Mall janitor helps crying baby, baby returns days later with Patrick Mahomes

In the bustling heart of Kansas City, where the sun cast its golden rays over the skyline, 17-year-old Kaden Mitchell found himself huddled in the corner of a busy shopping mall. His worn backpack contained everything he owned: a few pieces of clothing, a dog-eared football playbook, and a cardboard sign he had spent hours crafting the night before. It had been two months since his mother, Isabella Mitchell, lost her battle with stage 4 cancer. With no family to turn to and medical bills draining every last penny, Kaden had joined the ranks of the city’s homeless youth. Yet, unlike many others in his situation, he carried an unwavering dream and a spirit that refused to be broken.

The cardboard sign he held wasn’t a typical plea for help. Instead, it read, “I don’t want money; I just want to play football like Patrick Mahomes. I’ll practice until I drop.” Below the words, he had meticulously drawn a football, a symbol of hope that had fueled his childhood dreams.

As Kaden sat quietly, a janitor named Marlon Davis, a 62-year-old man with a gentle demeanor, pushed his cleaning cart through the food court. Marlon had learned to blend into the background, finding solace in the predictability of his job after losing his wife three years ago. He didn’t mind the routine; it brought him peace. But that day, something tugged at his heart.

Amid the noise of families preparing for the holidays, Marlon noticed a small figure curled up behind a statue. It was Kaden, his legs pulled tightly to his chest, clutching his sign. No one seemed to notice him, and Marlon felt a familiar pang of empathy. He parked his cart a few feet away and approached cautiously, kneeling beside Kaden.

“Hey there, little one,” Marlon said softly, his voice low and steady. “You all right?”

Kaden looked up, his eyes wide and exhausted. He didn’t respond at first, but Marlon could see the fear etched on his face. “I’m just trying to find my way,” Kaden finally whispered, his voice barely audible.

Marlon didn’t press for details. Instead, he reached into his cart and pulled out a juice box, offering it gently. “You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. But I’m here, all right?”

Kaden took the juice box, his hands trembling as he accepted it. “Thank you,” he said, his voice still shaky. “I just… I want to play football like Patrick Mahomes. But I can’t find my way.”

Marlon’s heart ached for the boy. He understood the weight of loneliness and fear. “You’re brave for being here,” he said softly. “Let’s see if we can find a way together.”

With that, Marlon stood and extended his hand. Kaden hesitated for a moment but then took it, his small hand fitting into Marlon’s like a lifeline. Together, they walked through the mall, past the bustling shoppers and the bright holiday displays. Marlon could feel Kaden’s grip tightening, and he knew the boy was still scared.

As they approached the security office, Kaden tugged on Marlon’s sleeve. “What if no one cares?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Marlon knelt down to Kaden’s level. “You’d be surprised how many people care. Sometimes, it just takes one person to notice.” He smiled reassuringly, and Kaden managed a small nod.

When they reached the security office, Marlon knocked gently. The guard on duty, a young man named Owen, looked up from his desk. “Hey, Marlon. Everything all right?”

Marlon nodded. “I found this young man here. He’s been lost for a while.” Kaden stood beside him, still clutching his sign.

Owen’s expression shifted to concern. “Lost? How long?”

“Since last night,” Marlon replied, his voice steady. “He’s been through a lot.”

Owen immediately radioed in a code for a missing child. The urgency in his voice echoed through the mall, and Kaden’s eyes widened with fear. But Marlon squeezed his hand gently, reminding him he wasn’t alone.

Minutes passed, and soon a woman rushed into the office, her face a mix of panic and relief. “Kaden!” she cried, her voice breaking. It was his grandmother, Evelyn, who had been searching for him frantically.

Kaden bolted toward her, and they embraced tightly. “I thought I lost you!” Evelyn sobbed, holding him close. Marlon stepped back, allowing the reunion to unfold, but he felt a warmth in his chest knowing he had played a part in bringing them together.

