Sick To His Stomach
Seeing the 9-year-old boy's handwritten note on his table completely floored Officer John Steward.
Unless it was a boy with a different story, it wouldn't bother him so much. Nevertheless, he felt sick to his stomach because he was personally involved in the situation. What could possibly have caused things to go so far?
What’s Important
The Florida State Police Department employed Officer Steward as a deputy. Even though he loved his job, there was one lesson he had learned from life.
His daily routine included a stop whenever he was on his way to work, so he could enjoy the little things in life.
His Favorite Place
Visiting his local coffee shop before work was a favorite activity for Officer Steward. He did it every day as a way of getting some peace and quiet before starting the day.
Over the last ten years, he had done it without taking a break. He would cherish one particular visit to the shop for the rest of his life.
A Good Meal
Two things crossed the officer's mind every time he stopped at the shop or passed by. Bagels were the store's specialty, and the breakfast bagel was his favorite.
He loved their coffee and was delighted that it was made exactly the way he liked it. He went back to it day in and day out because he liked it so much.
He Enjoyed It
In order to be able to enjoy the great food and amazing atmosphere, he often left his house over an hour early.
He treasured it above all else, especially since he was all alone. All he could ask for was for it to make his days better.
Getting Through The Day
He was able to push through the hard days because of the peace he got in the mornings. He had seen a lot in his life, and there were times when he needed something to escape from. It was over.
Nevertheless, he felt worse that day than he ever had, all because of a 9-year-old boy.
Not Feeling Good
Upon waking up that morning, Officer Steward felt strange. His mouth tasted foul, and his stomach felt like it had a stone in it.
His gut was telling him what was coming next, but he thought it was just a little illness at first.
A Gut Feeling
The officer's feelings were becoming worse with every passing minute. Immediately, he realized that the feeling was one of dread.
The day would bring something terrible. There was a sense of it. Despite not having it often, he had felt it before.
Moving Forward
Steward couldn't just ignore his entire day because he had a strange feeling, so he decided to investigate the situation.
Then he would go about his day as he usually did, and he would see what happened. There is a possibility that he was just being paranoid. He should have known what he was getting into.
Going About His Day
His routine was the same as it always was for Officer Steward. The morning started with a coffee and bagel at the local coffee shop.
In the midst of sipping his cappuccino, he realized he had entered a situation his gut had warned him about.
Something Caught His Eye
Officer Steward had just taken a bite of his bagel when something caught his attention. Two people had walked into the shop, and they had taken a seat a few tables from where he was sitting.
He didn’t know why they caught his attention, but for some odd, unexplainable reason, he was fascinated by them.
Mother And Son
The people that had the officer’s attention were nothing special. It was just a mother and her young son.
It looked like they had come in for breakfast, just as the officer had. But after years of hardcore training, the need to investigate the situation was drilled into him. There was something about them that just didn’t seem right.
He Watched Them For A While
Since the officer still had time on his hands, he decided to observe the pair for a little while. He took in everything, from the way they were dressed to the food that they had ordered.
And he picked up on a few subtle hints. The mother had a coffee but no food. The boy, on the other hand, got everything he had asked for. And that was what got the officer thinking.
The Boy Looked Happy
The boy seemed pleased. He was talking up a storm while shoving pancakes down his throat. He was so talkative that any outsider would think he hadn’t seen his mom in ages.
But something told Officer Steward that that wasn’t actually the case. If he didn’t know any better, he would say that the boy was just trying to break the silence.
His Mother Looked Concerned
From the look on the mother’s face, Officer Steward could tell that she was stressed out. Each time the boy ordered something, her brows furrowed, and a flicker of concern passed over her eyes.
She was clearly calculating everything that would be added to the bill. But why would she take her son out if she was concerned about the prices?
Something About Her
That wasn’t all Officer Steward picked up on, though. There was something about the mother that caught and kept his attention.
At that point, he was unsure of what that might’ve been, but the more he looked at her, the more that sense settled. Did he know her from somewhere? Have they met before? At his age, he couldn’t be sure.
