The Giving Freezer

This story takes place in a post-covid world.

The year 2020 was one to remember. All across the world unprecedented times hit humans all at once. A virus had spread across the globe. In just two weeks our entire lives changes, as a whole. We seemed to have more in common with our neighbors but the media, it tore us apart.

In a small town in the United States of America, a single mom of two was looking for side work. The hotel she was working at had cut her hours in half, normally July was the busiest time of year. As we all know, this July was much different. Her grandpa had a small appliance business so she went to him for some extra cash. Even during pandemics appliances break, and he was the local go-to guy in this town.

She jumped in his appliance truck and drove through a few back roads, pleading with whoever listening upstairs to let her find a fridge- a miracle, or even just some junk. When all hope was lost looking for scrap or anything she came across a two door fridge/freezer combo. “It’s my lucky day” she thought to herself. At this point she had no idea. She took the appliance to her grandpas house and dropped it off, having to do school zoom calls with the kids.

On her way home she was listening to the radio and heard that her favorite bait shop was officially having to close their doors for good. The entire town cried that day, it was a monument of togetherness the entire town, tourists and locals alike had always enjoyed. The owner treated everyone like family, but much like everyone in Florida tourist season kept him going. She cried and prayed that night “Please whoever is listening, help me figure out a way to keep Shortys bait shop open!”

The next day was her daughters 7th birthday. Mom daughter and son all went to clean the appliance that was found the previous day. She filled up 3 buckets of soapy water and had a few tricks up her sleeve. She told the kids to was the outside and holler for her when they were done and ready for the inside. She walked around back and filled up 35 water balloons. And then the children screamed “MAMA!!!”. This wasn’t a hurt cry, as mothers can tell. This was a surprised cry. She ran to the children. “What is it?!”, she questioned. The children turned around and both of them had 100s of dollars in their hands. She was in shock. They counted all the money. 20,000$ in cash. Left in a broken fridge/freezer appliance. Could you believe it? She grabbed the money & the kids and went straight to the house she grabbed it from and knocked like a maniac on the door. It wasn’t long before she noticed the banks forcloser notice on the door. She called the bank listed & told them the situation. The bank took her number to give to the was- house owner, and said someone would be in touch.

What a conscious this woman had. 20,000$ left by the road and how was it she found it? Of all of the people in the town? She could hardly sleep all night. The next day she spent pacing with her phone in her hand. Around 5pm her phone started ringing. And she answered it anxiously. The man on the other end of the phones voice was shaky, he told her his situation and said “ma’am, I put that money in that freezer hopeful someone worthy of it would find it”. She cried and cried on that phone call and begged the man to take it back, she could pay off what he owed on his house and he could live there. He declined. His health was very bad and he didn’t want his children to be stuck with his debt. “It’s your money now ma’am”.

She couldn’t believe it. She had never had that kind of money, she’s never held 1,000$ in her hand. She’s lived paycheck to paycheck her entire life & didn’t mind working a bit for her money. “This doesn’t happen to people like me” she kept telling herself. Then it hit her: save the bait shop. Shorty’s bait shop was having its final fish fry the next weekend. She trotted up to the pier and met with the local elder men. They all came together to give shorty what he needed to keep his bait shop open.

That weekend at the fish fry, everyone was crying and hugging. No election or covid talk, just plain ol come togetherness. And then they walked over to Shorty and gave him a check. 20,000 $ plus the rest the town had raised. Shortys bait shop should remain in business. The little town kept their togetherness, and started fish fries every weekend from then forward.