Chris Turkle prided himself on being a no-nonsense landlord. When longtime tenant Diane came up short on rent, he didn’t bother with excuses. “You’ll be gone by Friday,” he told the 62-year-old, ignoring her promise to repay the $120 within weeks. Business was business, after all.
But life had a funny way of teaching humility. That same evening, Chris walked into his sister’s apartment to find Diane at the dinner table. As single mom Vanessa served an uncharacteristically lavish meal, Chris learned the truth: the woman he’d evicted had been secretly keeping his sister and nephew afloat with groceries and tutoring.
The roast beef his nephew marveled at? Diane’s doing. The improved grades? Her nightly tutoring sessions. Chris’s face flushed as realization dawned – he’d judged harshly while Diane gave generously. By night’s end, he’d not only reinstated Diane’s lease but halved her rent, finally understanding that community means lifting each other up, not kicking when someone’s down.
