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Life can be tough, and I learned this the hard way. I’m Marissa, and I used to be embarrassed by my mom, Esme. But one day, a kind stranger taught me a lesson I’ll never forget.
When my dad left, my mom raised me on her own. We didn’t have much money, but Esme worked harder than anyone to provide for me. She made a lot of sacrifices, and it showed in her worn-out clothes.
Hiding the Truth
I was ashamed of our situation. My friends were obsessed with fashion and status, so I lied about my family. My mom loved shopping at thrift stores, so she never bought new clothes for herself. Her shoes were falling apart, but she never threw them away. I loved her, but I didn’t want my friends to see her like that.
The Unplanned Mall Trip
One afternoon, I told my mom, “Hey, Mom. I’m meeting up with a couple of friends at the mall. I’ll be back later.”
“Oh! What if I come with you? I haven’t visited the mall in a long time,” she said.
“You hate shopping malls,” I reminded her. “You always say everything is overpriced.”
“Well, we can still have fun without buying anything. I’d also like to meet your friends. What do you say?” she insisted.
“I suppose…,” I muttered, unable to find a way to refuse. I dreaded the trip. When we got to the mall, my friends, Rosie and Danielle, were waiting at Starbucks.
The Embarrassment
I hurried to join them, leaving my mom a few steps behind. “Hey, ladies!” I greeted them.
“Hey!” Rosie said. “Let’s check out some clothes.”
“Um… did you bring that woman with you? She’s staring at us,” Danielle asked.
I hesitated, then said, “Not at all. I have no idea who that is. I came here alone.” I saw my mom freeze and her face fall. “First, let’s just take a stroll around.”
My friends and I walked away, leaving my mom stunned. She couldn’t believe I had denied knowing her. She stood there, heartbroken, until a well-dressed woman approached her.
A Kind Stranger
“Good day, ma’am. I’m Poppy,” the woman introduced herself.
“Hello,” my mom replied.
“I saw what happened with those girls. Is one of them your daughter?” Poppy asked, pointing at me.
“Yes, exactly. She’s my daughter, but I don’t understand why she said she didn’t know me and left like that,” my mom explained.
“Hey, what if we go into this store and pretend we’re girlfriends?” Poppy suggested.
“Oh, I can’t afford any of the clothes in there, but I can come with you,” my mom replied.
“Don’t worry about money. I got this,” Poppy reassured her. My mom, puzzled but grateful, followed Poppy. It was a welcome distraction after being rejected by her daughter.
A Heartwarming Transformation
They tried on several dresses, and Poppy convinced my mom to pick one that looked great on her. “I’m definitely buying that one for you,” Poppy insisted.
“Oh no. I couldn’t possibly accept. It’s really expensive,” my mom protested.
“I refuse to listen to that. I’m buying it, and we’ll get you a new pair of shoes too,” Poppy said to the salesperson. My mom found a pair of stilettos that fit perfectly. After the purchase, Poppy invited my mom for coffee.
“May I ask you a question?” my mom asked. “Why are you treating a stranger so kindly?”
Poppy explained, “I was once in your daughter’s position. My parents weren’t well-off, and I was embarrassed by them too. But I lost them in an accident after high school. I found out they had saved money to pay for my college. They sacrificed so much for me.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” my mom said.
“Thank you. It was the hardest time in my life. I regretted feeling embarrassed by them. I hope they forgive me from heaven,” Poppy said.
“I’m sure they forgave you long ago,” my mom comforted her.
A Change of Heart
When my mom walked into the coffee shop in her new outfit, I was shocked. “Mom! Where did you get that dress? And those shoes?” I asked, approaching her with my friends.
“Mom? I’m not your mother, young lady,” she replied, making me freeze in surprise. Poppy smiled, and my mom started laughing.
“I’m sorry about earlier,” I said. “Guys, this is my mom, Esme, and her friend.”
We all sat down, and Poppy shared the story of the day. Hearing about my mom’s sacrifices and Poppy’s kindness taught me a valuable lesson. I realized how much my mom had done for me and how wrong I was to be ashamed of her. From that day on, I promised to never take her for granted again.
