Now, on my HVAC salary alone, the numbers were getting tighter each month.
That worry followed me the entire drive home.
The next morning
I woke early and checked my phone.
Mrs. Patterson had sent a message.
“You should look at the school’s parent page.”
Curious, I opened the link.
Melissa’s teacher had posted a graduation photo.
In the picture, Melissa stood proudly wearing her dress.
The caption read:
“Melissa’s father handcrafted this beautiful dress for her graduation.”
The comments were pouring in.
“This is amazing!”
“So talented!”
“What a touching story.”
The post had already been shared dozens of times.
By lunchtime, half the town seemed to have seen it.
That afternoon, while repairing an air conditioner, my phone buzzed.
A new message appeared.
“Hello Mark. My name is Leon. I own a tailoring company downtown. I saw the photo of the dress you made. If you’re interested in part-time work helping with custom sewing projects, please call me.”
I stared at the screen.
The next evening I walked into Leon’s shop carrying the dress.
A man in his fifties looked up from a sewing table.
“You must be Mark. May I see it?”
I handed it over.
