Braden Hassel's parents went back and forth about buying him a johnboat for his birthday. Their son loves to fish, but like most parents, they deliberated over the expense, whether he was too young, and whether he would use the boat often enough.
Ultimately, they decided to do it and surprised him with the new boat as his gift.
On Monday and Tuesday, Hassel rescued about 20 of his neighbors when their Kingwood subdivision, Kings Point, began flooding in the streets closest to Lake Houston.
Hassel is an incoming freshman at Kingwood High School.
When asked whether he thought he would be starting his school year this way and whether he would be using his boat this way, Hassel responded by saying, "Not at all. No one was prepared for anything like this."
Hassel's neighbors sure are glad that his parents made the decision to buy him that boat!