![\"No](\"https:\/\/scontent.fpnh11-2.fna.fbcdn.net\/v\/t39.30808-6\/876843643_122127390267257929_3070975752571432103_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_tt6&cstp=mx512x640&ctp=s512x640&_nc_cat=107&_nc_map=urlgen_bucketless&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=yr9jDsENehQQ7kNvwFetnII&_nc_oc=AdqobyOp142p3LzrKWel3WwMKXEdKYVdboTYvsdnWv0j-QvEILuqV7J-lyurKZm5O3E&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fpnh11-2.fna&_nc_gid=oAYYh1NicwI88AxJTXXC2Q&_nc_ss=7b2a8&oh=00_AQQAkxT6-wTCrFFmONwuVh4FPALDnIzh9UFnoxjYr2bkiw&oe=6AED3559\")
<\/p>\n\u201cYour Honor, before you decide what to do with this man, I need you to understand something. Those things he stole weren\u2019t for himself. He never used them. He never sold them. And he certainly never wanted them.\u201d The judge frowned. \u201cThen why did he take them?\u201d Margaret unfolded the paper. \u201cI think the answer is written right here.\u201d She handed it to the court clerk, who passed it to the judge. The judge adjusted his glasses and began reading.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
At first, his expression didn\u2019t change. Then his eyebrows tightened. He read the first few lines again. And then, very slowly, he looked up at Walter. \u201cMr. Miller\u2026 is this your handwriting?\u201d Walter stared at the floor. \u201cYes, Your Honor.\u201d \u201cDid you write this list?\u201d \u201cYes, sir.\u201d The judge glanced down at the paper again. It contained a list of household items: children\u2019s winter coats, blankets, small shoes, baby formula, canned food, notebooks, pencils, soap, toothbrushes, and several other things.<\/p>\n
But there was something unusual about the list. Beside almost every item was a name. And beside some of those names were dates. \u201cMr. Miller,\u201d the judge said carefully, \u201cwho are these people?\u201d Walter swallowed. \u201cPeople who needed a little help, sir.\u201d Margaret couldn\u2019t hold back anymore. \u201cYour Honor, for the last several months, Walter has been taking those things to families living in the abandoned houses near the old railway station. Families who have almost nothing. Children who sometimes go to bed hungry. Parents who are too ashamed to ask anyone for help.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0courtroom\u00a0began\u00a0to\u00a0murmur.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0judge\u00a0raised\u00a0his\u00a0hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease.\u00a0Let\u00a0her\u00a0finish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret\u00a0wiped\u00a0her\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
\u201cWalter\u00a0never\u00a0told\u00a0anyone.\u00a0He\u00a0would\u00a0go\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0store\u00a0early\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0morning,\u00a0when\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0quiet.\u00a0He\u00a0would\u00a0put\u00a0the\u00a0items\u00a0into\u00a0his\u00a0old\u00a0shopping\u00a0bag\u00a0and\u00a0walk\u00a0several\u00a0streets\u00a0to\u00a0deliver\u00a0them.\u00a0Sometimes\u00a0he\u00a0made\u00a0three\u00a0or\u00a0four\u00a0trips\u00a0in\u00a0one\u00a0day,\u00a0even\u00a0though\u00a0his\u00a0legs\u00a0barely\u00a0worked.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0judge\u00a0looked\u00a0back\u00a0at\u00a0Walter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0you\u00a0simply\u00a0donate\u00a0money?\u00a0Why\u00a0steal\u00a0these\u00a0things?\u201d<\/p>\n
For\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0time,\u00a0Walter\u00a0lifted\u00a0his\u00a0head.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0have\u00a0any\u00a0money\u00a0left,\u00a0Your\u00a0Honor.\u201d<\/p>\n
His\u00a0voice\u00a0cracked.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy\u00a0pension\u00a0barely\u00a0covers\u00a0my\u00a0rent\u00a0and\u00a0medicine.\u00a0I\u00a0know\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0did\u00a0was\u00a0wrong.\u00a0I\u00a0know\u00a0those\u00a0things\u00a0belonged\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0store.\u00a0I\u00a0never\u00a0expected\u00a0anyone\u00a0to\u00a0excuse\u00a0me.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0paused,\u00a0struggling\u00a0to\u00a0catch\u00a0his\u00a0breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut\u00a0there\u00a0were\u00a0children\u00a0involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0room\u00a0became\u00a0still\u00a0again.<\/p>\n
