A
The best Christmas gift I have ever got
It was Christmas in 1961. I was teaching twenty-seven third graders in a small
town. In my class, there was a quiet girl named Maria. She never smiled.
The day of gift-giving finally came. We exchanged our Christmas gifts. Through
it
all,
Maria
sat
quietly
watching.
I
had
made
a
special
bag
for
her,
red
and
green with white lace. I wanted very much to see her smile. She opened the
bag so slowly and carefully. I waited but she turned away. I did not break the
wall of isolation(
闅旂
) she had built around herself.
After school the children left in little groups, talking about the great day. She
watched them go out of the door, and then she came to me with a small white
box. It seemed that it had been held many times by unwashed hands.
She said nothing. 鈥淔or me?鈥?nbsp;I asked with a weak smile. She still said nothing,
but nodded. I took the box and opened it. There inside, a green marble hung
from a golden chain. Then I looked into her black brown eyes. In a flash I knew
鈥?/p>
she had made it for her mother, a mother she would never see again.
I took up the chain. She took it in both her hands, reached forward, and put it
on for me. I looked down at the chain, and then back at the giver. I hugged her
in
my
arms,
saying,
鈥淥h,
Maria,
it
is
so
beautiful!
I
love
it
and
I
think
your
mother would have loved it, too.鈥?nbsp;We both cried. And for that short moment I
became her mother, for she had given me the greatest gift of all: herself.
Paula
B
The best gift I ever received
The best gift I ever received is my parents. I could not have picked out better
parents myself.
My mom is smart, funny, and very artistic
锛堟湁鑹烘湳姘旇川鐨勶級
. She loves painting
and encouraging other people to paint as well. She owns her own book and art
store.
And
at
night
she
teaches
adult
education.
She
helps
kids
that
have
dropped out of high school get their diploma
锛堟枃鍑級
. She always has time for
me
and
my
brothers.
She
hardly
ever
gets
mad
at
us
and
loves
doing
new
things with us, like going to a new museum or going to the beach in the middle
of winter and taking pictures of the beach in the snow.
My dad knows how to fix anything and loves to play musical instruments. He
helps me with my science and other school projects. He works hard to make
money for our family and hardly ever complains.
So I have to say that the gift I鈥檓 most grateful for is the one God gave me, my
parents.
鈥斺�?/p>
Lucy , 12