Eve was deeply disheartened when she couldn’t afford a simple meal for her son’s eighth birthday. She didn’t expect her son to show up with breakfast the next morning, much less in a food truck. How many ways can you make a meal out of mashed potatoes, butter, and bread? Not that many, as he found out the hard way. She’d been let go from the third temporary job this month, and there was nothing much left in the kitchen or in the bank.
“Spin potatoes all week, Mom. Can’t we go to dinner for a burger and an ice cream? That’s all I want for my birthday,” Eve’s eight-year-old threw his little arms around her shoulders and looked at her with puppy eyes. In her heart, she wanted to throw Dylan the biggest birthday party ever with lots of balloons, lights, a bouncy castle, and a big delicious cake with eight beautiful candles on it. But in reality, Eve could afford none of that.
After being let go from the third temporary job in the last two months and paying the overdue bills, there wasn’t enough money left, not even for a burger and an ice cream at the diner. “I’m so sorry, baby. I don’t have enough money for meals,” Eve said with a heavy heart. When Dylan saw tears rising in his mother’s eyes, he quickly changed his tone. The boy had seen her toiling hard to make ends meet and couldn’t bear to hurt her.
“Actually, Mom, that potato salad looks good. Can I have more?” he asked her cheerfully. The mother and son ate the humble meal and took a nap that afternoon, but Dylan’s islands fluttered as he had something else in mind. While his mother was asleep, he carefully took out a blue envelope that was hidden between books on his tiny bookshelf.
His mother didn’t know this, but he’d saved a few dollars from the lunch money she’d given him over the past few years. He counted the money in the envelope: $28. Dylan’s elusive plan: I’m sure we can do something for 28 dollars. He carried the envelope and carefully snuck out of the house with a clear plan in his hand. He took a short walk to the next block where he almost shrieked with excitement as he saw exactly what he expected: the food truck he knew was here.
Dylan had seen it a few times while walking home from school and always wondered why the place was so crowded. “Sir, sir,” Dylan’s voice was lost in the crowd waiting to place an order at the counter. He tried to catch the owner’s attention, but there were just too many people. He waited for a few minutes until the crowd cleared and went back to the counter. “Sir, please give me everything I can get for 28 dollars,” he chirped.
But Martin, the owner of the food truck, frowned and replied, “I’m so sorry, kid. We’re out of everything. There’s just some bread and cheese and somewhat melted ice cream bar.” Morden saw disappointment take over the sweet boy’s face, and he wished there was something he could do for him. “That’s just great,” Dylan mumbled, stomping his foot and sitting on the sidewalk.
“It’s my birthday, and I can’t even treat my mom to a nice meal. She does so much for me. I thought for once, I’d do something nice for her.” The boy kept talking out loud to himself, giving in to his urge to cry. “Oh, happy birthday, big boy,” Martin said, sitting down next to Dylan.
For the next 20 minutes, Martin listened as Dylan opened up to him about his mother’s struggles and how they’d been going through a rough patch since the past week. “Hey, sir, maybe I can come work for you just until my mother finds a good job. I’m not very good at kitchen stuff, but I can learn,” Dylan played it. The pureness of the boy’s heart moved Martin. “Look, your mother sounds like an amazing woman, and you’re a lovely kid.
I’m really sorry I don’t have anything for you today, but I’ve got an idea. Listen up.” By the time Eve woke up from her nap, Dylan was back next to her in bed, pretending to be fast asleep. He was having a hard time hiding his smile over the secret plan he’d made with a food truck owner. The following day, he was woken up by a muffled voice calling out to her mom, “Mom, out here!
Eve cup looked around the house for her boy and realized the voice was coming from outside. “What’s going on?” she thought as she rushed to open the door. She took a moment to take in that her son was waving from inside a food truck. “What?
What’s happening?” Dylan was trying to make sense of what she was looking at. “Well, I brought us breakfast,” Dylan said dramatically, giggling at his mother’s cluelessness. Martin was right beside him, and he offered Eve a plate of perfectly looking pancakes. “Here you go, ma’am.
Your son tells me you love pancakes.” Even though breakfast had gotten off to a strange start, Eve soon understood the heartwarming intention of her son and the kindness of the stranger who came up with a way to fulfill it. “Thank you for this lovely breakfast, sir,” Eve said with a hand on her heart. “It’s my pleasure, but I do have something to ask in return,” Martin paused, leaving Eve curious. “Your son won’t stop talking about how well you cook, and I happen to be looking for someone to work the kitchen and inspire some new dishes.
Would you be in?” “Yes, yes, I would,” Eve jumped at the question. She and Morton now run one of the most popular food trucks in the city. Martin makes the most scrumptious pancakes, and Eve makes the best noodles in town.
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