When Vaughn Preston first met his favourite gas station attendant Tony Antonio, Vaughn was feeling sick and Tony was able to make him laugh in minutes. Ever since then, Vaughn would look out for Tony whenever his family visited that Caltex Gas Station near their home in Gillitts, South Africa.
“Tony always takes the time to talk to Vaughn about the various bikes we haul to Giba and back and listens so obligingly to him as he chatters away,” Vaughn’s mother Mandy wrote on Facebook.
The friendship continued for two months before Tony asked Vaughn and his family to look out for a reasonably priced bicycle for Tony to purchase for himself. Vaughn promised to find him one.
Not only did Vaughn plan to find Tony a bike, but he also planned to buy it for him. He went around the house collecting silver money for an alleged “holiday.”
“One night he came to me and asked if I really wanted a holiday and upon asking why he said he would rather put his savings towards helping Tony get his bike,” wrote Mandy. “And so today, we cracked open the piggy bank and took all the silvers to Game where he bought his friend a bicycle.”
After purchasing the present, Vaughn drove it over to the gas station to show it to his friend. Shocked and smiling, Tony accepted the gift.
Our children make us proud on so many occasions but today my heart and his is so full of the joy at the kind man’s face as he, rather stunned accepted his gift from this 10-year-old boy.
MANDY
Sharing the Kindness
Vaughn and Tony posed for a photo together, which Mandy posted onto her Facebook along with the story behind it. The post was liked by 10,000 people, though Vaughn wasn’t one of them since he was too young to have a Facebook account.
“It will be years until your mom allows you on Facebook but when you do see this post, know that today of all your days on this planet so far my heart is the fullest and most proud of you it’s ever been,” wrote Mandy.
Keep being kind, and generous, with your time and money and remember bringing joy to others can bring just as much joy to yourself.
MANDY
Though Vaughn didn’t see the post, Game, the store where Vaughn bought the bike, did. Game wanted a piece of the kindness and decided to give Tony and Vaughn vouchers the same value as the new bike.
“Above all things I regard kindness of heart, and over the years I’ve tried to live like that and teach my child to do the same,” wrote Mandy.
Like Riding a Bike
Vaughn didn’t allow his young age to get in the way of helping a friend. He used his selflessness and piggy bank coins to make the world a better place.
His act of kindness is an inspiration to all. Tony made Vaughn laugh when he felt sick, and Vaughn passed that smile right back to Tony with a bicycle.
