“Party!”
“Food!”
“Gifts!”
The apparent
argument between the three kids was in relation to an essay asked by their
teacher on a very simple subject:
The
meaning of Christmas is…
For
Jessica, there was not a best party as the ones she held for Christmas, with
her family and friends all together. But for Oscar, food was the reason he used
to go to parties; the 15-year-old boy loved his grandma’s cooking.
Joey had
shinning eyes when he talked about the gifts he received for last Christmas –
all very expensive. For this year, he was expecting to receive a surprise…
While walking,
they met their classmate, Omar, who was with his little siblings. They all knew
his family’s financial situation was not the best, but Jessica couldn’t refrain
to ask him what he thought of Christmas.
He looked
at them very surprised with the question, although he had to do the same essay
as them, but he responded very firmly, and a little upset: “Work.” And he left.
For some
reason, the three stopped talking and they walked slower than before to their
houses. The first one to take leave from them was Jessica who could only think
of Omar, working during this time, since he did not have both parents. She liked
drawing and she did a beautiful portrait of Omar with both parents and
siblings, playing very gladly with a Christmas tree at the background.
Then it was
time for Oscar to take leave; as always, they were waiting for him with a big lunch,
but for some reason, he couldn’t eat. After lunch was over, he went to his
mother and asked if he could take food to someone he knew…
Joey did
not greet any of his parents, since he entered his house through his secret door
(he jumped his bedroom window)! He opened his wardrobe in a very fast way, got
lots of things and start to prepare boxes. His parents came at that moment and
after learning what he was doing, they decided to help him and do the same in
their own bedrooms. It took them some time and eventually they filled their car
with many boxes. And they left.
The first
to arrive was Oscar who rang the bell. Omar’s mother opened the door with an inquisitive
but kind face. By his side, Oscar’s mother was carrying a trolley full of containers
and before his son said anything she mumbled about some left-over and if she
would like to have those. Without waiting for an answer, she took the woman’s
hand and both went to their kitchen, leaving Omar alone with Oscar.
“Tha…”
before Omar could finish the phrase, a big car parked just in front of his
house. Joey and his parents get off it and started unloading a few boxes.
“Hey, Omar,
Oscar, come and help. These are things that I am sure will be very useful.”
By now,
Omar’s mother was at the door, extremely surprised and a little embarrassed. After
an apologetic comment, Joey’s father commented on we are neighbors, don’t
worry. And he filled their living room with so many boxes.
When Jessica
and her aunt came by Omar’s house – her parents were out of town – she found
all the three families enjoying themselves a lot. She presented her drawing to
Omar and his mother, and extended a deep invitation to everyone there to be at
their house on Christmas eve.
They solved
the meaning of Christmas…
Have you?
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