Sarah's Gift

     The year was 1985 and Sarah was awakened by her mother’s soft nudge and gentle words “Wake up sweetie. It’s time to get ready for school.” She began to rub the sleep out of her eyes as she slowly got out of bed. As Sarah got ready for school her mother was in the kitchen sadly looking at the lack of food in the cabinets and refrigerator. She signs and takes the last of the tuna fish and mixes it with what is left in the relish bottle, then places half of it on a slice of bread and wraps it in the tin foil she asked her daughter not to throw away, so that she could reuse it. As she hears her daughter’s soft steps coming toward the kitchen she puts on the best smile she has and wipes her hands on her shirt. “Good morning, morning glory,” she says cheerfully. Sarah lights up, “Morning momma.” Her mother began placing her sandwich into the same brown bag from yesterday and said

    “Now remember I’m going to be late today and Ms. Black said you could stay in her room and do your homework until I’m able to get there.”
    “I remember momma. I might even go by the library and check out some more books, just in case I finish early.”
    “That’s a great idea, sweetheart. Ok, we don’t want you to be late for school, do you have everything you need?”
    “Yes, momma.”
    “Good, go put your coat on and I’ll meet you at the door.”

    As Sarah walked away her mom turned back to the bare cabinets and found five stale crackers, she picked the package up and placed it in her purse, and began to walk toward the door. Both girls put their coats on and walked out into the cold. Sarah waited staring at the run down houses that littered the street they lived on while her mom locked the door.

    They quickly made their way down the lawn to the sidewalk and began walking. They walked along softly singing their favorite Christmas carols and giggling when each other forgot some of the words or sang off tune. Once they reached Sarah’s school they both hugged and went their separate ways.

    Sarah slipped her lunch into her backpack before she went to greet her friends. As she got closer all the girls began to talk and giggle, huddled around each other. Sarah noticed that next to the steps at the entrance of the school a boy about her age who looked a bit dingy was sitting all by himself, crying softly. She had stared so intently that her friends, noticing what she was looking at began to tease her about him. “Is he your new boyfriend?” one asked. Not liking the attention or being associated with the sad boy she began to giggle and said, “We better get going.”

    Sarah couldn’t help staring at the poor boy again as the girls excitedly made their climb up the stairs; one of her friends pulled her forward “Come on!” The girls made their way to the classroom and found their seats. Shortly after the little boy slowly made his way taking pains not to make eye contact with anyone. He found the only seat left, next to Sarah in the back. As he sat down Sarah noticed that not only was he dirty but he had a smell about him, similar to the smell of the trashcans on her street on garbage day.

    Although Sarah was distracted she made it though class and didn’t see the boy again but he was definitely on her mind. She wondered why he was dirty and smelled so bad. At lunch she was so distracted by her thoughts of him that she only ate half her sandwich. “That’s alright,” she thought “I’ll eat the rest after school while I’m waiting for mom.” She put her lunch back into her backpack and headed to her next class.

    “Finally” Sarah thought as she heard the final bell ring. All the kids excitedly left the classroom and slowly trickled outside. Sarah took her time, not wanting to get caught up in the crowd. As she walked out into the hall her friends came over to her asking if she wanted to go to Dairy Queen, she politely told them no thanks and walk on to Ms. Black’s room.

    Once inside Sarah remembered that she forgot to go by the library. “Ms. Black would it be alright if I went to the library real quick? I meant to go earlier but forgot.” Ms. Black smiled, “That’s fine, but hurry back.”

    Sarah quickly walked down the halls that lead to the library. She heard a rustling when she passed by the Cafeteria. Curious she stepped inside and found the boy she had noticed earlier was rummaging through one of the trashcans. “What on earth are you doing?” asked Sarah. The boy shied away. “Are you hungry?” The boy nodded furiously. “Well here, let’s eat like civilized people.” She directed him to sit down at one of the tables and he did. She pulled the remainder of her sandwich out and carefully split it in half and gave him one half and kept one half for herself. Before she could finish her first bite he had already finished and was licking his fingers. Realizing he was hungrier that she was she handed over the rest. After a long awkward silence Sarah got up “Well, I better get going. My mom will be here any minute.” As the door closed behind her she could hear the boy had gone back to the trash. As she got back to Ms. Black’s room she noticed her mom was there. Smiling her mom said, “I was just telling Ms. Black that if you were in the library we might not see you until tomorrow.” Sarah’s mom could tell that her daughter seemed upset so she thanked Ms. Black and she and Sarah began their walk home.

    After a long silence “So, what’s going on, munchkin?”
    “I just can’t stop thinking about this boy I saw today. I don’t think he’s had a bath or eaten in a while.”
    “Oh I see.”

    Sarah went on to explain everything she had noticed and when she finally got to the part of where she shared her sandwich with the boy she noticed that her mom had tears in her eyes.

    “What’s wrong momma?”
    “Nothing, sweetheart. I’m just so proud of you.”
    “But why momma? What did I do?”
    “Despite my attempts to hide it you know that we don’t have much. Yet, you never complain about all the things you go without. And now you have met this little boy and you have shared what little you had with him. That’s rare sweetie.”
    “I didn’t really think of it like that. I just figured he was hungry and I wasn’t as hungry as him.”
    Sarah’s mom giggled, “That’s what makes it all the more beautiful. You didn’t give because you knew it was right, you gave because you didn’t need it as bad as someone else.”

    Sarah thought about what her mother had said as they walked on slowly holding onto each other. The two began to talk about what Sarah could do to befriend the boy because her mom was sure that if he was hungry and dirty that he could probably use a friend as well.