Little Boy Walks Into Fishing Store Alone, Ends Up With Trip He Will Never Forget
By Mike-Ross
There was a heartwarming story that took place at the Scheels store in Sandy, Utah. Patrick Palepoi, the store's fishing manager, created a moment that he will always cherish and remember.
Patrick Palepoi (Facebook)
Patrick, a local from Orem, is quite experienced in discussing fishing needs with customers. However, there was one interaction that truly left an impression.
On a special day, a young boy named Xander walked into the store, his eyes brimming with curiosity about the world of fishing. For nearly half an hour, they connected over their mutual love for this hobby.
Xander's mother, Brynn Padilla, shared the significance of this connection, explaining, "So my dad, he was a fisherman. He went fishing a lot. But he passed away a couple of years ago, and Xander never got to really go fishing with him. And so, I think, over the last year, that he's been missing grandpa, wishing he could go fishing with grandpa again."
Touched by Xander's longing for a connection to his late grandfather, Patrick decided to take action and gifted Xander his first fishing rod.
"It was sixty dollars and then he bought it with his own money," Xander told Fox 13.
Credit: Patrick Palepoi via Facebook
This heartfelt gesture brought tears to Brynn's eyes, and she acknowledged that such acts of kindness are rare.
Patrick's own upbringing played a significant role in his decision to go above and beyond for Xander. Raised by a single mother without a father figure to introduce him to activities like fishing and hunting, he deeply empathized with Xander's situation. "He really reminded me of myself as a kid," Patrick shared. "And it just really resonated with me."
However, Patrick's generosity didn't stop at the gift of the fishing rod. The 22-year-old fishing enthusiast went a step further by organizing a memorable fishing trip to Strawberry Reservoir for Xander and his family. To ensure that Xander had an enriching experience, two professional anglers from Scheels accompanied him on the trip, offering guidance and teaching him valuable skills.
Patrick's kindness was truly a breath of fresh air for Xander and his family, who described the fishing trip as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"I felt like it was my due diligence to pass on the good word of fishing," Patrick said.
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