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| The Gift by © billybird_nj A little boy wandered through the streets, looking at the brightly lit store windows. Hands thrust into bare pockets, he wanted to get something for his parents. His parents were out of work and the bills were piling up. They both carried sad, worried faces all the time. They wanted to make their son's Christmas aa happy one. But they had no money to spare to buy any gifts. What could the boy get his parents to make them happy at this time of year? While walking around, he had a thought, which made him smile. He would get right to it. The boy found a small white box that had been discarded. He took it home and wrote in the bottom of the box. Smiling all the while, he fearfully went into a department store. He went to the gift wrapping department. "Miss, I don't have any money." He said, looking up at the clerk. "But could you put a pretty bow on this present for my mom and dad?" The clerk was about to shoo the boy away and she looked at him. He was dressed in old clothes that were tattered. She changed her mind. The clerk took the box and said: "There is a special today, for little boys who get a present for his parents. It is FREE wrapping." The boy ran all the way home, with a grin as wide as his face. He placed the brightly wrapped box, with the red bow, beside the small ceramic tree. Christmas Day arrived and the boy was up early. His parents came downstairs. He mother put out some cold cereal for them to eat. She looked at her sone, who had a big grin on his face. "What are you so happy about?" She aasked. "I got a gift for you and Dad." He replied. While his parents were seated at the taable, the boy rushed into the other room and proudly brought in the small box. He gave it to his mother. She carfully unwrapped the box, with a quizzical look on her face. As she opened the box, tears flowed down her cheeks. Quietly she handed the box to her husband. He looked inside and tears were flowing down his cheeks also. They both hugged their son for a long time. The tears became smiles that lasted for years to come. In the bottom of the box, the boy had printed: "I LOVE YOU BOTH, VERY MUCH." William T. Greenacre (c)WTG 2001 |