The office supply aisle of the store was empty, save for a somber looking young man who was drowning in his hoodie sleeves as he read labels silently. My sister and I strolled in, looking up and down the shelves on both sides.

I rummaged through the flat boxes and displays of sheets and inserts.

“They’ve got business card protector sheet things, but that won’t quite work...” I mused. My sister held up a similar pack of business card sheets.

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. They’re not the right size. Thanks, though,” I replied. I stood back, studying the shelf again in hopes of finding a box I hadn’t noticed. No such luck.

I sighed, standing up, and said, “I guess the problem is that no one really collects trading cards anymore.”

We headed out of the aisle and to the next, where there was a wide variety of clearance items.

We were chuckling, looking at some cable preservers in the shapes of cartoony animals, when the young man from the previous aisle swung into sight around the end cap, a plastic package in his hands.

“Is this what you were looking for?” He asked, smiling now. As I looked closer, I saw it was a pack of trading card holders for a 3 ring binder.

I nodded, trotting over to grab it from him as I beamed. “It is! Thank you so much!”

He looked a bit apprehensive as he added, “I found it in a random box. I don’t know if you need more, or if there even are more...”

“This is plenty—it’s perfect!” I assured him, looking the package over. I had no idea how he found them, but the fact remained. I had no idea who he was, but he took the time to find something for me. I thanked him again as I looked back up, but he was already retreating back around the end cap and into the office supply aisle without another word.

I looked at my sister and grinned.

I spent that night putting small instant film photos into the protective sheets, a smile still plastered on my face. After weeks of looking, I had finally gotten those trading card protectors. All thanks to a stranger.