Translated by Zhang Bao on Christmas Morning 2018.6.8

When my sister Jill and I ran out of the Methodist church, it was raining lightly. We eagerly ran back to get home to pick up the presents that Santa had left for us and our sister Sharon. Opposite the church is a Pan American gas station, where the American Greyhound bus station is located. However, because of Christmas, the coach has been suspended. However, a family stood outside the locked house, curled up under the narrow eaves to shelter from the rain. I wondered why they were there, but because I wanted to catch up with Jir, I put it aside.

However, when we got home, we didn't have time to pick up those presents because we were going to our grandparents' Christmas dinner right away. When we drove across the highway to town, we found the family still standing outside the closed gas station waiting for the bus.

My dad drove very slowly on the highway. The farther away we are from my grandparents' house, the slower the car feels. Suddenly, Dad turned the car around in the middle of the road and said, "I can't help it!"

Mom asked, "What's wrong?"

Dad said, "It's the guy waiting in front of the gas station." They were standing in the rain, and there were children. Today is Christmas. I couldn't bear to watch them wait in the rain for a bus. ”

When my dad drove the car to the front of the gas station, I saw that there were five people in their family, parents and three children, two girls and a little boy.

Dad rolled down the window and said to them, "Merry Christmas." ”

"Hello," the man replied. He was so tall that he had to bend down to look into the car.

Jill and Sharon and I looked at the children, and the children were looking at us.

"Are you waiting for the bus?" asked Dad.

The man said yes, they were going to Birmingham, his brother was over there, and he was looking for a job there.

"But that bus won't come for a few hours, and you'll get wet standing here. A few miles away at Wimborn, there's a covered shed and some benches, why don't you get in the car, I'll get you there. ”

The man thought for a moment, then beckoned to the family. They climbed into the car. They had no luggage, only the clothes they were wearing. When they sat in the car, Dad turned around and asked the children if Santa had brought them presents. The three children all had gloomy faces and did not reply.

"I don't think so, though. Dad winked at Mom and said, "Because I saw Santa Claus in the morning, and he told me that he couldn't find all the children and asked me if I could leave your toys in our house." I'll take you to pick it up before I take you to the bus stop. ”

The faces of the three children suddenly lit up, and they began to cheer and laugh in the back seats.

When we got out of the car, the three kids walked through the front door and went straight to our Christmas tree to pick up the toys hidden under the tree. A girl spotted Jiel's doll and immediately held it in her arms. I remember the little boy snatching Sharon's ball. The other girl picked up something that belonged to me. It all happened a long time ago, but it still sticks out to me. It was Christmas, and my sisters and I learned to make others happy.

The mother noticed that the child in the middle was wearing short-sleeved clothes, so she put the only sweater that Giel had on the girl's body. Dad invited them to our grandparents' Christmas dinner, but their parents declined. Even when we tried to convince them to come, their decision was very firm.

Back in the car, on the way to Wimborn, Dad asked the man if he had the money to pay for the ride. The man said his brother had already bought them tickets. Dad reached into his pocket and pulled out two dollars, the only money he had left until his next paycheck. He shoved the money into the man's hand. The man wanted to give it back to his father, but he simply gave him the money, "It will be late in Birmingham, and these children will have to eat." Take the money. I've been bankrupt before, and I know what it's like when you can't provide for your family. ”

We dropped them off at the Wimbourne bus station. As we drove away, I looked out the window as best I could, and I saw that the little girl was still holding the new doll.