There is No Such Thing As Santa

I gone through jobs like people go through toilet paper since my husband died.. I'm trying to keep the job I just got last week. I'm a cashier at the local store. Christmas time is just around the corner and I barely have enough to bring food to the table and pay all my late bills, nether less get Christmas gifts for my two children.
I got up today and I just feel different, like today might be a good day. Boy, do I need one of those. I got up and got ready to go to work. My kids are still sleeping, but they can get ready for school on their own. It's a week before Christmas and I haven't gotten them anything yet.
It's really early in the morning and this elderly lady comes in and she's the only person in the store at the time. She only buys a couple of things: milk, eggs, bread, and cheese.
'Hello. How are you?'� I ask.
'I'm fine darling. How are you?'� She answers.
'I'm okay, I guess.'�
'What got you down?'�
'Oh just some things. Is that all you're getting?'�
'Yes. Do you have any children, my dear?'�
'Yea, I do.'�
'Christmas time is coming, and I'm sure they are excited, right?'�
'No, not this Christmas.'�
'Oh. Why's that?'�
I've never seen this lady before and all these questions are really starting to annoy me.'� Because'� because I don't have enough money to get them anything.'�
'Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Here, this is for you; it's not much, but I'm sure it will help.'�
She handed me a $10 bill.
'Oh, thanks, but no thanks. I don't need your pity or money.'�
'I don't feel sorry for you, my dear. I feel sorry for your kids.'�
Then she left the money on the counter and walked out the door.
She feels sorry for my kids? I feel sorry for my kids. They are only five and eight, and this Christmas their dad isn't here. He can't get them gifts like he has before, because of the fact that he is no longer here. I miss him so much, and so do they, but there is nothing we can do, but to move on.
The next morning I noticed there was a flyer put on the bulletin board at the local store. It said
There are unfortunate kids in this town
Why don't we help them out and give them a Christmas!
Call this number if you want to help:
789-9876
All you need to do is give $10

I bet that old lady put that there! I'm sure she's talking about my kids! How embarrassing! How could she do such a thing? I ripped it down and threw it in the trash. Just as I threw it out that old lady came in.
'Hello, darling,'� she said.
'Hi. Did you put that flyer up?'� I asked her.
'Why yes I did. Where did it go?'�
'Were you talking about my kids?'�
'I was talking about all the unfortunate kids, not just yours. Did you take it down?'�
'Yes, I did.'�
'Well then I guess I'm glad I brought another since I figured you would do that. This time don't take it down because it's not just about you.'�
That was the last time I saw that old lady, and I'm sorry for the way I treated her.
The next few days went by pretty quickly since I was working all day and night. Christmas Eve is tomorrow and I still have no money for my kids. I don't know what I'm going to say to them. The best I can do is buy them some candy. It's not much but at least they will have something. I bought them each two bags of their favorite candy. I had $10 left and decided that instead of getting lunch I'd buy them some things for their stockings. On my lunch break I went to the dollar store and got them what I could with that money. I hope they appreciate what they get.
I woke up this morning and I felt sick. I had to go to work again. I don't have a babysitter anymore because I didn't have any money to pay for her. My kids are going to go to my friend's house for the day. I get off pretty late, but at least we are closing early since it's Christmas Eve.
Work went by pretty slow since we didn't have many customers. I picked up my kids; they are so excited because Santa is coming tonight. They are going to be so upset when they wake up tomorrow and see Santa didn't bring them any presents. They will be mad when they see that all they got was a couple of cheap dollar store gifts and candy. I don't know what I will say. It's just not the same with their dad and my husband not around. This Christmas is going to be hard enough without him, and now it will be worse. When I got home there was a note attached to my door. I took it off and read it. It said that the rent is way over due and I have a week to leave. Can this get any worse? I couldn't help but to cry. My kids asked me why am I so sad when I'm suppose to be happy. I told them not to worry, mommy will be okay. I put them to bed and went into my room. I didn't get much sleep because I kept crying. I tried to be as quiet as I could be.
I woke up to my kids jumping on my bed.
'Mommy! Mommy! It's Christmas! Get up!'� they yelled.
'Oh, okay, but if Santa didn't get you what you wanted please don't be mad or sad.'�
'We won't, Mommy.'�
We went in the living room and to my surprise there were gifts under the tree! Gifts that I didn't put there! Who did this? Could it have been Santa? No, it couldn't; there is no such thing as Santa.
'Wow! Look at all these gifts Mommy. We were really good!'� they said with so much happiness and it brought tears to my eyes.
'Go ahead, open them up!'� I told them.
There was a note on the table. I picked it up and read it. This is what it said:

Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
Your rent has been paid off.
Those presents have been bought by people who care about you.
People who saw you needed help when you denied it.
Maybe now you can be more happy.
From: Santa
P.S. There is a little something there for you, too.

I smiled. I know who did this. It was that old lady. What a wonderful lady. I never saw that old lady again to thank her. I don't know what happened to her and no one knows who she was. Some say she was just passing by and then she left. But, she touched everyone's heart in this little town. She left this town a much better town. I'm also a much happier person and I now know the true meaning of Santa and I believe in it.

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