Classmates Mock Poor Girl Working as Janitor to Help Sick Mom, Kick Themselves in Envy a Week Later — Story of the Day

My classmates ridiculed me when they learned I worked as a janitor alongside my mom. But their laughter turned to astonishment and envy just a week later as the world celebrated my determination and kindness.

I've always lived with my mom, just the two of us. She was a janitor, and I never met my dad. It was always us against the world from the start. This story happened when I was very little, and yet, I was mentally older than all my peers.

When I was six, Mom came home one day looking more tired than usual. She confessed that her arthritis was worsening, making it tough to clean the streets all day. Concerned, I asked if she needed to see a doctor, but she shook her head, saying she couldn't work as much anymore. That meant less money and no new things for us. "We need to save," she said.

I knew then that I had to help somehow. I thought about joining her, believing that together we could clean more streets, make more money, and afford her medicine. But when I suggested this, she was firm. "You're not meant to work, Jenny. You're just six. Your job is to focus on school."

So, I didn't push it and kept on with my studies. But it wasn't long before Mom realized she couldn't manage alone. She needed me, so she let me help her after school. I jumped at the chance, already used to household chores; sweeping streets felt no different.

While we worked, I'd sing songs by my favorite singer to make the time fly. She had started from humble beginnings, just like us, and made it big. I surrounded myself with her photos and posters, drawing inspiration from her story. I held onto the belief that, like her, I'd reach my dreams someday.

One afternoon while sweeping the street, a classmate of mine spotted me. She didn't just watch; she took a video and shared it with her friends. The next day, a group of girls came to mock me. "Your mother is a janitor, and so are you!" one shouted, pointing at me.

Another taunted, "Why even bother with school, Jenny? You don't need brains to sweep streets."

Their words could have hurt, but I chose to ignore them, humming my favorite song as I worked. I still can't believe how strong I was at that age.

But frustrated by my indifference, those girls took more photos and videos, posting them online with captions meant to shame me. But their plan backfired. Instead of laughter, the post sparked a wave of support for me, especially because I had been singing in the most watched video.

People shared my story far and wide. They offered kind words and raised funds to help with my mother's condition. Just a week later, the kindness of strangers had transformed our lives. An anonymous donor covered a year's worth of my mom's arthritis treatment, and we received enough donations to secure our daily needs.

Despite the generosity we'd encountered, Mom insisted on teaching me the value of hard work. So, I kept helping her on the streets, even as she started to recover.

My classmates didn't let up, following and taunting me daily. Then, one day, while they mocked me, a black SUV pulled up. Out stepped a woman so familiar, it took me a moment to believe it was real—my favorite singer. I couldn't contain my excitement, recognizing her instantly.

"It's you! It's really you!" I exclaimed, my heart leaping as I saw my idol in person for the first time.

"Hello, sweetheart. I made a special effort to see you today. My schedule opened up, and I knew I had to come," she responded with a warmth that felt like a hug.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I told her, "You are my hero! I love you so much!"

But then she surprised me by saying, "No, Jenny. You are my hero. Seeing you work hard and sing my songs touched me deeply. You and your mom are an inspiration, and we're all rooting for you to succeed."

She then offered me something incredible – backstage access to her concert and her personal phone number to call whenever my mom and I wanted to attend a show.

My classmates looked on in shock. They idolized her as much as I did, but her attention was solely on me, filling them with envy.

Beyond just meeting me, she took care of my mom's treatment and medication costs. So, all of the monetary donations that we received online could be used for other things.

Mom decided to invest in our future. She paid off our apartment and, once it was officially ours, she left her job to start her own business – a neighborhood confectionery that quickly became a beloved spot for both kids and adults.

I worked at that confectionery throughout my entire school years. It was amazing to see my mother thriving and having employees, so her arthritis was never so bad. I'm in high school now and will be majoring in business in college, so I can take over her shop later and make it even better.

I have no idea where the mean girls who took and uploaded that video are now, but my favorite singer orders something special from Mom's confectionery every year during the holidays. Sometimes, the best way to deal with such people is to live your absolute best life.

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This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone's life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.