Two boys who became best friends on a cruise but accepted they would likely never see each other again were shocked when their parents planned a surprise reunion for them despite living hours apart.
Eight-year-old Corin, from Central Tennessee, met Bronson, 11, when the pair were on a Christmas cruise in December 2023.
The pair instantly hit it off, meeting on a basketball court and bonding over a love of the sport.
When the cruise ended, Corin’s stepmom, Raya Mynatt, 26, took down Bronson’s mom’s number, and the pair quietly agreed to keep in touch.
Raya had heard Corin mention that all he wanted for his birthday, on January 14, was to see Bronson again, so Ray decided to liaise with Bronson’s mom to see what they could make work.
The families selected Wilderness Of The Smokies, a waterpark around four hours from Bronson’s home, and both sets of parents agreed to keep the surprise a secret from the boys.
After the cruise, Bronson – based in East Tennessee – asked his mom if Raya had texted, but he was told, “No. I hope I gave her the right number.”
On the day, the parents arranged a place to meet, and as Bronson came through the doors, Raya started recording.
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As soon as Corin saw the familiar face a few feet away, his face lit up with a smile, while Bronson’s jaw dropped in shock.
The pair then headed in for a big hug, which Raya later shared on TikTok to millions of views.
She said: “We planned a place and time to meet once we got there.
“We were standing waiting on Bronson to come through the doors, and when they saw each other, it instantly gave me chills and warmed my heart.
“You can tell in my voice: I almost cried tears of joy.
“The responses I’ve had to the post have been so positive.
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“Being a step-parent isn’t easy, and being able to do things like this and show him how much I care for him is what it’s all about.
“I never dreamed the video would get so much attention, but I hope when people watch it, it warms their hearts and makes them smile as much as I did.
“The boys instantly went to ride water slides together.
“They played basketball, played in the arcade and ate a ton of food, including birthday cupcakes.
“Bronson’s mom and I will keep in touch so the boys have a lifelong friendship.”
