Kevin’s daughter was so excited about her new car—she finally had her own ride, and he was proud of her. But something put a damper on the celebration—the car had a funny odor.
When the father and daughter checked out the car, they couldn’t pinpoint the source of the smell. Then they wondered, “Where haven’t we looked?” Finally, they opened the glove compartment as their last resort. What happened next was incredible.
The Devoted Father
Kevin was a single dad who dedicated his life to providing for his precious daughter. As a handyman, he worked long hours and saved as much money as possible for his daughter’s future.
After scrimping and saving, Kevin finally collected enough money to buy his daughter a car, and he couldn’t wait to see her expression when she saw the generous gift. But what she got was more than either of them ever expected.
Dad’s Little Princess
To Jada, her dad was the best father in the world. She adored him and knew how much he had sacrificed for her happiness.
Just before her 16th birthday, Kevin told her he had a huge surprise to give her. Jada was beyond excited and couldn’t wait for the big day to arrive. Neither of them would forget that day, but it wasn’t for the reason they expected.
A Teen’s Dream Birthday Gift
Kevin scoured the internet and drove to used car dealerships to find the best deal and the safest car possible. After an extensive search, he finally found the perfect one and couldn’t wait to see the look on Jada’s face when she saw her gift.
He hoped to make everything perfect for Jada’s big day and even splurged on a fancy birthday cake. He knew she was excited about the promise of a special gift, but he didn’t think she could imagine what he had in mind.
Buyer Beware
Kevin looked the used car over carefully, did a test drive, and found that it drove well and was just the right size and model for Jada.
Kevin knew a thing or two about cars and didn’t hear any suspicious noises during the test drive, so he felt that he had found an excellent deal.
Too Good of a Deal?
Kevin started having doubts about the car after noticing that the salesman was nervous. He debated what to do for a moment but eventually decided that he’d made a good choice and bought the car.
He and the salesman shook on the deal, and Kevin drove the car home. It was a beautifully smooth ride, and he dreamed about the moment Jada would first see it. But, unfortunately, something about the vehicle was not quite right.
A Big Present to Hide
Kevin had already decided to hide the car in the garage, a place where Jada never went. So it was unlikely she’d stumble upon it, and he was sure the surprise would keep.
As Jada’s birthday got closer, Kevin could hardly contain himself. It was hard not to blurt out his secret, but he kept it quiet. The anticipation was almost more than he could handle, but little did he know what really awaited them in the garage.
An Overwhelming Birthday Surprise
The day had finally come, and Kevin stood at the bottom of the staircase so that when she woke up and came downstairs, she’d see him with balloons and a big smile.
Seeing his grown-up daughter descending the steps, he became emotional and thought about how quickly the time had flown. They shared a warm embrace, and Kevin told her that her gift was waiting outside.
Excitement Quickly Became Confusion
Jada was stunned—a car of her own! It was a dream come true. She looked around the car, admiring it and thanking her dad repeatedly for the wonderful gift.
She couldn’t wait to sit in the driver’s seat of her very own vehicle, so she immediately jumped in and sat down with a massive smile. But that smile turned into a confused look almost immediately, and Kevin wondered what could possibly be wrong.
YUCK!
Kevin asked Jada what was wrong. “Dad, there’s an odor in here!” She looked like she was going to cry, which broke Kevin’s heart. “Wait, let me smell it,” he said and poked his head into the car. He immediately noticed the pungent smell.
Jada jumped out of the car and closed the door. She and her dad looked at each other in amazement—What should they do? How could this day have turned out so badly?
A Thorough Investigation
Kevin was determined to discover the cause of the smell. He started by looking around the inside of the car for anything unusual, like leftover food or a spilled beverage. But everything was just as fine as it was on the day he drove away from the dealership.
Then he looked under the seats, sure something was stashed there and rotting, causing the horrible smell. Next, he looked at the dashboard but found nothing. Then, he opened the glove compartment. He was about to get the shock of his life.
An Amazing Discovery
At the bottom of the glove compartment, there was a rubber mat. Kevin pulled up the mat and saw something odd underneath.
A letter fell out of the glove box. He hadn’t noticed it during the car inspection before the purchase, but there it was. How did it get there? Was this the reason the salesman was acting strangely?
An Unmarked Letter
The letter was addressed to “The New Car Owner.” A shiver ran up Kevin’s spine—this mysterious letter was a bit creepy, and he had a bad feeling about it. Multiple scenarios ran through his imagination—none of them good.
He wasn’t even sure if he should open the letter. After all, it could have been meant for the previous owner and not for him. Should he take the car back? Doubts aside, Kevin finally decided to open the letter.
A Heart-Wrenching Story
The letter opened with a statement that the new owner had purchased an exceptional vehicle that held many memories. The previous owner wished the new owner 100 years of happy ownership of this special vehicle.
As Kevin continued reading, his heart sank. The story behind this car was so tragic that Kevin could not hold back his emotions.
A Family Tragedy
The letter was from a woman named Sabrina Archey, whose mother, aunt, and six-year-old daughter passed away in a horrific house fire.
Sabrina also had to sell the car due to financial hardship caused by the tragedy. But there was more to her story, which Kevin would soon learn.
Happy Family Memories
Sabrina said in the letter that the car held significant memories. She and her family would love going on rides and singing their favorite songs together. In addition, Sabrina even recalled changing her daughter’s diapers in the back seat.
Finally, she wrote, it was the only item of her mother’s that survived the fire. This car represented the life and family that Sabrina had lost, and her story broke Kevin’s heart.
Feeling Sad and Guilty
Kevin began to feel guilty as he read the letter. He and Jada read Sabrina’s story together, and both were crying by the end of the note.
Kevin and Jada felt awful about buying a car that meant so much to the previous owner. So they abandoned their investigation into the mysterious smell and decided to do everything they could to get that car exactly where it belonged.
On a Mission For Good
Kevin and Jada decided to post the letter and story online on the Facebook page “Love What Matters.” Soon after posting, the story went viral, and both Kevin and Jada were astounded.
Thousands of people posted their support for the previous owner, and eventually, Sabrina herself saw the post. The fact that the post was able to reach her was incredible, but what happened after that went beyond everyone’s imagination.
Generous Help from Around the World
Once the story about Sabrina went viral, people started sending donations so that she could get her car back and keep that last memory of her family alive.
Sabrina received thousands of dollars because of Kevin’s post and was able to get herself back on her feet. Kevin had done an extraordinary deed and felt terrific about helping someone in need. Sabrina could not fathom the kindness of strangers who donated their hard-earned money to help her.
The Car, The Birthday, and The Goodness of People
Kevin was elated that Sabrina could get her car back. Now that she had this cherished memory back in her possession, she could finally start moving forward.
With the help of Kevin, Jada, and countless generous strangers, Sabrina was able to reunite with the only remaining connection to the family members she lost.
And, with the money raised for Sabrina to buy back her car, Kevin was able to give his daughter another vehicle along with an important life lesson she’ll never forget.
