In a seemingly weird coincidental turn of events, an Arizona grandmother extended an invitation to 17-year-old Jamal Hinton for Thanksgiving dinner by an accidental text message on Tuesday (Nov. 15). Hinton was randomly pulled into a group chat full of people he did not know.
“Thanksgiving dinner is at my house on Nov. 24 at 3:00pm. Let me know if you’re coming. Hope to see you all. Of course that includes Amanda and Justin,” read the text that Hinton randomly received. After the message, Hinton asked who the person contacting him was, and she replied “Your grandma.”
At first, Hinton admits he was befuddled and initially thought it was his own grandmother who might have just learned to text. But when he asked the unknown granny, named Wanda, for a picture, he quickly learned she wasn’t. He then sent her a picture of himself and said, “You not my grandma…can I still have a plate tho?” She then replied, “Of course you can. That’s what grandma’s do…feed everyone.”
Hinton ended up getting invited to the dinner with the grandmother’s family in Mesa, Ariz. They also met in person the following day on Wednesday (Nov. 16). He tweeted the whole exchange, which went viral.
Somebody grandma is coming in clutch this year!! Ayee!!! pic.twitter.com/laXmX6rotA
— Certo Nego (@RonaldDoee) November 15, 2016
According to the Az Central, Wanda’s 24-year-old grandson Brandon Burgoyne, said they’re excited to host new guests.
“This has come out of nowhere for us, and it’s funny to my family,” Burgoyne told the website. “We’re also welcoming Jamal and his parents to Thanksgiving. My grandma’s got a big heart, and said she wouldn’t want him to be away from his family on Thanksgiving.”
Initially, Hinton had plans on spending Thanksgiving with his family, but now he’ll attend both dinners. An act of kindness even if it’s out of pure coincidence can go a long way. Check out the news segment from NBC on this heartwarming story below.