Walter\u00a0continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne\u00a0little\u00a0boy\u00a0came\u00a0into\u00a0my\u00a0building\u00a0last\u00a0winter\u00a0wearing\u00a0shoes\u00a0that\u00a0were\u00a0too\u00a0small\u00a0for\u00a0him.\u00a0His\u00a0mother\u00a0had\u00a0wrapped\u00a0his\u00a0feet\u00a0in\u00a0old\u00a0pieces\u00a0of\u00a0cloth\u00a0because\u00a0she\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0afford\u00a0another\u00a0pair.\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0her\u00a0if\u00a0she\u00a0needed\u00a0anything.\u00a0She\u00a0smiled\u00a0and\u00a0told\u00a0me\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0doing\u00a0fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0shook\u00a0his\u00a0head.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople\u00a0always\u00a0say\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0doing\u00a0fine\u00a0when\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0desperate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret\u00a0lowered\u00a0her\u00a0eyes.<\/p>\n
Walter\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0judge.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0remembered\u00a0what\u00a0it\u00a0felt\u00a0like\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0hungry\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0child.\u00a0I\u00a0remembered\u00a0winters\u00a0when\u00a0my\u00a0mother\u00a0would\u00a0pretend\u00a0she\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0cold\u00a0so\u00a0my\u00a0brothers\u00a0and\u00a0sisters\u00a0could\u00a0have\u00a0the\u00a0blankets.\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0myself\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0never\u00a0watch\u00a0another\u00a0child\u00a0suffer\u00a0if\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0something\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0do.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0judge\u00a0put\u00a0down\u00a0the\u00a0paper.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr.\u00a0Miller,\u00a0how\u00a0many\u00a0families\u00a0have\u00a0you\u00a0been\u00a0helping?\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter\u00a0hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeven,\u00a0I\u00a0believe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSeven?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u00a0sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd\u00a0how\u00a0long\u00a0have\u00a0you\u00a0been\u00a0doing\u00a0this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSince\u00a0the\u00a0beginning\u00a0of\u00a0winter.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0judge\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0Margaret.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow\u00a0did\u00a0you\u00a0discover\u00a0this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Margaret\u00a0took\u00a0a\u00a0shaky\u00a0breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause\u00a0one\u00a0evening,\u00a0I\u00a0followed\u00a0him.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0explained\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0noticed\u00a0Walter\u00a0returning\u00a0home\u00a0with\u00a0his\u00a0shopping\u00a0bag\u00a0nearly\u00a0empty,\u00a0despite\u00a0never\u00a0bringing\u00a0anything\u00a0into\u00a0his\u00a0apartment\u00a0for\u00a0himself.<\/p>\n
At\u00a0first,\u00a0she\u00a0thought\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0confused.<\/p>\n
Then\u00a0she\u00a0saw\u00a0him\u00a0standing\u00a0outside\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0house,\u00a0placing\u00a0a\u00a0bag\u00a0of\u00a0groceries\u00a0beside\u00a0the\u00a0door.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0little\u00a0girl\u00a0opened\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
Walter\u00a0smiled,\u00a0handed\u00a0her\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0package,\u00a0and\u00a0quietly\u00a0walked\u00a0away\u00a0before\u00a0anyone\u00a0could\u00a0thank\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
Margaret\u00a0had\u00a0watched\u00a0from\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0street.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0following\u00a0morning,\u00a0she\u00a0confronted\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0denied\u00a0everything.<\/p>\n
But\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0asked\u00a0him\u00a0why\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0helping\u00a0strangers\u00a0while\u00a0struggling\u00a0to\u00a0pay\u00a0for\u00a0his\u00a0own\u00a0medication,\u00a0he\u00a0finally\u00a0broke\u00a0down.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0told\u00a0her\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0families.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0told\u00a0her\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0children.<\/p>\n
And\u00a0he\u00a0made\u00a0her\u00a0promise\u00a0not\u00a0to\u00a0tell\u00a0anyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d\u00a0the\u00a0judge\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
Margaret\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0Walter.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0afraid\u00a0those\u00a0families\u00a0would\u00a0lose\u00a0their\u00a0dignity.\u00a0He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0anyone\u00a0to\u00a0know\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0receiving\u00a0charity.\u00a0He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0their\u00a0neighbors\u00a0whispering\u00a0about\u00a0them.\u00a0He\u00a0wanted\u00a0the\u00a0children\u00a0to\u00a0believe\u00a0that\u00a0someone\u00a0simply\u00a0cared.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0judge\u00a0remained\u00a0silent.<\/p>\n
