When I was in
the fourth grade at Ammon Elementary, we would draw names in our classes and
exchange presents the day school let out for the Christmas holidays. I can’t
remember there being a monetary limit on what we were to spend, but I’m sure
there was.
In
our class was a boy whose family struggled financially. This boy was
shunned by most of the class members including me. He wore bibbed overalls that
were always baggy, probably hand-me-downs from an older brother, but was always
clean and patched. His shirts were often patched and too big for him also. When
the boys played marbles at recess time and he would be kneeling down with his
marbles, we could see his socks poking through the holes in the soles of his
shoes. As winter came we noticed the holes would be covered with cardboard put
inside of the shoes. Most of us experienced that cardboard in the shoe
experience back then, but we still would make fun of this boy. Especially when
we could see his socks. And often there were holes in his socks too.
When it came
time to draw names, no one wanted this boy to draw our name as we knew he
couldn’t afford to buy anything. The big items those years were the Lifesaver
books and Blue Waltz perfume. Any girl would be excited to get either one of
those items.
As
we would draw the name, our teacher would write down our name plus the name we
drew. She kept a secret as to the names drawn, and told us to do the same. That
was hard and of course in our little groups at recess we often shared the name
we had drawn and the worry that he
would draw our name.
We
were told not to bring the gifts to school until the day before we would open
them, but as usual many brought their gifts early. Mom took my siblings and me to town, usually to Kress’s to shop for our
school gift. We were encouraged to use our own money if we had any. No one had
allowances back then, but Dad would sometimes pay us a little when we helped
around the farm.
Each day before the Christmas vacation, everyone came with their gift. We were
not supposed to look at the wrapped gifts under the tree, but whenever the
teacher was out of the room there would be a group going through the presents
trying to find out who had their name. So two days before Christmas vacation, there, under the tree, was a box wrapped
neatly with my name on it on the “To” category and our shunned boy’s name under
the “From” category.
Everyone
was so relieved to finally find that gift, everyone but me that is. I tried not
to show my disappointment because I loved receiving gifts like everyone else,
but I knew this was not the year I’d receive Lifesavers or perfume.
The
time came for us to open our gifts. We didn’t get to do that until after our
lunch. Then our teacher had the nerve to have us sing a few songs and she read
a Christmas story before the gift giving began. Those activities seemed to take
forever. Finally she had us go one person at a time, row by row. The first
person in the row would get the gift he/she was giving and take it to the
person to whom it was for. Then he/she unwrapped the gift and everyone could
see what it was. The teacher made sure the recipient thanked the giver. Next
person in the row did the same until everyone had received and opened a gift.
My
present was handed to me about half way through the gift-giving period. The
shunned boy didn’t take his eyes off the floor as he gave me the gift but every
eye in the room was on me as I opened it. Inside the box was a pen and a hand
embroidered handkerchief.
I
knew better than to express disappointment, and I sensed the shunned boy
expected me to laugh. My mother’s words just the night before as I expressed
concern about the gift – “Always be a gracious receiver,” rang loud in my head.
I looked at the boy and softly said, “Thank you. The handkerchief is beautiful
and I can always use a pen.”
He
actually looked up at me and smiled, then walked back to his desk looking
forward and not at the floor.
That is the only
gift I remember receiving in my eight years in elementary school, but I have
remembered the circumstances surrounding this experience every year at
Christmas time. That day long ago I learned how important it was to accept and
be appreciative of even the smallest of gifts. His smile taught me that!
