Teens

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The Wise Teen
© 2007

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Anita McCullough, though 16 years old, was recognized throughout Seminole County as the wisest teenager anyone had ever known. Before she completed her sophomore year at Seminole Senior High School, Anita won a writing contest that enabled her to travel to a youth camp in Wyoming. While horseback riding along a stream, Anita noticed a large shiny rock. Dismounting she found a softball size stone that was later determined to be gold. Anita’s find resulted in her earning $28,000. On her way back to camp, Anita met a young woman carrying her newborn child on the streets of the capital city of Cheyenne.

“Young lady,” said the woman. “Could you spare a couple of dollars so I can buy milk and diapers for my baby and a little something to eat for me?”

Without hesitation, Anita took an envelop from her purse then immediately gave it to the new mother. Anita quickly got into the youth camp vehicle to go back to the campsite.

Opening the envelop, the woman could hardly believe what had happened to her and her baby. A woman she didn’t know, this teenage girl gave her all of her money—a perfect stranger—without even hesitating. Touched by the girl’s generosity, the woman spent not a penny of her gift but was able to convince a priest to drive her out to the youth camp to find the teen who sacrificed so much.

Upon reaching the youth camp, the woman sought and found Anita. “Young lady I’ve been thinking,” she said. “I counted the money in the envelop you gave me. It’s $28,000! I’m giving it back to you in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within YOU that enabled you to give me all of your money without hesitation!”

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