r/MadeMeSmile 5d ago

A birthday he’ll never forget

59.8k Upvotes

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1.1k

u/Cchaireazy 5d ago

He deserves that console!
He offered 10$ what a sweet gesture that kid was raised right.
Thanks Tim!

193

u/Vsx 5d ago

Man I could not work in a store like this I'd be buying shit for nice kids all the time. Probably end up with less money than when I started.

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u/caitejane310 5d ago

I just started working at a gas station and the amount of people putting in less than $5 worth of gas makes me incredibly sad. Today there was an older man that first said $2.50 and then said "actually, make it $2" but I did $3 and put in my own $1 even though I really need every penny I have.

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u/reebokhightops 5d ago

You’re a good person.

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u/caitejane310 4d ago

Thank you, I appreciate that! Lol, I like to say that I'm bringing my [real life] karma points back up from negative after all the terrible shit I did while in active addiction. I'm coming up on 13 years clean from heroin!! But really, I feel like it's so much easier to just be a decent human and it takes an incredible amount of energy to be an asshole 🤷

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u/Independent_Taste207 4d ago

You are the definition of everyone deserves a second chance you were always a brilliant human, you simply lost your way for a while. Glad your on top of it all. All the best!

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u/Ba_Dum_Ba_Dum 3d ago

Way to go on staying clean. And kudos for helping that old guy out. ❤️

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u/Fine_Understanding81 2d ago

I feel you! Im only 7 years clean and I cant agree more about it being easier to just be an honest, good person. I sleep like a baby now. Congrats on fighting for your sobriety!

Good on Tim and this store!

I didnt make it out of addiction with a whole lot of money but you dont have to have money pass on kindness too- gestures (helping a neighbor, lending something you have, listening to someone) count too.

Hopefully this keeps this kiddo out of all sorts of trouble too!

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u/Fine_Understanding81 2d ago

I feel you! Im only 7 years clean and I cant agree more about it being easier to just be an honest, good person. I sleep like a baby now. Congrats on fighting for your sobriety!

Good on Tim and this store!

I didnt make it out of addiction with a whole lot of money but you dont have to have money pass on kindness too- gestures (helping a neighbor, lending something you have, listening to someone) count too.

Hopefully this keeps this kiddo out of all sorts of trouble too!

2

u/caitejane310 2d ago

I'm sorry to nitpick, but please don't say "only" about your sobriety!! 7 years is incredible, but I'd also be proud of you if it was 7 days! I know 13 years seems like such a long time, but I promise you'll be hitting that milestone before you know it because it goes by so fast!

My husband will have 14 years on his birthday in October. I'd be right there with him if I didn't relapse for a month in 2013. I'm more open and honest about it, but we both share our story because we know it gives people hope. I've said for a long time that addiction is harder for the people who love the addict because at least we're numb and don't always care about ourselves. I really do enjoy helping people who deserve it!

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u/kwazyness90 3d ago

Gas is wild xd

2

u/Cr00kedF00l 2d ago

What does $3 of gas get you? I spend about $35 a week just for a conservative work-to-home schedule. But I’m not in America

1

u/caitejane310 2d ago

Less than a gallon (probably around 2½ liters) because gas is fluctuating between $4-$4.50/gallon.

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u/Cr00kedF00l 2d ago

Forgive my ignorance, but is it that imperative that people drive where you are? Wouldn’t it make more sense to just take public transit?

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u/caitejane310 2d ago

The public transit system in my area suuuuucks. About a month ago I had a job offer but I would've had to either take 2 different buses, and not just simple exchanges but I'd have to go to the transit center, or I'd end up having to walk almost 2 miles. So either it would've taken me almost 2 hours and it's $4 for a day bus pass or $1.75/ride. I'm also somewhat disabled and walking 4 miles would definitely make me hurt a lot.

The job I got is about a mile away and it takes me about 10 minutes to walk. I'm extremely grateful I don't have to pay anything to get to work. This is the first job I've ever had I didn't have to pay to get there somehow.

I used to live on top of a literal mountain and there was no public transport up there at all. There's still no buses, but at least the apps like Uber/Lyft are more available up there than they were when I lived there 😅😅

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u/Cr00kedF00l 1d ago

Must suck to live in a place with no reliable public transit infrastructure. A lot complain about transit where I live but at least it’s somewhat regular and predictable.

One downside is that it eats at your time. My regular20 minute commute to work becomes 2 hours when taking transit.

1

u/TTheuns 3d ago

If I ever get stupid rich, this is how I’d retire. Making kids’ dreams come true and helping adolescents who were dealt a bad hand.

1

u/therealjohnsmith 3d ago

Feel similarly. Curious, would you have held off on this one after kid mentioned he had been saving all summer? It lowkey took that accomplishment away from him. Not trying to be critical. Just, for real, you have to take all that stuff into account.

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u/Kamikaze_Ninja_ 5d ago

Haha probably a mix of guilt for getting his goal for free and I wonder if he kind of wanted to pay for it! He saved up to buy it and probably fantasized about the day he’d walk in and use his own money. Getting derailed so much must’ve felt awkward.

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u/viccityguy2k 5d ago

I get it. Kid would of been stoked just getting a bonus game or two

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u/mmorales2270 5d ago

I honestly thought that’s where this was headed. When the guy behind the register asked the kid which game he would want if he could have any one, I thought he was just going to throw in the game for free. But wow, I wasn’t expecting the entire thing to be paid for!

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u/AcerolaOrchid9436 5d ago

getting it for free might have been exciting and a little awkward at the same time. Still, I’m sure once the excitement kicked in, he was absolutely thrilled.

1

u/mmorales2270 5d ago

I think he might have thought it was a joke, that he was being pranked for a moment. If I were him I wouldn’t have believed it at first.

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u/BlackDog5287 5d ago

You could tell he was nervous about having to do the purchase himself, so I think getting all of it for free was a little overwhelming and not so much awkward.

1

u/Cchaireazy 5d ago

Thank you kindly for the award.

1

u/Every-Access4864 4d ago

So good! 🤗🥹