Left Behind by Santa

Nine year old Joey left home on his new bicycle, and wearing new designer shoes and a new jacket that he just got for Christmas. This was another one of many happy Christmas mornings for Joey; he always got everything that was on his Christmas list and more.

An hour had passed since Joey left home; his mother was getting a little worried. His dad said that Joey will be fine. He probably stopped by one of his friend's house. As his dad spoke, Joey walked in through the front door.

Joey wasn't wearing his new jacket or his new designer shoes. Instead he wore dirty torn tennis shoes that hurt his feet and an old jacket that was a size too small for him. Joey took off the shoes and said "Wow! That feels better."

"Joey. What happened to you," asked his frantic mother, "Did you get mugged?"
"Oh, no," Joey quickly answered
"What happened to you?" his father asked, "Where's your designer shoes and your new jacket? Why are you wearing those old shoes and that old jacket?"
"It's okay." Joey responded
"No it's not okay," replied his mother "You left here with new shoes and a new jacket that cost us a lot of money, then you return home wearing old stuff that's too small for you."
"And, where is your bicycle? Don't tell me there's an old bicycle outside, said his dad

"No, there's not a bicycle out side at all," Joey answered
"You have some explaining to do, sit down and start talking, and it better be good," said the dad.

Joey had this story to tell his parents: He rode his bicycle a few blocks and he was on his way back home. He noticed this boy around his age, leaning against an old car in his yard, the boy was crying. Joey stopped and asked the boy what was the matter. The boy told Joey that he wrote a letter to Santa and asked Santa for a bicycle exactly like the one that Joey was riding. He also asked Santa for a new pair of shoes for himself and his mother. But, Santa didn't stop at his house. He was one of the kids that were left behind by Santa. The boy told Joey that when he saw him pass by the first time on the bicycle, he couldn't hold back the tears, he broke down and cried because he couldn't understand why Santa always forgot about him.

The little boy asked Joey if he could just ride his bike around the block, just once. Joey said he felt so sorry for his new friend. His clothes were old and too small, his shoes were too small and hurt his feet, so, Joey traded the little boy his new bicycle, his new shoes and jacket for the boy's old shoes and jacket. He also gave the boy his helmet. The boy was eight years old; a year younger than Joey, but, they were the exact same size.

Joey said the shoes hurt his feet but he only had to walk three blocks in them; the other kid had to walk in them all the time. Joey said Santa was always so good to him, he knew Santa would bring him another new jacket, designer shoes and a new bicycle next year; he had lots of shoes and jackets in his room, so he could wait until next Christmas.

The little boy told Joey that his mother wouldn't let him keep the new things unless Joey's parents said it was allright. Joey reminded his parents that they taught him to help others; he asked if they could go to the little boy's house and ask his mom if he could keep the gifts. The little boy said his mother had to use all of her money to pay rent and other bills. She had no money left for Santa. She was a single mom, so she had to do it all by herself. The little boy would wait in his front yard until Joey came back with one of his parents.

Joey's parents were so proud of him; they agreed to drive him back to the little boy's house to talk to the boy's mother and let her know it was okay for him to keep the gifts that Joey gave to him. Joey's dad told him that he did a very good deed and he wouldn't have to wait until next Christmas to replace the items that he gave away. Joey's dad said he would take Joey shopping the next day for a new bicycle, shoes and a jacket.