A walk to my birthplace Day – 48 (133 km covered so far)

I read a Danish story in newspaper’s children’s section and that kept ringing in my head all the day. Just felt compelled to repeat the story  here. Of course I don’t remember the exact names of the character but that hardly matters!

John went to his grandmother’s place just before Christmas. Grandmother gave him 50 krones and told him to buy anything for Christmas. When they went to the big mall, grandmother said, “John, go and buy whatever you want. I will sit here and read my book”. John was little disoriented as he had never gone alone in such a shop. The shop was full of Christmas gifts and little John felt like Alice in the wonderland. He moved from one counter to another and stopped in his tracks when he saw a beautiful red and white woolen sweater. He remembered his classmate and best friend Rob. Rob never came to play out with other kids on the ground. Whenever anyone invited Rob to play, he politely turned it down saying he was not well. Only John knew that Rob avoided playing out in the open as he did not have proper warm clothes. John instinctively picked up the sweater for Rob. John went to the counter and gave it to the sales girl along with his 50 Krones. The girl smiled at little John and asked him whom was he buying it for. John told him about Rob and the salesgirl smiled and gift-packed it for John in exchange of 50 Krones. When grandmother heard the story, she looked the price-tag, went over to the counter and paid the balance of amount after thanking the sweet salesgirl.

Grandmother then took little John to Rob’s place. She asked him to keep the gift in the door, ring bell and come back. John followed the instruction and both of them stood behind a tree. Little Rob opened the door, came out, picked up the gift and was overjoyed. “Thank you Santa!” he yelled looking up. Grandmother told John, “Santa is very busy these days and that’s why he asks us to help him in distributing gifts. Santa will definitely thank you.”

It is such a simple story but it touched my heart. I wondered, who was Santa? Was it Little John who thought of spending all his money for a dear friend or was it the salesgirl who kept aside commercial considerations so that a noble mind does not get disappointed or was it the grandmother who guided little John like an angel. Perhaps they all were! Rob would never know his Santa. It must be happening to all of us.  There is always a Santa out there for everyone. All we can do to repay Santa is to be a silent Santa for someone else. After all that old man with white beard wearing red dress wouldn't mind a little helping hand here and there!