The woman was Walter’s attorney, Ms. Ortega. Walter explained that after Peter’s death, he had built a small charity for children in need, but had never found someone to carry it forward. Inside the envelope was a letter offering Sam a full scholarship, covering school, books, and later college, through the Peter Walsh Fund. Sam’s mother had not been told, and she was waiting in the hallway with tears already falling.

Sam did not know what to say, so he asked whether he could still buy groceries for his mom. Walter laughed for the first time and said yes, and that the fund would also cover the family’s rent for a year. Sam’s mother hugged him until his ribs ached. She told Walter that her son had always been kind, and that she was grateful, but Walter shook his head and said the gratitude was his.

Walter now eats lunch with Sam every Friday, and they talk about baseball. Sam wears Peter’s old cap, which Walter gave him, and he plans to be a doctor. Each year on the anniversary, they walk to that sidewalk together and leave flowers. Sam says he does not think he did anything special, but Walter always answers that he did the one thing nobody else would.