After the emotional reunion, Evelyn turned to Marlon, her eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you for finding him. I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”

Marlon smiled humbly. “I just did what anyone would do. He’s a brave kid.”

Evelyn nodded, her voice trembling. “You have no idea how much this means to us. Kaden has been through so much.”

As they spoke, Kaden looked up at Marlon, his eyes shining with admiration. “You’re like Patrick Mahomes,” he said, a hint of a smile breaking through his earlier fear. “You helped me when I needed it.”

Marlon chuckled softly, feeling a swell of pride. “I’m just a janitor, kid. But I’m glad I could help.”

In the days that followed, Kaden and his grandmother returned to the mall frequently. They would stop by Marlon’s cleaning station, bringing him homemade cookies and sharing stories about Kaden’s football practices. Marlon became a mentor to Kaden, teaching him not just about football but about resilience and kindness.

One afternoon, as they sat together in the food court, Kaden looked up at Marlon with determination in his eyes. “I want to be just like Patrick Mahomes. I want to inspire people too.”

Marlon smiled, feeling a sense of fulfillment. “You already are, Kaden. Just by being you.”

As the holiday season approached, the mall buzzed with excitement. Marlon noticed a change in the atmosphere; people were kinder, more aware of one another. The story of the janitor who helped a lost boy had spread, and Marlon found himself receiving nods of respect from shoppers and staff alike.

One day, as Marlon was cleaning near the play area, he spotted Kaden running toward him, a football tucked under his arm. “Look what I got!” Kaden exclaimed, his face beaming with joy.

Marlon knelt down, his heart swelling with pride. “That’s awesome, Kaden! Let’s see what you’ve got.”

They spent the afternoon tossing the football back and forth, laughter echoing through the mall. Kaden’s confidence grew with each throw, and Marlon couldn’t help but feel that he was witnessing the birth of a young athlete.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the mall, Kaden turned to Marlon, his eyes shining. “Thank you for everything. You really are my hero.”

Marlon felt a lump in his throat. “You’re the brave one, Kaden. Just remember, kindness can change the world.”

And so, in the heart of Kansas City, a janitor and a young boy forged a bond that would last a lifetime. Marlon’s quiet act of kindness had not only changed Kaden’s life but had also rippled through the community, inspiring others to see the power of compassion and connection.

As the holiday lights twinkled in the mall, Marlon knew that sometimes, all it takes is one moment of kindness to light up the world.

NFL fans take aim at ‘cry baby’ Patrick Mahomes… after $460m Chiefs star complained about Christmas schedule

NFL fans have hit back at Patrick Mahomes, after the Kansas City Chiefs superstar bemoaned the NFL’s grueling Christmas schedule.

Quarterback Mahomes, who is on a 10-year, $460million contract, is heading into a brutal stretch that will see him and his teammates play three times in 11 days.

Speaking earlier this week, Mahomes slammed the NFL and told reporters ‘it’s not a good feeling’, adding: ‘I’m excited to play on Christmas to hopefully get back from what we did last year [when the Chiefs lost to the Raiders], but you never want to play this many games in this short of time.

‘It’s just not great for your body. But at the end of the day, it’s your job, your profession. You have to come to work and do it.’

Perhaps unsurprisingly, football fans took umbrage with Mahomes’ comments, comparing the multi-millionaire’s schedule to their own.

On social media, one wrote: ‘Is whittle [sic] Mahomes going to be ok with a toughy woughy schedule coming up? Try working my schedule, you crybaby.

Patrick Mahomes moaned earlier this week about the Chiefs’ relentless upcoming schedule

Fans have now taken aim at Mahomes, who earns around $46m a year as his base salary

‘Someone get this baby his passy [pacifier] to “suck it up buttercup.”‘

Another added: ‘Aweee Mahomes has to “work” 3 days in 2 weeks and is only getting paid $961k in that span.’