Then\u00a0he\u00a0asked\u00a0a\u00a0question\u00a0that\u00a0nobody\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0courtroom\u00a0expected.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr.\u00a0Miller,\u00a0did\u00a0any\u00a0of\u00a0those\u00a0families\u00a0know\u00a0where\u00a0the\u00a0items\u00a0came\u00a0from?\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter\u00a0shook\u00a0his\u00a0head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u00a0Your\u00a0Honor.\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0them\u00a0someone\u00a0had\u00a0left\u00a0them\u00a0for\u00a0them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid\u00a0you\u00a0ever\u00a0tell\u00a0them\u00a0your\u00a0name?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid\u00a0you\u00a0expect\u00a0them\u00a0to\u00a0repay\u00a0you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter\u00a0looked\u00a0genuinely\u00a0confused.<\/p>\n
\u201cRepay\u00a0me?\u00a0No,\u00a0sir.\u00a0What\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0the\u00a0point?\u201d<\/p>\n
For\u00a0a\u00a0moment,\u00a0the\u00a0judge\u00a0said\u00a0nothing.<\/p>\n
Then\u00a0he\u00a0picked\u00a0up\u00a0the\u00a0list\u00a0again.<\/p>\n
At\u00a0the\u00a0bottom\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0page,\u00a0beneath\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0names\u00a0and\u00a0dates,\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0sentence\u00a0written\u00a0in\u00a0Walter\u2019s\u00a0shaky\u00a0handwriting:<\/p>\n
If\u00a0I\u00a0cannot\u00a0give\u00a0these\u00a0children\u00a0the\u00a0childhood\u00a0I\u00a0wish\u00a0they\u00a0had,\u00a0perhaps\u00a0I\u00a0can\u00a0at\u00a0least\u00a0give\u00a0them\u00a0one\u00a0warm\u00a0winter.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0judge\u00a0slowly\u00a0removed\u00a0his\u00a0glasses.<\/p>\n
Margaret\u00a0began\u00a0crying\u00a0again.<\/p>\n
But\u00a0Walter\u00a0was\u00a0not\u00a0looking\u00a0at\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0was\u00a0staring\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0floor,\u00a0as\u00a0though\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0already\u00a0accepted\u00a0that\u00a0none\u00a0of\u00a0this\u00a0would\u00a0change\u00a0what\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0done.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour\u00a0Honor,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said\u00a0quietly,\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0those\u00a0families\u00a0dragged\u00a0into\u00a0this.\u00a0They\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0ask\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0anything.\u00a0If\u00a0someone\u00a0has\u00a0to\u00a0pay\u00a0for\u00a0what\u00a0happened,\u00a0let\u00a0it\u00a0be\u00a0me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0judge\u00a0leaned\u00a0forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr.\u00a0Miller,\u00a0nobody\u00a0is\u00a0questioning\u00a0whether\u00a0you\u00a0broke\u00a0the\u00a0law.\u00a0But\u00a0I\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0know\u00a0something\u00a0else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter\u00a0looked\u00a0up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy\u00a0did\u00a0you\u00a0continue\u00a0stealing\u00a0after\u00a0the\u00a0store\u00a0employees\u00a0caught\u00a0you\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0time?\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter\u2019s\u00a0lips\u00a0trembled.<\/p>\n
For\u00a0several\u00a0seconds,\u00a0he\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0answer.<\/p>\n
Then\u00a0he\u00a0reached\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0inside\u00a0pocket\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0worn\u00a0coat\u00a0and\u00a0pulled\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0photograph.<\/p>\n
It\u00a0was\u00a0old,\u00a0faded,\u00a0and\u00a0bent\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0corners.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0held\u00a0it\u00a0out\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0clerk.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause\u00a0of\u00a0her,\u00a0Your\u00a0Honor.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0clerk\u00a0carried\u00a0the\u00a0photograph\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0judge.<\/p>\n
