On a sweltering Midwest afternoon, my son Eli spotted a weary mailman dragging his feet along the sidewalk, sweat soaking through his uniform. While the neighbors grumbled from their porches, Eli dashed inside and came back with a cold bottle of water and a granola bar. “Here you go, sir,” he said cheerfully. “You look like you need this.” The mailman paused, his tired eyes lighting up with a genuine smile at the boy’s simple act of kindness.

The very next day, as I was picking Eli up from preschool, a sleek red Bugatti purred to a halt beside us. Out stepped the mailman, transformed—now dressed in a sharp custom suit, his silver hair neatly combed. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a tiny velvet box, handing it to Eli. “Kid, yesterday you gave me something priceless: a moment of real humanity. Let me return the favor with a touch of magic.”

Eli opened it carefully. Inside gleamed a miniature golden key, catching the sunlight like a spark. The man—looking every bit the successful executive now—grinned. “This key unlocks a door. Not to a house, but to possibilities. Tell me your wish.”

Eli thought for a second, then whispered, “I want Dad to never have to work so hard again. And… a puppy?”

The man nodded, placing a hand on Eli’s shoulder. “Consider it done.”

In that instant, my phone buzzed. It was my boss: our startup had just been acquired for triple its valuation. I quit on the spot. That same evening, a delivery van pulled up—a fluffy golden retriever pup tumbled out, all wagging tail and eager paws.

The man was gone before I could ask his name, leaving only a business card: “E. Voss – Courier of Fortune.”

Ever since, whenever Eli sees someone struggling in the heat, he grabs a drink from the fridge. And I know that somewhere, a golden door is swinging open—not just for us, but for anyone willing to offer a cool sip on a scorching day.