Watchman Discovers Message in a Bottle from the Past, It Makes Him Rich Days Later — Story of the Day

A night watchman makes a life-changing discovery when he picks up a message in a bottle and resolves to find the sender, no matter what.

Joe had worked as a night watchman in a factory since he graduated high school five years ago. It was a lonely job, but he was content. He stopped by the beach every day on his way home to watch the sunrise.

One day, he was walking on the beach when he noticed a bottle in the surf. Joe picked it up, thinking he would throw it away, when he saw a roll of paper inside it.

Joe’s heart beat faster. It was a bona fide message in a bottle! He uncorked the lid and opened the letter.

‘Hi! My name is Ritchie. I’m sending this message in the hope that somebody will find it and become my friend.’

Joe frowned at the page. It saddened him to think of this boy waiting and hoping somebody would answer his message. He took his cell phone from his pocket and dialed the number written near the bottom of the page.

Immediately, he heard an automated message stating that the number didn’t exist anymore. Joe hung up and headed back up the beach. He was about to throw the bottle away, but he hesitated.

“I’m going to find this Ritchie kid,” Joe said.

Although he was tired, Joe made another stop at the library.

“Good morning,” Joe greeted the older woman at the front desk. “I hope you can help me. I’m looking for old telephone books.”

“That’s not something we hear every day.” The librarian gave him an amused smile. “Come this way.”

Joe followed the librarian to a section of the library that felt deserted. There, she pointed him to shelves filled with old telephone books.

“Wow. I didn’t think there’d be so many,” Joe said. He stifled a yawn.

“What are you looking for?” The librarian asked. “Maybe I can help?”

Joe showed her the message he found on the beach. The librarian became very excited when he told her he wanted to locate Ritchie. She sat down with him, and they searched the telephone books for Ritchie’s phone number together.

Two hours later, Joe was about to fall asleep at the table when the librarian let out an excited squeal.

She slid the old book across to him.

“Thank you,” Joe said, quickly copying down the address.

“That’s what librarians are for, honey.” She winked at him. “Just make sure you come back here to tell me what happens when you go to that house.”