The Family: The Gift

In Denver, Tomas Gomez, 6. counted up his Christmas gift money. He had hauled rubbish, collected bottles and newspapers and run errands, and now he had nine 25¢ pieces—one each for gifts for his six brothers and sisters, his parents. and his invalid uncle. Then his grandmother arrived to stay with the family, so Tomas set out to find another quarter for her gift. But somehow, on that day, nobody seemed to need rubbish hauled or had errands to be run. Entering a neighborhood grocer’s, he saw 25¢ on the counter. He looked about; the coast was clear. He took it and went home.

Little boys are not much good at keeping things from their mothers. Sure enough, after his mother questioned him, Tomas told her the truth. She put on her coat and marched him to the store and made him return the quarter. The grocer said, “Here—let him keep it.”

“No,” said his mother. “Thieves must learn to cry.”

All the way home, Tomas wept and held his mother’s hand tight.