A boorish millionaire who believed money could buy anything bulldozed a poor elderly man’s house to construct a mall. Later, while inspecting the remains, he accidently discovered his childhood photo among the rubble. Can a person’s thirst for money blind them to the point where they destroy someone else’s aspirations in order to create their own? In July 2021, Florida-based real estate mogul Elliot Morris shattered a poor old man’s hopes in order to achieve his desire for fortune. Elliot was hunting for the ideal location to build a luxury mall in the city when he came upon old Joe Brooke’s land.
The young builder loved the location and decided to develop his new mall there. He planned to demolish the elderly man’s house on the plot. Elliot dismissed old Joe’s objections as a minor inconvenience that could be easily eliminated.”Please, I ask you. I don’t have anyone, and this house is the last precious memory I have of my late wife,” Joe begged Elliot, who had arrived with his troops. “I’ve got nowhere to go. “Please do not make me homeless.” “How did you get my mom’s photo?” the man inquired of old Joe. “That’s me and her. Do you know my mother? “What is your relationship with her?” But Elliot turned a deaf ear to the poor old man’s pleas. “Look here, old man. I already talked to the mayor, and he is on my side. I’m bringing this thing down in two weeks.
All you have is 14 days to gather your belongings and escape with the money I provide you. Is this clear? Poor Joe was concerned. He refused to take a dollar in exchange for his cherished home and continued to grieve. But Elliot was unkind and walked away chuckling. “Two weeks and I’ll be back,” Joe heard the unpleasant rich man say softly from outside. Joe’s house was a little farther away from his densely populated area, thus no one came forward in his favor.
The poor old man had a nightmare of a time throughout those two weeks. He prayed that something would happen to change the wealthy man’s opinion. He expected a miracle and never packed his belongings. But before he knew it, the day of demolition had arrived.Please, I beg you! “Please don’t destroy my house!” elderly Joe begged Elliot and his crew, who arrived two weeks later with heavy machinery to demolish his home. “Didn’t I tell you to pack your things?” Elliott responded.
“It isn’t my problem anymore. Please take this check and depart. I don’t have time to hear your ridiculous old stories.” Elliot sent one of his guys to transport elderly Joe to a care facility. He handed out the check for the house, but the old guy refused to accept it. Before leaving, a teary Joe turned to Elliot and remarked, “You’ve changed a lot, young man.” Money has blinded you and destroyed your soul. You cannot purchase everything with money.”
“What rubbish! Take this old man from here,” Elliot ordered. He brushed Joe’s words as nothing and walked further to watch the house being torn down. Joy filled his heart as he saw the bricks and roof chipping away from the building, crashing onto the ground. “I’ll be back in a while. Keep working, and do not touch anything until I arrive,” he said, driving past the dusty house in ruins. That evening, Elliot returned to the demolished spot to celebrate his feat. “Getting rid of that old thorn was so easy!” he exclaimed as he walked over the broken bricks. Just then, he stumbled upon the broken glass of a photo frame.
When he saw the photograph, he gasped in surprise. “Mom? “What is her photo doing here?” he asked, picking up the image. Elliot dusted it and discovered an old photo of his mother with a newborn. “That’s me,” he said again. “But what is our photograph doing in this elderly man’s home? “I have to find out,” he said, driving straight to the nursing home to see Joe. “You? Why did you come here? “Aren’t you happy yet?” the old man exclaimed upon seeing the young builder. “What more have you come to destroy?” Joe refused to look at Elliot, who took his hand and showed him the photo he had retrieved from the collapsed ruins. “How did you get my mom’s photo?”
“That’s me with her. Do you know my mom? What is your relationship with her?” Elliot was furious. He had known that his mother was a single parent, and finding her picture in Joe’s house raised many questions in his mind. “Tell me…how do you know my mother?”Joe, who remained silent, finally spoke out, revealing something Elliot never knew. “I found your mother Samantha on the road with a baby in her arms 30 years ago,” Joe said. “I was on my way home from my wife’s funeral and found your mom hopeless and drenched in the rain while trying to protect you.”
As Elliot heard this, tears began to form in his eyes. “Then what happened?” he inquired. “I took her in and provided her with shelter. “Her boyfriend, your father, had kicked her out for another woman,” Joe explained. “Samantha lived in my house for five years, and I treated her like my daughter.” “But if she lived with you, how come she moved out? We had a bigger house,” Elliot inquired, remaining skeptical of old Joe’s statement. “Is there something I’m missing?””I used my savings to buy her a new house and help her start a small business. She became a great entrepreneur but never forgot the old man.
Samantha paid me frequent visits until her loss ten years ago,” Joe explained. “I had also attended her burial, but who would notice this poor, elderly man? You had grown into a successful, wealthy man, and I was pleased to see how she had reared you. Elliot’s heart had broken by this moment. He recalled his mother telling him about a caring father who was responsible for her success. But all along, he had no idea she was talking about old Joe. Elliot, feeling guilty and heartbroken, resolved to make amends. The next day, he posted a “Under Construction” sign on Joe’s property and directed his crew to erect a new house there. In about four months, a stunning mansion replaced the one he demolished.
For illustrative purpose only. Freepik
Elliot gifted this house to Joe and apologized to him for being so ignorant and forgetful of his past. He also promised to do his best to return the old man’s kindness. But the humble man he was, Joe forgave the young builder and refused any form of help. “You are my grandson, and I will accept only this house from you, and nothing more. I do not expect any material help from you other than your love,” Joe said, creating a massive impact on Elliot. “You are always welcome to visit this old man as my grandson, not as a wealthy man filled with guilt.
Even your mother tried to help me, and I told her the same thing!” Joe cheerfully returned to his new home and lived a humble lifestyle. He inspired Elliot and showed him that money is fleeting, but compassion and love endure. Elliot eventually established a few of retirement houses for the city’s senior residents. He supported those in need and never tore down another person’s residence unless they agreed. What can we glean from this story? Do not jeopardize the happiness of others in order to pursue your own goals. In his efforts to construct his mall, Elliot destroyed elderly Joe’s treasured residence. He ignored the old man’s pleadings and sacrificed his happiness to achieve his own.
When given the opportunity, create something valuable for others. When Elliot realized his error, he apologized to Joe and built him a house. And because he had the means, he did his utmost to assist the needy. A poor widowed mother of four allowed a soaked old guy inside her home to wait off the storm. The next day, she quickly sold her sole residence for $1 and resolved never to return to it.
