Once upon a time, in a grand city, there lived a rich man named Mr. Stone. He had everything anyone could dream of – fancy clothes, a huge mansion, and expensive things. His servants worked day and night to keep everything in order. He had a butler who was always by his side and a maid who took care of the house.
But there was something Mr. Stone didn’t have. He didn’t have kindness, and he didn’t know the value of respect. He would look down on people who had less than him – he would laugh at them, call them names, and treat them terribly.
He would often pass by the poorer neighborhoods in his shiny car, scoffing at the people working hard to make a living. “Look at them,” he would say to his servants. “They’re nothing but poor, useless people. What could they possibly know about real life? I have everything!”
One sunny morning, while Mr. Stone was walking toward his mansion, he saw an old woman sitting on the side of the road. She looked tired, with wrinkled skin and gray hair, holding a small bag and a worn photograph. She seemed to be struggling to stand.
Nearby, a young boy named Pockets was playing. Pockets was cheerful and always ready to help anyone in need. When he saw the old woman struggling, he ran over quickly.
“Here, let me help you, ma’am!” Pockets said kindly, helping her to steady herself. “Do you need some water or a seat?”
The old woman smiled at Pockets. “Thank you, young man. You are very kind.”
But just as Pockets stepped aside, Mr. Stone came rushing past, laughing. “Get out of the way, old woman!” he shouted. “You’re just in the way of people who have real power!”
The old woman looked up at him, her eyes calm but firm. “Young man, behave yourself. You may have everything money can buy, but you don’t have respect. And God doesn’t like ugly.”
Mr. Stone frowned. “Respect? Why should I respect anyone? I have everything! I don’t need respect from poor people like you.”
Pockets stepped forward bravely. “Sir, please! She’s not hurting anyone. You don’t need to speak to her like that!”
Mr. Stone laughed. “Ha! And who are you, little boy? You don’t know anything about life. I have more than you’ll ever dream of!”
But the old woman wasn’t angry. She smiled and said, “I don’t need wealth, young man. But you need respect. Let me show you something.”
She reached into her pocket and pulled out an old, worn photograph. She handed it to Mr. Stone. “Take a good look at this picture.”
Mr. Stone took the picture, squinting at it. “Who is this?” he asked, puzzled.
The old woman’s smile grew softer. “That’s me… when I was young, with you. I’m your mother.”
“What? My mother? You’re lying!” Mr. Stone exclaimed, holding the picture up in disbelief. “My mother died when I was a child! My father told me she was gone forever!”
The old woman shook her head. “No, my dear. Your mother is still alive, standing right here in front of you. And you know her lullaby.”
She started singing softly, “Go to sleep and close your eyes, let a dream be your surprise…”
Mr. Stone’s heart skipped a beat as the melody from his childhood filled the air. His throat tightened, and before he knew it, tears began to fall from his eyes.
Pockets watched quietly, smiling. “See, sir? Respect and kindness are more important than anything money can buy,” he said gently.
“Why… why didn’t you come back?” Mr. Stone asked, his voice shaky. “Why did you leave me?”
The old woman stepped closer. “I never left, son. You pushed me away when you became too proud. I had no choice but to stay away, hoping one day you would understand what truly matters in life.”
Mr. Stone fell to his knees, realizing the truth in her words. He had been so focused on his wealth and pride that he had never cared about the people who loved him.
“I’m so sorry, Mom,” he whispered. “I was wrong. I’ve treated people terribly, and I’ve been so selfish. I thought my money made me better, but now I see… it doesn’t. It never did.”
The old woman hugged him, her voice soft. “It’s never too late to change. True wealth is not what you own, but the love and respect you give to others.”
He looked around at his servants and at Pockets, who had stayed by his side. “I’ve been blind,” he said. “I’ve treated everyone poorly. From now on, I will be different. I will respect and care for everyone.”
The old woman smiled warmly. “That’s all I ever wanted to hear.”
From that day forward, Mr. Stone was a changed man. He used his wealth to help those in need and treated everyone with kindness. He learned that no amount of gold could replace love, respect, and friendship.
And as for Pockets, he continued to help people wherever he went, happy to see the rich man learning that the greatest treasure of all was a kind and generous heart.