Raising a 13-year-old son as a single mother hasn’t been easy. After losing my husband, I’ve done my best to keep life steady for both of us. I work two jobs to make ends meet and give my son a stable home. Some days are tougher than others, but he’s my motivation—my reason to keep going.
Then something unexpected happened.
While tidying his room one afternoon, I found nearly $3,500 in cash hidden in his piggy bank. I was stunned. At his age, that kind of money raised serious concern. I didn’t want to assume the worst—but as a parent, my worry quickly took over.
That same day, he mentioned going to a classmate’s birthday party. Something about how casually he said it didn’t sit right. I reached out to the classmate’s mother to confirm—and was told there was no party. At that point, I knew I had to look closer.
The next afternoon, I quietly followed my son after school. He walked through the neighborhood, stopping at a rundown laundromat. Then, to my surprise, he disappeared into an alley behind the building. My heart raced. Was he in trouble?
I watched as he met with an older man. My son handed over a thick envelope, and the man gave him a small box. My mind jumped to all the worst possibilities—until I saw the writing on the envelope: “Paws & Claws Rescue Fund.”
Continue reading on next page…