It\u00a0showed\u00a0a\u00a0young\u00a0woman\u00a0standing\u00a0beside\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0boy,\u00a0both\u00a0smiling\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0modest\u00a0wooden\u00a0house.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0judge\u00a0studied\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u00a0is\u00a0this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0filled\u00a0with\u00a0tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy\u00a0daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0took\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u00a0died\u00a0twenty-three\u00a0years\u00a0ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nobody\u00a0moved.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0teacher.\u00a0She\u00a0used\u00a0to\u00a0spend\u00a0her\u00a0weekends\u00a0helping\u00a0children\u00a0whose\u00a0parents\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0afford\u00a0school\u00a0supplies.\u00a0Even\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0very\u00a0little,\u00a0she\u00a0always\u00a0found\u00a0something\u00a0to\u00a0share.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter\u00a0paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore\u00a0she\u00a0died,\u00a0she\u00a0told\u00a0me\u00a0something.\u00a0She\u00a0said,\u00a0\u2018Dad,\u00a0when\u00a0you\u00a0have\u00a0nothing\u00a0left\u00a0to\u00a0give,\u00a0at\u00a0least\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0stop\u00a0caring.’\u201d<\/p>\n
His\u00a0voice\u00a0broke.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter\u00a0she\u00a0passed\u00a0away,\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0know\u00a0what\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0with\u00a0myself.\u00a0My\u00a0wife\u00a0was\u00a0already\u00a0gone.\u00a0My\u00a0daughter\u00a0was\u00a0gone.\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0living\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0quiet\u00a0apartment,\u00a0eating\u00a0alone,\u00a0speaking\u00a0to\u00a0nobody\u00a0for\u00a0days.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0looked\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0his\u00a0photograph.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen\u00a0one\u00a0morning,\u00a0I\u00a0saw\u00a0that\u00a0little\u00a0boy\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0cloth\u00a0around\u00a0his\u00a0feet.\u00a0And\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0time\u00a0in\u00a0years,\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0useful\u00a0again.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0courtroom\u00a0was\u00a0so\u00a0quiet\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0ticking\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0wall\u00a0clock\u00a0seemed\u00a0unbearably\u00a0loud.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0know\u00a0I\u00a0made\u00a0a\u00a0terrible\u00a0decision,\u201d\u00a0Walter\u00a0continued.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0should\u00a0have\u00a0asked\u00a0for\u00a0help.\u00a0I\u00a0should\u00a0have\u00a0spoken\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0store\u00a0manager.\u00a0But\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0afraid\u00a0they\u00a0would\u00a0say\u00a0no.\u00a0And\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0ashamed\u00a0to\u00a0admit\u00a0that\u00a0at\u00a0my\u00a0age,\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0afford\u00a0to\u00a0help\u00a0a\u00a0hungry\u00a0child.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0wiped\u00a0his\u00a0cheek\u00a0with\u00a0his\u00a0sleeve.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0never\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0a\u00a0criminal,\u00a0Your\u00a0Honor.\u00a0I\u00a0just\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0those\u00a0children\u00a0to\u00a0feel\u00a0forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0judge\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0photograph\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0time.<\/p>\n
Then\u00a0he\u00a0turned\u00a0toward\u00a0the\u00a0prosecutor.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave\u00a0the\u00a0store\u00a0representatives\u00a0been\u00a0informed\u00a0of\u00a0this\u00a0information?\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0prosecutor\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u00a0are\u00a0present,\u00a0Your\u00a0Honor.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0judge\u00a0looked\u00a0toward\u00a0the\u00a0back\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0courtroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cWould\u00a0someone\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0store\u00a0please\u00a0come\u00a0forward?\u201d<\/p>\n
