Adam, 8, and Peter, 10, visited the seaside with their mom Alice every day. They would walk together along the shore, enjoying the sea breeze.
Every single day, they would come across an old man who would sit motionlessly on a chair, watching the waves. “Mom, is that man okay?” Adam asked one day.
“He is, sweetheart.
He just likes to be alone.
People have tried to talk to him, but he always just tries to avoid people. Let’s not bother him,” Alice replied.
The brothers couldn’t help but feel drawn towards the old man.
They were curious as to why he would sit motionlessly on the same chair every day.
One day, they thought of a plan to approach him. While playing catch, they threw the frisbee in his direction so that they could come closer.
When they ran up and apologized, the old man said, “You threw it here on purpose.
I know you did… You,” he said, pointing at Adam, “you are great at throwing. And you,” the old man smiled, pointing at Peter, “are great at catching. So I know this was not an accident.”
The brothers’ eyes widened in shock.
They didn’t know that the old man had been observing them, too.
Despite Alice knowing that the man didn’t talk to other people, he indulged the two boys in a long conversation.
After they introduced one another, Peter finally asked: “Sir, why do you sit out here every day and watch the sea?”
“Well, I am here waiting for my brother. I have been waiting here for 10 years,” he responded.
Adam and Peter looked at each other, confused.
“We were in the army together and were separated and sent to different countries. This happened a long time ago.
When we last saw each other, we promised to meet at the same place, right here, where we constantly used to walk with our mother,” the old man explained.
“You wait for your brother every day?” Adam asked.
“How do you know he’s still coming?” The old man smiled at Adam’s innocence.
“That’s the thing. I don’t know if he’s coming. I used to come, years ago, but my work transferred me to another city.
Now, for the past 10 years of living here, I’ve been coming daily.
They gave me his army dog tag, but they never found him. He is still missing,” he said, taking his brother’s dog tag out of his pocket.
Adam and Peter were sitting beside each other at that moment.
The old man patted their heads and said, “That’s why you must take care of each other, boys. Brotherly love is the greatest strength in the world.”
After sharing his story, the old man introduced himself as Walter.
The boys enjoyed his company and, ever since that day, made it a point to spend time with him, bringing sandwiches and drinks.
They would spend the afternoons talking and listening to each other’s stories.
One day, Walter and the brothers were surprised to see each other walking in the same direction while on the way home. “We live near each other!” Peter exclaimed. Walter couldn’t help but smile.
“I guess we do, sweet boy,” Walter said, waving before he entered his house.
The two boys felt extremely close to Walter after days of talking to him.
The story doesn’t end here — it continues on the next page.
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