A 75-year-old man orders 14 cases of mineral water every day, the delivery man gets suspicious and calls the police, when he opens the door everyone is shocked…
I am Jake Miller – a mineral water delivery employee for a small agency in Cedar Grove, USA. Although the job is hard, it helps me earn a stable living. Among many customers, there is a 75-year-old man who left an unforgettable impression on me. Every day, he orders 14 5-gallon bottles of water (about 19 liters). Regularly, without missing a day.

When I first received the order, I thought he probably opened a restaurant or supplied some group. But when I got to the address, I saw only a small old house at the end of a deserted cul-de-sac. The strange thing was that he never let me in, just opened the door slightly and left money in an envelope. I left 14 bottles on the porch and left; there was never a sound inside. I wondered: how could an old man living alone use that much water every day?

Half a month passed, and the matter became more suspicious. Normally, a large family would only use 1-2 bottles a week; but this man alone used 14 bottles a day. Once I asked him softly:

Sir, why do you use so much water?

He just smiled gently, did not answer, and then quietly closed the door. There was something mysterious about his smile that made me think.

I began to worry: was he being taken advantage of by someone? Or was there something unusual going on in that small house? After many days of thinking, I decided to call the Cedar Grove Police Department’s non-emergency line to report it.

The next day, two police officers and I showed up at the door. When we knocked on the door, he came out, looking calm. But when the police asked to come in and check, he paused and then slowly nodded.

The door opened a crack… and we were all stunned.
Inside the cramped house, there was no scary scene like I had expected. Instead, dozens of 5-gallon plastic jugs were neatly lined up, filled with pure mineral water. Each jug was labeled with a marker: “for the neighbors,” “for Cedar Grove Elementary School,” “for the community clinic,” “for St. Mary’s Church”…

The police and I looked at him in amazement. Seeing our expressions, he smiled kindly:
— I’m old, I can’t help much. There are many houses with old water pipes in this area, and it’s hot in the summer. I ordered water, asked the neighborhood kids to come and get it, and then share it. Those who are in need get free clean water.

Hearing that, my eyes stung. It turned out that all this time, he had been quietly doing charity work. The 14 jugs a day were his love for the poor around him, for the thirsty children in the middle of summer.

An officer asked emotionally:
— You do such a noble job, but why don’t you tell anyone, so everyone is worried?

He smiled softly, his voice trembling:
— I don’t want to show off. As long as everyone has clean water to use, I’m satisfied.

It turned out that his name was Mr. Walter Bennett, a retired US Army veteran. Having experienced the battlefield and years of hardship, he understood the value of every sip of water. In his old age, he spent most of his retirement money to buy water to give to people around him.

That day, both me and the officers were moved. The image of the 75-year-old man, thin but with a generous heart, was something we could never forget.

From that time on, I was no longer simply a “water delivery person”. I took the initiative to help him transport it to distribution points, sharing it with the people. Gradually, the whole town learned about the story and joined hands: some contributed money, some contributed labor; grocery stores and bottled water factories in the area also donated more bottles. The town government set up a small fund to help him maintain his activities, the police came to check on his safety regularly and provided transportation support during extreme heat.

A month later, when I returned, his house was busier. In the yard, many children were chattering, carrying bottles of water, laughing and joking innocently. Next to him was Mr. Bennett with white hair, his eyes shining with joy.

I suddenly understood: sometimes, good things are hidden behind seemingly strange things. If I hadn’t had a moment of doubt and called to report, I probably would never have known that behind that half-closed door was such a tolerant heart.

And every time I remember “the 75-year-old man who orders 14 bottles of water every day”, my heart warms. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of life in America, there are still people who quietly sow the seeds of goodness, making this world more trustworthy and lovable—right here in the peaceful Cedar Grove.