A Sense Of Familiarity
But he was sure of one thing. There was a sense of familiarity about the woman. It was as if he had, in fact, seen her before.
However, she was a very unique woman, and he was sure he would remember some of her more prominent features, like her bright red curls. Yet, he couldn’t place her.
He Couldn’t Pinpoint It
The fact that he couldn’t pinpoint where he knew her from was driving the officer mad. He was well-known in the local community, and he wouldn’t want to ignore someone he had been in contact with before.
But he had no idea whether or not he actually had contact with this woman before. Had he been called out to her house?
Trying To Focus
Officer Steward tried to focus on the woman and her features. He needed something, anything to remind him of where he had seen her.
Did they pass each other in the supermarket? Were they living on the same street? Had he seen her in the shop during one of his previous visits? There were just too many possibilities.
They Kept His Attention
Because of that, the pair had his attention for his entire visit. Even as he ate his bagel and drank his coffee, his eyes were firmly fixed on them.
But his time was running out. The hour had flown by, and he had less than ten minutes to get on his way. And he still didn’t have the answers he was looking for.
Time To Leave
Officer Steward waited until the last possible moment before getting his bill. But he couldn’t wait any longer. He had pushed this trip to its limits, and he couldn’t waste any more time.
With that, the officer paid and got up to leave. But the sweet voice of an excited child stopped him dead in his tracks.
The Little Boy
“Hello, officer,” the little boy who had his attention during his entire visit said. The officer spun around and saw a set of sad brown eyes looking up at him.
“Hello, son,” Officer Steward said as he ruffled the little boy’s hair. “How can I be of assistance?” The boy shrugged and pushed into the bench at the table where the officer was sitting.
A Brief Chat
Even though he knew he didn’t have time for this, the officer took a seat opposite the boy, and the two of them started chatting.
There was nothing special about the conversation. It seemed like a little boy with a fascination for the field, and the officer was happy to fill his mind with information. But the boy had an ulterior motive, and the officer would only discover it once it was too late.
When He Left
What the officer didn’t see was that the little boy had placed a note on the table while they were chatting. Officer Steward was far too busy sharing his stories to pick up on the kid’s hand gestures.
But once the boy left, he saw the envelope lying on the table. What did it contain?
He Almost Missed It
Officer Steward looked down at the beige envelope with the word “Officer” written across it, and he was stunned.
If checking his table before leaving wasn’t a habit he had built over the years, he never would’ve seen it. But luckily, he did, and now he could find out what it contained. Was he ready for that?
Sitting Down Again
The officer sat back down again so he could read the note. For some odd reason, he felt like the world was about to come crashing down around him.
His palms were sweaty. His heart was beating in his throat, and a bead of sweat had formed on his brow. Why was he feeling like that? Was it his gut trying to give him another warning?
Just One Moment
When his usual waitress saw that the officer was still there, she reminded him that he needed to leave. But the officer was so focused on the note that he barely paid any attention to her.
All he needed was a moment. Just one moment to see what the little boy was trying to tell him. What if the kid was in trouble? He couldn’t just leave without finding out what was going on.
He Couldn’t Believe It
With that, the officer ripped the envelope open and pulled out the handwritten note the boy had left him. At first, it meant nothing to him, but the more he read, the more he began to understand what was actually going on.
The boy wasn’t in any trouble. But his mother was, and he was trying his best to help her.
A Sad Story
The note stated that the boy and his mother would frequent the coffee shop once a month. It was their way of getting closer. But that month, they were facing some difficulties.
His mother had been pulled over by the police a few days prior, and even though she explained that it was an emergency and that her son had been hospitalized, they still fined her.
They Were Gone
They couldn’t afford to pay for the breakfast and the fine, so his mother ended up not eating. But the boy hated seeing her so unhappy, so he put all the money he saved up into the envelope to pay the fine.
That was when the officer remembered who she was. He was the one who fined her. He looked up, hoping to clarify the situation, but the pair had already left.