Stranger's kindness

It was something about this house that reminded him of home. He was dropped on this side of the country by a man with a truck full of sheep. Apparently it was his lucky day because he found a kind stranger to drop him off somewhere in pouring rain. It wasn't a spontaneous decision to live his life like this, living in shelters and relying on stranger's hospitality for survival. But for a man like him, who had everything in life too easy this felt more like a challenge. He wanted to go through something that might give him a little spark. From living minimalistic to living in a car, from living with his workers to living in a hut. He's done it all by now. And what's strange is that he keeps on going as if something somewhere is just going to make sense.

Nathaniel was now walking down a muddy path towards a small house he could see from far away on the road. It was either his gut feeling that told him to stop here or actually his hungry intestines which were now protesting like a hungry dog.

He looked up at the sky and hoped that this time the strangers in this house might not try to rob him of the only bag he has and might give him something to eat or atleast stay the night.

He knocked at the door and stepped a little back when there was no response for a while. He looked around and saw a little poultry barn built with old and weak wood and dirty clothes covering it. While looking around he knocked at the small door again and stepped back to look down at his shoes which were now a puddle of mess.

"Good lord" he said in a disappointed tone when someone opened the door and Nathaniel looked up to see the most beautiful woman in the world staring back at him with half scared, half surprised eyes.

"Yes?" She asked slowly, looking at him up and down.

"Hello madam. I am sorry for the interruption but my name is Nathaniel and I am a traveller from the city. I've lost my way and there ain't alot of options here in this pouring rain to spend my night. I wanted to ask you if you could show me some mercy and let me stay indoors for the night." He explained everything in one breath and looked down at his dress which was soaking now.

"I...uh.." she stuttered. And then looked around outside.

"I am sorry sir. But I cannot let a strange man in my house at this time of the evening. I mean. I hope you understand but it's quite dangerous." She was hesitating with a small voice.

"Perhaps you could let me stay in your barn right there and let me have some food if you have it. I'd really appreciate it though. I've not eaten in a while" Nathaniel wasn't sure why he was asking her again when he had the money to buy her house and her barn standing there. But there was something strange in her beautiful honey eyes with freckles underneath them that made him want to stay a bit longer.

"In that barn?" She questioned with wide eyes and Nathaniel gave her a smile with his dimples showing.

"It's got our pigs and goats and it smells like shit all of the time. Plus there's no bed or anything for you to spend the night' she was still questioning herself if she should let him in. Opening the door a little wider now she was standing there in her full glory.

He couldn't take his eyes off her square cut neck dirty white dress with her golden curly hair wrapped in a braid kind of manner but tangled up. Her eyes were so golden they looked like the sun was shining through them, fuller breasts, plump lips and nose freckles with a petite figure. He couldn't understand if it was his hunger making it harder for him to stand or her beauty.

"I just want to…" he was about to finish the sentence when a baby girl ran out of the house and stood next to the beautiful woman. She looked like a little copy of a woman but with blue eyes.

"Mommy. Who's this" little girl held her mother's hand and asked with her thumb in her mouth.

"It's … it's…" her mother was having a hard time explaining herself.

"Hello beautiful lady. My name is Nathaniel'' Nathan sat down on his knees and put his hand in front of the little girl. "And you are?" He asked her in a soft manner and the little girl smiled with her front 4 teeth on display.

"Luna" she put her hand in his and Nathaniel kissed the top of it softly.

"That's a beautiful name I must say" he said with a smile and got up but lost his balance because his head suddenly shook a lot with hunger and the beautiful woman moved a little forward to hold his arm to steady him.

" Woah! Are you alright there sir" she asked again in a soft manner and he tried to shake his head to make the dizziness go away.

"I … I am good. I'm sorry" he was trying to gain his composure when the woman pulled on his arm.

"I can't have a man dying in front of my house at this hour now can I? " She didn't seem too happy about her decision but she decided to bring him inside.

"Do not make me regret this Nathaniel or I'll feed you pig shit" she said in a stern voice and guided him inside the small house.

Before he could see what's around.

Everything went black.

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He woke up with a groan when he saw the fireplace lit and a table in front of him. He checked his surroundings and noticed that he was inside the small house and laying on the sofa shirtless with a blanket on him.

"Good evening" he heard a sarcastic tone and moved his head to where the voice was coming from.

"I … I am sorry for the inconvenience." He was looking for his shirt when he saw the girl from earlier walking toward him with a tray having 3 bowls in it.

"You're lucky you found this house Mister. You had a pretty bad cold because of the rain and I must say you shouldn't stay hungry for such longer periods of time" she was scolding him now, setting the bowl in front of him on the table.

Luna, following her behind, sat next to her on the rug kind of thing and the woman handed her a bowl with soup like thing and chicken pieces floating in it.

"You must eat now" she said, handing him a big bowl as well. Which he took without any hesitation. He took a big spoon of the soup and he hummed in response. It was after a very long time that he had warm and good food.

He finished his bowl quickly while both of them were still looking at him.

"I am sorry. I was famished" he said, putting his bowl on the table and cleaning his mouth with the back of his hand.

"It's alright. Do you want more?" She asked and he nodded. She got up with a straight face and looked at Luna before she left for the room inside.

"Stay here and finish your meal young lady"

"Yes mommy!" Luna looked down at her bowl with a pout.

The girl came back with heat coming out of the bowl and placed it in front of him.

