A snowstorm was blowing when Mike got out of school that afternoon. He jerked his collar up around his neck and dashed for the bus.
It was amazing how quiet everything sounded, and how slowly the traffic was moving. All the buses were late, but Mike didn’t realize that. He saw one that looked like his and climbed aboard.
After traveling several miles he glanced out the window and noticed that the streets didn’t look right. He was on the wrong bus!
He would have to get another bus and go back. Did he have enough money for the fare?
He felt in his pocket. Three nickels—fifteen cents. The bus fare back to the school would be ten cents. The fare from school to home would be another ten cents. He didn’t have enough!
Then another idea occurred to him, and he relaxed. He could get off the bus at the next stop and phone home and ask Mother to come to the school for him. That would cost a nickel—for this happened when phone calls cost only five cents. The bus fare back to the school would be ten cents. The total would be fifteen cents, exactly what he had.
He got off the next stop and walked to a drugstore on the corner. The building was crowded with people, mostly children from school trying to keep warm till their buses came. He pressed his way in. The place had a damp, close smell about it.
There was a public phone on the far wall.
Mike put a nickel in and dialed. Really, considering the problem, things were working out remarkably well. He heard the phone ring once on the other end. Then the line went dead.
Mike had never known a phone to act that way before. He hung up and looked for the nickel to come back, but it didn’t.
Better try again.
He put in another nickel and dialed. The phone rang once—and died.
He put in another nickel and dialed a third time. Again the phone rang once and died.
Mike suddenly realized that his money was gone. He was alone, miles from home, with night coming on and a storm blowing, and no one to help him.
Unless Jesus would.
Mike was sure Jesus could. The Bible tells of a thousand wonderful things Jesus did in days gone by. But would He? Would Jesus help a boy find a dime to get home with—in these days?
Mike had it figured out now that a dime would be enough. Ten cents would pay the bus fare back to school, and he had a friend who lived near the bus stop who had a phone he could use to call home.
He closed his eyes in the middle of that crowded store and prayed. “Dear Jesus, please help me get a dime. I’m here all alone by myself, and there isn’t anyone else to help me but You.”
He opened his eyes, and a very wonderful thing happened. A man walked into the store and looked all the boys over carefully. Then he said, “You, boy. Would you like to earn a dime?”
He was pointing at Mike!
“Yes, SIR!” Mike said.
“Then come with me,” the man said. “My car’s stalled outside and I need someone to help me push it. Will you do that?”
Mike pushed, the car started, and the man paid him the dime.
Mike was soon on his way home, sitting in the bus, wondering at the marvelous mystery of it all. Why did the man’s car stall when it did? Why did the man look the boys over so carefully? Why did he choose him? Why did he offer to pay exactly a dime?
“Dear Jesus,” Mike whispered. “Now I know You really do love me, not just because of what the Bible says, but because of what You have done for me today. Thank You so much.”
40 Favorite Children’s Stories, Lawrence Maxwell, ©2009, 10–13