. Theo, however, let Rusty stay, saying simply, “He doesn’t care who he belongs to. He just wants someone who stays.”
Touched by Theo’s kindness, Gideon returned later to start an animal rescue in his son’s memory — Michael’s Haven — with Theo as his helper. Rusty stayed by Theo’s side, and the small act of sharing a sandwich had created a ripple of love, kindness, and healing for three lives.