The Gift

The young mother was helping her daughter, try on the clothes she had picked out, in a fitting room at the Department Store.

She looked on adoringly as the little girl kept twirling and turning from side to side, striking a pose in front of the floor length mirror as if she were at a kid's fashion photo shoot.

It was her daughter's fifth birthday, so her mother decided to spoil her as she had come into some money through a generous benefactor who wished to remain anonymous.

After they were done trying on the clothes, they made their way over to the cashier.

The little girl was impatient and kept tugging at her mother’s coat asking her to hurry as the next place to visit was the Toy Store.

The mother lovingly told her child to be patient till she's done paying for their purchases. The little girl said “Yes Ma'am." Sulking.

The mother glanced at the cashier apologetically and said “it's her birthday today, we are on a shopping spree, she’s dying to get to the toy store". The cashier smiled and gave her an understanding nod.

Finally they made their way over to the toy store, as the little girl practically dragged her mother by the hand and almost ran over there.

She was so excited, she found it hard to contain her joy, running from one aisle to the next, her eyes filled with wonder gasping as she examined each toy that she picked up.

She said “Mommy there are so many toys, I don't know which one to choose!” Her mother told her that she could choose four items, to which the little one replied gleefully, “really? I can choose four?”

The mother laughed and said, “Yes, really!" The little girl yelped and busied herself, in choosing exactly what she wanted.

By the time they were done at the toy store, they were both famished. They made their way over to the cafe and found a vacant table at the far corner near the window and sat down to order.

The little girl wanted a burger with fries and a chocolate milkshake, while her mother ordered a grilled chicken with mashed potatoes, a Caesar salad and a glass of orange juice.

Once they were done with their meal the mother asked her daughter, what she would like to do next, and without hesitating she replied, “the park, the park, I wanna go to the park, mommy!”

Her mother laughed, and said “ok then, the park it is!.” They decided to walk, as it was just around the corner, leaving their car at the parking lot of the Department Store after depositing their precious load in the backseat.

The park was crowded as it was the weekend with families having picnics, kids running around screaming and squealing.

There were various vendors scattered about, selling hotdogs, popcorn and cotton candy.

The little girl pointed to the cotton candy stand and looked at her mother expectantly with a pleading look in her eyes, the mother exclaimed “You just had a burger, French fries and a large milkshake, isn't your tummy full?

To which the girl replied with a wink “Nope, I still have room for some cotton candy!.” Finally the mother gave in to her daughter's pleadings, rolling her eyes heavenward which made the little one giggle.

They found a vacant bench and sat down to watch the crowd having a good time under the glorious summer sun.

She glanced toward her daughter, greedily devouring the cotton candy, and smiled to herself. This has been a wonderful day.

She was glad that she was able to make her daughter happy. Suddenly her eyes grew heavy and she felt tired after a long and busy day and slowly nodded off on the bench.

She awoke with a start, it was dark, she sat up, and looked around. She glanced down at her daughter who was sleeping on the ground next to her, huddled under a dirty blanket, sheltered by a cardboard box that they were using as a makeshift tent in the alley. She broke down in tears as the realisation hit her like a knife to the heart.

The little girl stirred and opened her eyes, and asked, “mommy what’s wrong? Why are you crying? The young mother reached and scooped the little one in her arms, hugging her tight and answered, “nothing, baby, nothing, it was a dream, just a dream”

THE END

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