Others pointed out that the Steelers, Ravens, and Texans are all doing the same but to much less fanfare than the reigning Super Bowl champions.

Andy Reid’s team of superstars will embark on their brutal three-game stretch beginning this weekend when they face the Browns on Sunday, before hosting the Texans on December 21 and then traveling to the Steelers on Christmas Day.

And while the Chiefs are sitting pretty atop the AFC with a 12-1 record, Mahomes seems to be dreading his team’s next couple of weeks.

In this week’s comments, he added: ‘All you can do is focus on the game and the practice that you had that day. I try to prepare my body all year long for this stretch by tailoring my workouts, tailoring how you practice and you prepare.

‘The coaches do a great job of taking care of us on the practice field. We practice hard as anybody, but they know how to kind of dial it back when we need it.’

The Chiefs haven’t had a rest since they returned from their Week 6 bye – a fact that defensive star Chris Jones was eager to point out.

‘This is one thing I’m doing this offseason is I’m going to the NFLPA, especially with us having three games in [an 11-day] span, that we’re mandatory to have a late bye week,’ he said.

Mahomes poses with his wife Brittany (left) in a recent photo posted to her Instagram account

Mahomes (back) and teammate Travis Kelce (left) lead busy lives on and off the NFL field

‘With our schedule, it’s kind of awkward, to say the least. … That’s a conversation to have this offseason. If a team has somewhat of a schedule like that, they should get a late-season bye. We don’t need a Week [6] bye … Give it to us in Week 8, Week 10, something like that.’

Mahomes and Co. will have a week-and-a-half to recover after their Christmas Day game before facing the Broncos in Week 18 on January 5.

And if Kansas City manages to wrap up a first-round playoff bye before Week 18 – as they currently have a two-game AFC lead over the Bills – Mahomes and the team’s other starters could be held out of the final regular season game.

The quarterback then wouldn’t play until January 18 or 19 in the divisional round.

Another added: ‘Aweee Mahomes has to “work” 3 days in 2 weeks and is only getting paid $961k in that span.’

Others pointed out that the Steelers, Ravens, and Texans are all doing the same but to much less fanfare than the reigning Super Bowl champions.

Andy Reid’s team of superstars will embark on their brutal three-game stretch beginning this weekend when they face the Browns on Sunday, before hosting the Texans on December 21 and then traveling to the Steelers on Christmas Day.

And while the Chiefs are sitting pretty atop the AFC with a 12-1 record, Mahomes seems to be dreading his team’s next couple of weeks.

In this week’s comments, he added: ‘All you can do is focus on the game and the practice that you had that day. I try to prepare my body all year long for this stretch by tailoring my workouts, tailoring how you practice and you prepare.

‘The coaches do a great job of taking care of us on the practice field. We practice hard as anybody, but they know how to kind of dial it back when we need it.’

The Chiefs haven’t had a rest since they returned from their Week 6 bye – a fact that defensive star Chris Jones was eager to point out.

‘This is one thing I’m doing this offseason is I’m going to the NFLPA, especially with us having three games in [an 11-day] span, that we’re mandatory to have a late bye week,’ he said.

Mahomes poses with his wife Brittany (left) in a recent photo posted to her Instagram account

Mahomes (back) and teammate Travis Kelce (left) lead busy lives on and off the NFL field

‘With our schedule, it’s kind of awkward, to say the least. … That’s a conversation to have this offseason. If a team has somewhat of a schedule like that, they should get a late-season bye. We don’t need a Week [6] bye … Give it to us in Week 8, Week 10, something like that.’

Mahomes and Co. will have a week-and-a-half to recover after their Christmas Day game before facing the Broncos in Week 18 on January 5.

And if Kansas City manages to wrap up a first-round playoff bye before Week 18 – as they currently have a two-game AFC lead over the Bills – Mahomes and the team’s other starters could be held out of the final regular season game.

The quarterback then wouldn’t play until January 18 or 19 in the divisional round.