101-Year-Old Man Faced Trial for Stealing over $2,000 Worth of Items – His Neighbor Begged the Judge to Hear His Secret – Page 7

children call him Grandpa Walter. Not to his face, because they’re afraid he’ll think they’re being silly.”

I saw a faint smile cross Walter’s face.

“But every evening, they set five places at our table. One for me, three for them, and one for him.”

“They call me Grandpa?”

Sarah nodded.

Walter covered his mouth.

“I thought they only wanted me there because I brought them things.”

“Walter, they were saving you a chair before you ever brought us groceries.”

Sarah shook her head.

“We needed those groceries, Walter. I’m

not going to pretend we didn’t. But my children need you more. They need their grandpa.”

The judge postponed sentencing to allow a restitution plan.

I promised to speak to our neighbors about helping cover the store’s losses and making sure both households had enough food.

But Walter barely seemed to hear any of it.

He kept looking at Sarah.

As if he still couldn’t believe there had been a place waiting for him all along.

A few weeks later, I visited Sarah’s house and found Walter sitting at her