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A young boy | Source: Midjourney
A young boy | Source: Midjourney

Young Pool Cleaner Finds Secret Door in Old Lady's Pool, He Doesn't Need to Work Anymore – Story of the Day

Salwa Nadeem
Oct 03, 2024
07:35 P.M.

When William volunteered to clean the Havisham mansion's neglected pool, he never expected to uncover a hidden fortune. Surrounded by watchful guards and a suspicious heir, he faced a life-changing decision. Would he risk everything for a chance at unimaginable wealth?

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It was a regular day at BestLine Cleaning Services when William entered the small warehouse. The air was thick with tension, and hushed whispers filled the room.

William glanced around and noticed something was not right.

"What's going on?" he asked Jake, the most experienced cleaner in the company.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

"Boss just told us about a new assignment," Jake replied. "It's a doozy, kid."

"What kind of assignment?"

Before Jake could answer, their boss, Mr. Thompson, emerged from his office.

"Listen up, everyone. We've got a big job on our hands," Mr. Thompson announced, his voice gruff. "The old Havisham mansion needs its pool cleaned."

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A collective groan echoed through the warehouse. Meanwhile, William felt intrigued. He leaned forward to listen more carefully.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

"I know, I know," Mr. Thompson continued. "The place has been unoccupied for decades. The pool's in terrible shape. Full of leaves, dead animals, and who knows what else. It'll be a tough job, but the pay is excellent."

William's eyes widened. He had dropped out of college to support his mother and sister, and money was always tight.

This could be his chance.

"Boss, that place is practically haunted," Jake protested. "No one's set foot there in years. The pool's probably more of a swamp by now."

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Other workers chimed in with their concerns.

"I heard the last cleaner who went there quit on the spot!"

"My cousin said the place is cursed!"

As the protests grew louder, William saw an opportunity. He stepped forward and said, "I'll do it! No job's too tough for me."

The warehouse fell silent, and all eyes turned to William.

"You sure about that, son?" Mr. Thompson asked. "It won't be easy."

"I'm sure, sir," William nodded. "I can handle it."

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Jake placed a hand on William's shoulder.

"You don't know what you're getting into, newbie," he warned. "That pool's a death trap. No one's touched it in years!"

But William wasn't deterred. He needed this job.

I can handle this, he told himself while gathering the cleaning supplies. I have to. Mom and Kate are counting on me.

The drive to the old mansion felt longer than it should have. As William approached the property, his eyes widened as he looked at the huge mansion.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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He parked his truck and stepped out, taking in the overgrown grounds. The once-manicured lawns were now a tangle of weeds and wildflowers.

As he made his way to the back of the property, he caught his first glimpse of the infamous pool.

His heart sank.

The pool was in far worse condition than he'd imagined. The water had turned murky green with dead leaves and animal carcasses floating on the surface. The stench of decay was unbearable.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

"Well, better get started," William muttered to himself, rolling up his sleeves.

As he began setting up his equipment, an older man approached him.

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"You must be William," the man smiled. "I'm Walter, the caretaker."

"Nice to meet you, sir," William replied.

"Just came here to warn you about Philip," Walter said. "He's all bark, no bite, so don't mind what he says. Just do your job, and you'll be fine."

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

"Philip?" William asked, confused.

Before Walter could answer, a sharp voice cut through the air.

"Is this the new pool boy?"

William turned to see a well-dressed man in his mid-forties. It was Philip, and he didn't seem happy.

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"Look at the rags on this one," Philip scoffed, eyeing William's worn jeans and faded T-shirt. "Do your job and get off my property before you tarnish the place any further."

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

William felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment.

I'm not here to make friends. He thought. I just need to get the job done.

"Follow me," Walter said quietly, leading William back to the pool. "Don't let Philip get to you. He's been in a mood ever since his aunt passed and left him this place."

William nodded, grateful for Walter's kindness.

"The pool's worse than I remembered," Walter said as he looked at the green water. "You sure you're up for this?"

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

"I have to be," William replied.

"Well, good luck," Walter patted him on the back. "I'll check on you later."

Hours passed as William worked tirelessly, draining the pool and clearing away years of accumulated debris. The sun beat down mercilessly and sweat soaked through his shirt.

But he pressed on, driven by the thought of the paycheck that awaited him.

As the water level lowered, something caught his eye. There was a slight irregularity in the pool wall.

What's this? William thought.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

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He cautiously approached the spot and ran his hand along the wall.

To his surprise, he felt a slight give. As he pressed on it, a hidden door swung open.

"What the…" he murmured, looking at the door with wide eyes.

Upon opening the door, William found a small, waterproof safe inside. His heart raced as he unlocked the safe.

No way, he thought. This can't be true.

What he found inside was something he had never seen before. The safe was filled up with wads of cash. It was more money than William had ever seen in his life.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay

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For a long moment, William stood frozen, staring at the money. His conscience warred with his desperation.

