A Father Finds the Source of the Smell in His Daughter’s Car and it Brings Him to Tears

By: Lisa Lee | Published: Dec 14, 2022

Kevin’s daughter was so excited about her new car – she finally had her own ride, and he was proud of her. Only one thing damped the celebration – the car had a funny odor.

Father and daughter checked out the car and could not discover the source of the smell. Then they wondered, “Where haven’t we looked?” They kept searching and finally opened the glove compartment, their last resort. What happened next was incredible. 

The Best Dad

As a single dad, Kevin devoted his life to providing for his precious daughter. As a handyman, he worked long hours, took all jobs that came his way, and saved as much money as he could for his daughter’s future.

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He was so proud when he saved enough money to buy his daughter a car. He couldn’t wait to see her expression when she saw the gift. But they got more than either expected.   

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Dad’s Princess 

To Louisa, her dad was the best father in the world. She adored him and knew how much he sacrificed for her happiness. 

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Just before her 16th birthday, Kevin told her he had a huge surprise. He hoped it would be a day she’d never forget. Louisa was beyond excited and couldn’t wait for the day to arrive. In truth, neither of them would ever forget that day.

A Teen’s Dream Birthday Gift?

Kevin prepared for the big day, planning a fancy cake, hoping to make everything perfect for Louisa. He knew she was excited about the promise of a special gift, but he didn’t think she could imagine what he had in mind.

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He researched second-hand cars, scoured the internet, and used car dealerships for the best deal and the safest car. He finally found the car and imagined the look on Louisa’s face when she saw her gift.

A Perfect Gift for a Perfect Daughter?

Kevin was so proud of his daughter’s accomplishments and also proud of himself for saving the money and finding the right car. She’d love the independence that came with having her own transportation.

 

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He imagined her smiling from ear to ear, hugging him, and screaming with delight at the sight of her gift. Unfortunately, he didn’t imagine what they would find in the car’s glove box and what would happen afterward. 

Buyer Beware

Buying a second-hand car is always tricky. For this purchase, Kevin looked the car over carefully, test-drove it, and found it drove well and was just the right size and model for Louisa.

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Kevin knew cars and didn’t hear any suspicious noises when he drove the car. To him, he had found an excellent deal for Louisa. What he should have checked was the glove compartment. He should have.

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Deal!

Kevin started having doubts about the car after noticing that the salesman was nervous. Maybe, Kevin thought, he was worried about the sale. Kevin debated what to do but decided he’d made a good choice and bought the car.

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Kevin and the salesman shook on the deal, and Kevin drove the car home. The car drove so nicely, and he dreamed about the moment Louisa saw it. But, unfortunately, there was something about the vehicle that was not right.

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That’s a Big Present to Hide

Kevin had already decided to hide the car in the garage, a place where Louisa never went. So it was unlikely she’d stumble upon it, and he was sure the surprise would keep.

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As Louisa’s birthday got closer, Kevin could hardly contain himself. It was hard not to blurt out his secret, but he kept it quiet. The anticipation was almost more than he could handle, but little did he know what really awaited them in the garage.

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Finally!

The day had finally come, and Kevin stood at the bottom of the stairs so that when she woke up and came downstairs, she’d see him with balloons and a big smile.

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He became emotional seeing his grown-up daughter coming down the steps and how the time had flown. They shared a warm embrace, and Kevin told her that her gift was waiting outside. And what a gift it was.

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I Can’t Believe It!

Louisa was stunned – a car of her own! What a dream this was! She looked around the car, admiring it and thanking her dad repeatedly for the wonderful gift.

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Louisa couldn’t wait to sit in the driver’s seat of her very own vehicle. She jumped into the car and sat down with a massive smile. Then that smile turned into a confused look. Kevin wondered what could possibly be wrong.

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YUCK!

Kevin asked Louisa what was wrong. “Dad, there’s an odor in here!”  She looked like she was going to cry, which broke Kevin’s heart. “Wait, let me smell it,” he said and poked his head into the car. He immediately noticed the pungent odor.

