A Letter From A Thankful Stranger

It's a cold, windy, November day; the day before Thanksgiving. You're returning to your car after a long day of work. It's after dark, the lights of the town were your only light. You were bundled up for the cold, ready to go home and warm up in your home. Perhaps curled up in some blankets, drinking your preferred warm drink.

You walk to your car in a bit of a rush to return home. But, then find an envelope on your under your car's windshield wipers when you weren't looking. Did a cop give you a warning or something like that? You heard footsteps as you were approaching, but all you saw was some person walking away; a fox wearing a brown hat and white sunglasses who has a soft smile on their face and seems to be holding something. You decided not to ask them about the letter. The guy seemed busy, or something. He placed another letter on another person's car windshield wipers

“Happy Early Thanksgiving!” is handwritten on it in orange ink. A little heart doodle was drawn to the right of the words.

You wonder if it’s even for you if it was just misplaced if it wasn't for you. But you decide to open it anyways.

Inside was a letter that was printed out, some little stickers with turkeys on them, and a single dollar. You seriously begin to question if this was for you or not...but it's too late to head back...you read the letter.

“Dear stranger,

If you just found this, then hello! Happy day-before-Thanksgiving! I hope this letter is a nice little surprise for you and it brightens your day!

You know, Thanksgiving was always a nice time of year if you ask me. Everyone comes over to your place or you come to theirs, you have a nice, filling dinner, you can talk to your loved ones, discuss what you are all thankful for. It's nice. Though, not much of my family lives in this town anymore. My parents are gone, my siblings have left to start their own lives...it's a little lonely. I haven't really been invited to a dinner, oddly. But it's not gonna get me down, though. It's best I stay positive throughout this! Maybe someone last minute will text me, saying “hey, wanna come over for dinner tomorrow/tonight?” Who knows?

I got inspired to write this letter when I was returning to my apartment today. I was walking up the stairs. That day's work was a little...darker than usual...I hate those days a lot. I began to miss my family, my parents, brothers and sister. What I saw that day was getting on my nerves... I remembered the cold felt a little more colder. I miss them a lot. But then I remembered that they're all doing well and even though they aren't here, I'm in their hearts and they're in mind. Same for my friends. Not all of them are here, but some are. It brightened up my world. It helped so much!

So I began to wonder...”I wonder if anyone feels like this too? What if someone doesn't have people to think about for Thanksgiving? Is there anything I can do to make them more happier?” So I thought and thought and thought...then I had an idea! “What if I wrote a letter to some strangers and give them away? Wouldn't that make them happy and feel less alone?” So I decided to hop back into my car and buy some supplies!

I grabbed some sticker rolls, some envelopes, and hopped onto my laptop and began to write this. I'm planning to head to a shop and get these printed out! I'm gonna give everyone maybe...five stickers each? I wanna give out more letters but I sadly don't have the time and energy to make hundreds...I wish I could. But being a detective is hard work, sadly.

Oh! As I was writing this, I just got a text from a good friend! She told me I could come over and eat today! What a nice friend, yeah? She's kinda like me. Her mom left her a few years back and her dad is all that's left other than friends. I can only assume she invited all of her friends. She hasn't hosted a dinner like this before. Perhaps her mom came back and that's why? Who knows? Whatever is the case, I'm looking forward to it! I'm extremely thankful for my friends! Aren't you?

Friends are like a second family, you know? They mean everything to me! Just like my family does! It's great! I hope you have friends and family to celibate with too!

I hope this letter brightened up your day and made your day a little better. Maybe I'll give you another letter someday soon? ...well it depends if I see your car again. I hope you don't mind these letters showing up now and again! I hope your Thanksgiving is an amazing one!

-From a thankful stranger.”

You softly smiled. What a lovely letter! you thought. They put in a lot of love into this and you can tell. You can confidently say that, as they had hoped, brightened up your day. You put everything back in the envelope and drive back home. Even if you don't have friends or family to celibate with, you're glad you have at least someone who cares about you, even if it was just a stranger who wants to make people's days and Thanksgiving better.