I need this money, he thought. But if I take it, what happens? Is this stealing, or is it destiny?

William's hands trembled as he carefully packed the money into his bag. He knew he was crossing a line, but the thought of his struggling family pushed him forward.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching. He quickly zipped his bag, closed the hidden door, and tried to look busy.

"How's it going?" Walter asked, peering into the half-drained pool.

"Making progress," William smiled, trying to keep calm. "It's tough work, but I'm getting there."

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"Good man. Keep it up, and you'll be done in no time."

William let out a shaky breath once Walter walked away. Then, he glanced at his bag and thought about how the money inside could change his life forever.

But could he really go through with this?

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

The rest of the day passed in a blur.

William worked mechanically as he kept thinking about the money hidden in his bag. Once the sun began to set, he packed up his equipment and prepared to leave.

A few minutes later, he was walking through the gate when he encountered Paul, one of the security guards.

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"We need to check his bag," Paul insisted, eyeing William suspiciously.

William felt panic rising in his chest.

If they check my bag, it's over, he thought. Stay calm. Don't look suspicious.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

To his relief, Walter intervened.

"Relax, Paul. He's just a pool cleaner. Let him go."

Paul hesitated but ultimately stepped aside. Meanwhile, William hurried past, trying not to look like he was fleeing.

That night, William tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He couldn't believe he had brought the money back home and kept thinking if he had done the right thing.

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By morning, he had made up his mind. He would return the money, but not before taking one last look.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

However, as William drove to the mansion, his resolve began to waver. He thought about his mother's medical bills, his sister's college tuition, and the mounting debts that threatened to drown his family.

Maybe, he thought, I could take a little more. Just enough to really make a difference. Then I'll anonymously donate the rest to charity.

With this rationalization, his initial plan to return the money transformed into a scheme to secure the rest of it.

He arrived at the mansion early and made his way to the pool, ensuring no one was watching him.

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For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

He stepped near the pool and was about to approach the hidden door when a voice startled him.

"What are you doing back here?"

William spun around to see Philip glaring at him suspiciously.

"Just finishing up the job, sir," William replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "The pool's in worse shape than I thought."

"I don't trust you," Philip said. "There's something off about you."

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

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Just as Philip opened his mouth to press further, Walter's voice called out, "Sir, the real estate agent is here."

"This isn't over," Philip warned William before stalking off.

Once he left, William took a deep breath and quickly retrieved the remaining money. As he was about to leave, Philip confronted him again.

"You're up to something. I know it," Philip yelled.

That's when something in William snapped.

Instead of cowering, he found himself shouting back, "You insult me every chance you get! I'm just here doing my job!"

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

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"How dare you speak to me like that!" Phillip yelled back. "Get out! I never want to see you on my property again!"

William stormed out of the property, and a grin spread across his face as he reached his car.

I did it! He thought. I got away with it.

Over the next week, William's life changed dramatically. He paid off his family's debts, enrolled back in college, and even made a few strategic investments.

But something nagged at him. A sense of unfinished business.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Two weeks after his discovery, William pulled up to the mansion in a sleek new car. He saw Philip staring at him in disbelief.

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"What are you doing here?" Philip demanded.

"I'm here to see my new property," William smiled. "You see, I'm the one who bought this place."

"This can't be!"

"Oh, it can," William replied, savoring the moment. "And why are you here? Get off my property before you tarnish the place any further."

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Philip was speechless. Meanwhile, William should've felt good, but instead, he realized something.

Something that would change the way he looked at life.

I never imagined I'd be here, he thought. But now I know, it's not the money that makes you rich, it's the way you treat others. I shouldn't hurt people with my words.

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In that moment, William made a decision. He would use his newfound wealth not just for himself, but to restore the mansion to its former glory and give back to his community.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

He thought of the old lady who must have hidden that money. Perhaps she was saving it for a rainy day that never came.

"Things are going to change around here," William announced, not just to Philip but to himself. "This place deserves care, and so do the people who work here."

He turned to Walter, who had been watching the exchange with wide eyes.

"Walter, how would you like a promotion? I think it's time this place had a proper manager."

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Walter's face lit up. "I'd be honored, sir."

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

As for Philip, William decided to take the high road.

"Philip, I know we got off on the wrong foot. But I'd like to offer you a job here if you're interested. This place was your family's legacy, after all."

"I... I'll think about it," Philip said.

As William walked into his new home, he felt a sense of purpose he'd never experienced before. He had set out to secure his family's future, but he'd gained something far more valuable. A chance to make a real difference in people's lives.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

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Tell us what you think about this story and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.

If you enjoyed reading this story, here's another one you might like: Laura's seemingly perfect marriage unravels in a single, devastating conversation, revealing a truth that plunges her into the depths of deception. As she confronts the harsh reality of her husband's betrayal, she crafts a meticulous plan for revenge, navigating through the turbulent waters of love, deceit, and self-discovery.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided "as is," and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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