The classroom buzzed with excitement. Every little hand clutched a bright, wrapped gift, the colorful paper glinting under the lights. Today was the day everyone had been waiting for: Secret Santa!
The kids could barely sit still, whispering guesses about who might be their Santa and what they might get. But not everyone shared the same excitement.
In the corner, slouched in his chair, sat Bobby. His fingers gripped a small envelope tightly. His eyes were watery, his lips trembling, and his chest felt heavy.
While the other children laughed and compared their gifts, Bobby felt a sharp pang of sadness. He didn’t have a present for his classmate—only a letter he had written with care.
Mrs. Torres, the kind, patient teacher, clapped her hands to grab everyone’s attention.
“So, kids,” she said warmly, “are we all ready?”
“Yes, Mrs. Torres!” The class erupted in a chorus of squeaky voices, bouncing with energy.
“Alright!” she said, smiling. “Let’s get this started. Who wants to go first?”
“Me! Me!” shouted a dozen voices at once, each child waving their hands like little flags. Mrs. Torres’ eyes scanned the room and rested on Bobby. He sat quietly, small and hesitant amid the chaos.
“Well,” she said after a pause, “I think Bobby can go first. Bobby, are you ready, sweetheart?”
All eyes turned to him. Bobby didn’t even lift his head. Mrs. Torres walked over, crouching to meet his gaze.
“Are you okay, child?” she asked gently. “You got someone’s name for the Secret Santa game, didn’t you?”
Bobby nodded slowly, his voice almost a whisper. “Sally… I got Sally. But… I don’t have a gift… only a letter…”
Mrs. Torres smiled reassuringly. “That’s okay, Bobby. I’m sure Sally will understand. Why don’t you give her the letter?”
Bobby swallowed hard and stood up. His small legs carried him across the room to Sally’s desk. His hands shook as he held out the envelope.
“I’m… I’m sorry, Sally,” he said, voice quivering. “I don’t have a gift, but I wrote you a letter.”
Sally snatched the letter and wrinkled her nose. “You wrote a… letter? You didn’t even get me a gift? It’s Secret Santa, Bobby!”
“I… I’m sorry,” Bobby whispered. “I wanted to… I just couldn’t buy one…”
“I HATE YOU!” Sally shouted, stomping her feet. “I got your name! My daddy bought you a gift, but you didn’t get me anything?”
Bobby held up the letter a little higher. “I drew it myself… I made it pretty… you like reindeer, so I drew one for you.”
Eww!” Sally yelled, tossing the letter aside. “That’s gross! So poor! I’m not giving you my gift! Everyone, look! Bobby is so poor he couldn’t even buy a gift!”
The classroom went silent. Mrs. Torres knelt beside Sally, her face serious. “Sally, honey, that’s rude. It’s okay if you don’t want the letter, but you mustn’t be mean to Bobby. Say sorry to him, right now.”
“No!” Sally yelled, shaking her head. “He ruined my day! He can go beg on the streets if he’s poor!”
Bobby slumped back into his seat, tears streaming down his face. The rest of the class stared awkwardly. Mrs. Torres sighed and told Sally she would speak with her parents the next day. She asked the children to continue the game, but her heart ached for Bobby.
When the last bell rang and the classroom emptied, Mrs. Torres noticed the letter lying on Bobby’s desk. Curious, she picked it up and began to read. Her eyes widened, and soon tears ran down her cheeks.
She dashed out, hoping to find Bobby, but he was already gone. She found Sally lingering near the doorway instead.
“Sally!” Mrs. Torres called gently. “Would you come here for a moment?”
Sally frowned. “Look, Mrs. Torres, if this is about Bobby, I don’t want to talk.”
“Sweetheart,” Mrs. Torres said, crouching to her level, “I think you should read what Bobby wrote for you. It might change how you feel.”
Reluctantly, Sally took the letter. As she read, her frown turned to shock, and then to tears. The letter said:
*”Dear Santa,
I am sorry, Sally. I am the worst Santa ever! You are a nice girl, and I feel very bad I cannot get you a gift. My mommy is very, very sick. She has a bad heart and cannot walk. She uses Grampa’s old wheelchair to get around.
I saved money for your gift, but I cannot spend it. I need it to help Mommy! When she is better, I will ask her to get you a reindeer toy—you love reindeer. I drew one for you at the back.
I hope you and your mommy are always happy. I hope she never makes you sad. I wish Santa makes all your dreams come true.
—Bobby”*
Sally’s voice trembled. “His mommy… she’s sick?” she whispered. “I… I miss my mommy. She went to the angel when I was a baby…”
“She is, honey,” Mrs. Torres said softly, hugging her. “And Bobby needs our help.”
“We need to help him!” Sally said, wiping her tears. “I was so mean… I was a terrible girl…”
Mrs. Torres stroked Sally’s hair. “No, sweetie. You have a kind heart. You understand his situation and want to help. Why don’t you apologize to him tomorrow?”
“I will!” Sally promised. “I want to be good!”
The next morning, Sally went straight to Bobby’s desk. “I found your letter after class yesterday… I’m so sorry, Bobby. I don’t have a mommy, and I miss her… I was mean, and I feel so bad.”
Bobby’s face lit up in a smile. “It’s okay! Did you like the reindeer?”
Sally giggled. “It was ugly! But I loved it! Thank you!”
From that day on, Bobby and Sally became friends. But the story didn’t end there.
Later, Sally and her dad, Michael, visited Bobby’s home. They carried a bag of gifts and an envelope.
“Sally and I would be grateful if you accept this from us,” Michael said to Bobby’s parents, Linda and Derek. “Sally told me about Bobby’s mom. We want to help.”
Linda hesitated. “We can’t… that wouldn’t be right.”
“My wife is right,” Derek added. “We appreciate it, but we can’t take it.”
“Please,” Michael insisted. “I know the pain of seeing a loved one suffer. My wife passed away shortly after Sally was born. This is Christmas—think of it as something Santa would want us to do.”
Touched by his words, Bobby’s parents accepted the gifts and the money for Linda’s surgery. Once she recovered, their lives changed forever.
Sally no longer felt empty about her own loss. She had found a best friend in Bobby—and a loving mother in “Linda mommy.”
The lesson was clear: A child’s heart is tender, and love always finds a way. Sally learned never to judge without knowing the whole story. She learned that caring and understanding could change lives—and that sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness are the most powerful.