Leema was the third child of her family. Her poverty striken family. Her father's sole income was not sufficient to support the entire family. A major part of his daily wages went for the medical treatment of her mother. Besides, her grandparents also lodged along with them, increasing the family's burden.
Leema who was just ten years old, hated the very walls of her house. Her extremely naughty brothers, who never cared for the welfare of their family. Her elder brothers were Ronald and Royal. Ronald who was fifteen years old was the eldest. Royal was two years younger to him. Leema always hated her brothers for their carefree lives. They never cared even if they had nothing to eat.
Ronald was a well known popular guy with a large group of friends and fans. He was well known for his great athletic feats. Royal on the other hand was a handsome young man who always dressed with the best that he had. Unless and until you have sufficient amount of money, Christmas is just another day of the year.
Her father Mr. Leonardo always believed that nothing was special or grand in this wide world but inequality and injustice as usual. He was a diamond in the raw. A pearl whose value was never known. In short, he was not able to make both his ends meet inspite of his vast self acquired knowledge. He believed that desire was the root cause of all evil. The leaky roof of their home stood as a proof. He despised his children whenever they wanted something.
Leema desperately wanted a new frock for Christmas. She went on saving every Paise that she got to buy a new frock for Christmas. She walked almost miles everyday to school to save the bus fare and had gone fasting saving the money given to her for lunch. Soon it became the major talk in the family. Initially they all appreciated her on the initiative, but soon they started planning to meet other expenses with that money.
Mr. Leonardo called her and made her sit comfortably on his lap and asked her the money in turn for which he would buy her a frock from the thrift store. He even took her to a thrift store and asked her to choose one. Leema disagreed and burst into tears. She cried pitifully and reminded him that she never got to wear a new frock in her whole life. Mr. Leonardo comforted her and said he wouldn't do so.
On Christmas eve, when Leema went to take the money to buy a frock, she couldn't find it. Her father just said bluntly that it might have been stolen. The entire night seemed to be elongated by her crying. The next day morning she found an old frock near her bed, the one she had seen in the thrift store; that indirectly told her who the thief was.
It was the worst Christmas ever. And it was the last time that she wanted a new frock.
Leema who was just ten years old, hated the very walls of her house. Her extremely naughty brothers, who never cared for the welfare of their family. Her elder brothers were Ronald and Royal. Ronald who was fifteen years old was the eldest. Royal was two years younger to him. Leema always hated her brothers for their carefree lives. They never cared even if they had nothing to eat.
Ronald was a well known popular guy with a large group of friends and fans. He was well known for his great athletic feats. Royal on the other hand was a handsome young man who always dressed with the best that he had. Unless and until you have sufficient amount of money, Christmas is just another day of the year.
Her father Mr. Leonardo always believed that nothing was special or grand in this wide world but inequality and injustice as usual. He was a diamond in the raw. A pearl whose value was never known. In short, he was not able to make both his ends meet inspite of his vast self acquired knowledge. He believed that desire was the root cause of all evil. The leaky roof of their home stood as a proof. He despised his children whenever they wanted something.
Leema desperately wanted a new frock for Christmas. She went on saving every Paise that she got to buy a new frock for Christmas. She walked almost miles everyday to school to save the bus fare and had gone fasting saving the money given to her for lunch. Soon it became the major talk in the family. Initially they all appreciated her on the initiative, but soon they started planning to meet other expenses with that money.
Mr. Leonardo called her and made her sit comfortably on his lap and asked her the money in turn for which he would buy her a frock from the thrift store. He even took her to a thrift store and asked her to choose one. Leema disagreed and burst into tears. She cried pitifully and reminded him that she never got to wear a new frock in her whole life. Mr. Leonardo comforted her and said he wouldn't do so.
On Christmas eve, when Leema went to take the money to buy a frock, she couldn't find it. Her father just said bluntly that it might have been stolen. The entire night seemed to be elongated by her crying. The next day morning she found an old frock near her bed, the one she had seen in the thrift store; that indirectly told her who the thief was.
It was the worst Christmas ever. And it was the last time that she wanted a new frock.
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