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A GLASS OF WATER
One summer afternoon, a businessman with his son heard someone knocking on their front door. The man immediately darted his looks to his son and made a sign to let him open the door. His obedient son made his way to the door and opened it halfway. An old man burst upon him with his dirty looks and hungry face and smiled as soon as he sighted the young boy.

"How may I help you?" asked the boy.

"I came from a remote valley. I had to flee to find a better home but I am so thirsty and can't continue walking. If you are kind enough can you offer me a glass of water?" the old man replied almost pleading.

The young boy sympathized with him so he gave the old man a glass of water. He thanked the young boy and then continued his walk. It was repeated within six consecutive days. On the seventh day, the young boy isn't at home at that time. So the businessman has to open the door and ask whoever is knocking.

"How may I help you?" the businessman asked as soon as he opened the door.

The same dirty old man appears in front of him and asks him to offer him a glass of water. The businessman let him come inside to also offer lunch because he doesn't look well. It made the old man happy but he refused.

"I am only asking for a glass of water." And so the businessman let him have a glass of water.

The businessman spent his whole summer with his son and got used to offering that old man a glass of water. Before they left the house to come back overseas to start his business again, the businessman waited for the old man to come back. It bothered him a lot so he wants to ask him why does he refuse to come inside their house and only accept a glass of water.

But he didn't expect him to come early in the morning. He widely opened the door with a glass of water in his hand and greet the old man with his smiley face.

"I didn't come here to ask for a glass of water," said the old man.

The businessman looks confused but he managed to reply, "Then how may I help you?"

The old man sighed. "There is nothing you can help me with. The first time I met your son is merely a coincidence. I came all the way here to see my son but to my horror, their house was sold to you. I missed my grandson who always opened the door for me so I have no other excuses to make but to ask for a glass of water. I thought if I come back here again, my son and my grandson will open the door to welcome me but they never came."

The businessman was moved to tears because he realized that the old man got used to coming back to their house and couldn't recognize them anymore. He already knows the story behind the owner of that house and this old man in front of him is the abandoned father. But then he couldn't afford to admit that the old man's son is the businessman and his grandson is the young boy.

© shesprettyvillain