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Louisa jumped out of the car and closed the door. She and her dad looked at each other in amazement – what was going on? What should they do? How could this day have turned out so badly?

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The Investigation

They knew they had to find the source of the odor. Kevin and Louisa were determined to fix the situation, or this special birthday would end in a disaster.

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Kevin returned to the car and thought about where the odor could be coming from. He had no idea what he was about to find in the unlikeliest places.

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We’re Going to Find It

Kevin started by looking around the inside of the car for anything unusual, like leftover food or a spilled beverage. But everything was just as fine as it was on the day he drove away from the dealer.

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Then he looked under the seats, sure that something was stashed there and rotting, causing the horrible smell. Next, he looked at the dashboard, and then – he opened the glove compartment. He was about to be shocked.

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The Mystery Continues

At the bottom of the glove compartment, there was a rubber mat. Kevin pulled up the mat and saw something odd underneath.

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A letter fell out of the glove box. He’d never have found it in his inspection of the car before the purchase, but there it was. How did it get there? Was this the reason the salesman was acting strangely?

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This is Getting Weirder

The letter was addressed to “The New Car Owner.” A shiver ran up his spine – this was creepy, and he had a bad feeling about it. Multiple scenarios ran through his imagination – none of them good.

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He wasn’t even sure if he should open the letter. Maybe it wasn’t meant for him, but for the previous owner. Should he take the car back? Doubts aside, Kevin opened the letter to find out what was happening. 

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What Did the Letter Say?

The letter opened with a statement that the car’s new owner had purchased an exceptional vehicle that held many memories. The previous owner wished the new owner 100 years of ownership of this wonderful car.

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As Kevin continued reading, his heart was breaking. The story behind this car was so tragic, the situation of the previous owner so sad that Kevin could not hold back his emotions.

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A Family Tragedy

It seems that the car belonged to the previous owner’s mother, who passed away in a house fire along with her six-year-old daughter and aunt.

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The letter was from a woman named Sabrina Archey, whose daughter, mother, and aunt passed away in the fire and who had to sell her car due to financial hardship. And there was more to Sabrina’s story.

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Happy Family Memories

Sabrina said in the letter that the car had hugely significant memories. She and her family would love going on rides and singing their favorite songs. In addition, Sabrina recalled changing her daughter’s diapers in the back seat.

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Finally, she wrote, it was the only item of her mother’s that survived the fire. This car was representative of the life and family Sabrina had once had. Kevin’s heart was breaking.

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Feeling Sad and Guilty

Kevin began to feel guilty as he read the letter. He and Louisa read the story together, and both were crying to hear this woman’s sorrowful words.

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Both Kevin and Louisa felt awful about buying a car that meant so much to someone else. But he knew what he had to do. And by the way, they had still not found the source of the smell, although it could be attributed to the diaper changing.

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On a Mission

Kevin and Louisa decided to post the letter and story online on “Love What Matters.” Soon after posting, the story went viral. Dad and daughter were astounded.

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People by the thousands posted their support for Sabrina, and Sabrina herself saw the post. That was amazing, but what happened after that went beyond everyone’s imagination.

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Generous Help from Around the World

Once the story about Sabrina went viral, people started sending money so that she could get her car back and keep that last memory of her mother alive.

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Sabrina received thousands of dollars because of Kevin’s post and was able to get herself back on her feet. Kevin had done an extraordinary good deed and felt terrific about helping out someone in need. Sabrina could not fathom the kindness of strangers who donated their hard-earned money to help her.

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The Car, The Birthday, and The Goodness of People

Kevin was so glad that Sabrina could get her car back, and he had given his daughter an important life lesson. Now Sabrina had this prized memory in her possession, and she could move on with her life.

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Despite the tragedies life had handed her, Sabrina could move on with the help of Kevin and many strangers worldwide. She had a new shot at life and was ready to move on.

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