"I'm sorry for my manners and being a nuisance for you both kind ladies." He said in a very respectful tone and the lady snorted.

"Nuisance? I had to cook Luna's favorite chicken. Look at her eyes. She's been bawling them out" the woman gestured to the little girl who was still looking at her bowl with a pout.

"She cooked charlie" she looked up at Nathaniel who felt like his throat was constricted because of the disappointment in the little girl's eyes.

"Why'd you do that." He said looking at the woman who gave him a judgemental look.

"Because you're sick! And I had no other choice. Plus I couldn't leave you here with her and I couldn't go out in this rain with her either to bring you chicken from the next village" she explained while sipping her soup and Nathaniel sighed.

"I am so sorry, miss…." He stopped in his tracks because now he realized he didn't even know her name.

"Avery" she completed his sentence..

"Avery… yes. I am so sorry that you had to go through all this. I can pay you for the chicken and for the inconveniences I've caused you" he offered gently and Avery gave him a stern look.

"No thank you sir. I'd really appreciate it if you leave in the morning because we do not have a lot of space here and I do not feel safe with a man sleeping on my couch with my 3 year old daughter sleeping right next to him" she explained and Nathaniel nodded.

"What time is it?" he asked and she looked at Luna who was done with her food and was now setting her pillow near the fireplace.

"It's night. You've been out for 24 hours" she explained getting up from there and gathering the bowls.

"Do you need something else?" She asked him and he looked around.

"Can I use the restroom?" he asked and she smiled.

"Follow me" he stood up and felt like the house was too small and he was too big in it.

Following her to the inside. He noticed the house only had a tiny room and the lounge where he was sleeping on the couch. And there was a tiny toilet inside that room.

"Go on" she gestured and he nodded. He walked inside to do his business and noticed around. There wasn't a lot of light. Just candles and small golden bulbs. A few handmade cloth toys and bags on the side.

He came out and she stood there with a shirt.

"Your shirt was torn while we were struggling to get you out of it and this is the only shirt we have to offer you" she put forward a plain white t-shirt.

"Who's that?" He took it and put it on with ease.

"Was my father's. He died" she said and he felt bad.

"I'm sorry for asking but why are you living here alone?" He asked and she smiled.

"Luna is the only thing I've got beside the barn. Her father was a mistake I made and he ran away when he found out about her. My father used to work in the city but he died a year ago too. So now it's me and her. And I've got only this house to survive" she explained and Nathaniel nodded.

'Why not move to the city?" He asked and she chuckled, showing her pearly white teeth.

"With a 3year old and 2 pigs and goats?" She mocked and he sighed.

"Come on. Go to sleep and we'll talk in the morning. Wake me up if you need something" she walked toward the rug where Luna was sleeping and laid down with her wrapping her daughter up.

"Thank you Avery. For the kindness you've shown me" he said laying down on the couch and she looked up at him.

"I hope some day I am granted with the same kindness I give away today" she said and closed her eyes.

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She woke up with Luna giggling loud and she looked around to see it was a full Day outside. She slept in peace after so long knowing there was a man in the house and she didn't need to protect herself.

Luna was sitting on his stomach and making braids of his beard.

"Good morning" he greeted her and she smiled, yawning.

"To you too Nathaniel" she said and sat properly.

"Nathan please" he corrected her.

"Nathan! Thank you for looking after her while I was out" she slowly got up and heard a car engine roaring outside.

She looked at Nathaniel in a questioning way and he smiled back.

"My name is Nathaniel Black. And I am a businessman in the city. I lost my purpose in life and started hitchhiking and living away from all the lavished life I had. You showed me the mercy no one would've shown and you've been kind to me like no one else would've been. Regardless of your condition here you sacrificed your daughter's favorite chicken for my health. And the only way I can pay you back is by showing you the kindness you've shown me"

He said and carried Luna while standing up from the couch.

"Miss Avery. Would you like to accompany me to the city and raise your child with me? I've got a mansion with a proper business set up and seeing you here I've realized why I went through all of that. I had to find my way here. To find you two." He softly bent down in front of her letting Luna stand and took his hand out.

"I… I don't understand" Avery was stuttering when the door opened and 3 men in uniform came forward and bowed down to Nathaniel.

"Lord Nathaniel. We are here with the car waiting outside to escort you and the ladies back to the mansion." One of them said and Nathaniel got up on his feet and nodded at him.

He turned to Avery and Luna and smiled softly.

"It might seem like a dream but sometimes when you shine your kindness to the world. It shines back to you as well. You've suffered Enough here alone. I think you should give yourself and your daughter a chance for a better life. " He said and Avery was still shocked.

She recovered and smiled at him with tears in her eyes.

"I think I should pack then?" She asked him softly and he smiled.

"Leave whatever's here. It'll be taken care of. You won't be needing these things anymore." He said bending down and picked Luna up and then put his hand in front of her.

She took it softly and they walked out of the small house.

Everything was clear outside, the clear breeze, greenery, and the sky. Everything had its own colors. The sun was out shining beautifully blessing their sore eyes and the fresh air they inhaled smelled like a fresh morning.

She looked at him and her daughter who was clinging onto his shoulder and asked

"What will we do now?" She asked and he kissed the back of her hand.

"Live a beautiful life full of kindness. Together"

They walked toward the car in front leaving the old house behind them. Looking at them like an elderly kind man showering blessings for their new life.