A\u00a0middle-aged\u00a0woman\u00a0wearing\u00a0a\u00a0store\u00a0uniform\u00a0slowly\u00a0stood\u00a0up.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0sitting\u00a0quietly\u00a0throughout\u00a0the\u00a0hearing.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0approached\u00a0the\u00a0front,\u00a0holding\u00a0a\u00a0folder.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour\u00a0Honor,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0manage\u00a0the\u00a0store\u00a0where\u00a0Mr.\u00a0Miller\u00a0was\u00a0caught.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0judge\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid\u00a0you\u00a0know\u00a0about\u00a0these\u00a0circumstances?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u00a0sir.\u00a0We\u00a0only\u00a0knew\u00a0that\u00a0he\u00a0kept\u00a0taking\u00a0items.\u00a0We\u00a0reviewed\u00a0the\u00a0footage,\u00a0and\u00a0we\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0understand\u00a0why\u00a0someone\u00a0his\u00a0age\u00a0would\u00a0risk\u00a0so\u00a0much\u00a0over\u00a0things\u00a0that\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0seem\u00a0particularly\u00a0valuable\u00a0to\u00a0him.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0Walter.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0employees\u00a0even\u00a0asked\u00a0him\u00a0once\u00a0why\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0doing\u00a0it.\u00a0He\u00a0just\u00a0apologized\u00a0and\u00a0said\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0sorry\u00a0for\u00a0making\u00a0trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter\u00a0the\u00a0charges\u00a0were\u00a0filed,\u00a0I\u00a0went\u00a0back\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0footage\u00a0myself.\u00a0There\u00a0was\u00a0something\u00a0I\u00a0noticed\u00a0that\u00a0bothered\u00a0me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0judge\u00a0leaned\u00a0forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0was\u00a0that?\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0woman\u00a0opened\u00a0her\u00a0folder.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery\u00a0single\u00a0time\u00a0Mr.\u00a0Miller\u00a0entered\u00a0the\u00a0store,\u00a0he\u00a0passed\u00a0several\u00a0expensive\u00a0items\u00a0without\u00a0even\u00a0looking\u00a0at\u00a0them.\u00a0He\u00a0never\u00a0took\u00a0anything\u00a0for\u00a0himself.\u00a0He\u00a0only\u00a0selected\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0kinds\u00a0of\u00a0basic\u00a0necessities.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0looked\u00a0down\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0papers.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0something\u00a0else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walter\u00a0slowly\u00a0raised\u00a0his\u00a0head.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0store\u00a0manager\u00a0took\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0envelope.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0received\u00a0this\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0mail\u00a0yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0judge\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s\u00a0inside?\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0woman\u00a0opened\u00a0the\u00a0envelope\u00a0and\u00a0removed\u00a0a\u00a0handwritten\u00a0note.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u00a0was\u00a0addressed\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0store\u00a0manager.\u00a0It\u00a0came\u00a0from\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0families\u00a0Walter\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0helping.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0unfolded\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
And\u00a0before\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0read\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0sentence,\u00a0she\u00a0began\u00a0to\u00a0cry.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour\u00a0Honor\u2026\u00a0I\u00a0think\u00a0you\u00a0should\u00a0hear\u00a0this.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0Walter.<\/p>\n
Then\u00a0she\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0judge.<\/p>\n
And\u00a0she\u00a0began\u00a0reading.<\/p>\n
But\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0words\u00a0on\u00a0that\u00a0letter\u00a0would\u00a0reveal\u00a0something\u00a0about\u00a0Walter\u00a0that\u00a0even\u00a0Margaret\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0known.<\/p>\n
Something\u00a0that\u00a0would\u00a0change\u00a0the\u00a0entire\u00a0courtroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour Honor, before you decide what to do with this man, I need you to understand something. Those things he stole weren\u2019t for himself. He never used them. He never … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3333,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,21,22,1,5,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aita","category-daily-article","category-reddit-stories","category-story","category-story-daily","category-viral-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7845"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7845\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7848,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7845\/revisions\/7848"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}