The sun was shinning brightly in the cloudless blue sky. Sandra was tidying the children’s room when she found their passbook lying on the study table. “Let’s see how much Simon and Sally have saved so far…” Sandra thought to herself as she flipped through her children’s passbooks. Her jaw dropped when she realized that last month’s savings were not deposited!

Overwhelmed with curiosity, Sandra began to imagine what Simon and Sally may have done with the money. The more she imagined, the angrier she gets. Sandra briskly walked to the study room where Simon and Sally were doing their homework. “Simon! Sally! What happened to the sum of money that I asked you to deposit last month?” Sandra shouted. Simon and Sally stared at each other, quivering in fear as they kept silent and hung their heads. As Sandra could not solicit any answers from them, she assumed that they must have spent the money for on toys and fast-food, she started scolding them.

Just as she was about to get the cane, the doorbell suddenly rang. Sandra opened the door and was surprised to see Simon’s form teacher, Miss Lee and a family of three. She invited them in. After they sat down, Miss Lee quickly explained the purpose of their visit. It was then that Sandra realized she had wronged Simon and Sally. It seems that they had given their last month’s savings to a little girl, Celeste, who wanted to buy a Christmas gift for her mother but she did not have enough money. Her parents found out later and tried to locate Simon and Sally. Celeste had remembered their names and recognized their school from the uniform they were wearing. Celeste’s parents apologized to Sandra about the incident, claiming they had spoilt her for not teaching her the importance of savings, thereby resulting in her not having enough money to buy the present. They also handed Sandra a cheque to repay her children for their kindness. After thanking Sandra and the kids, they left with Miss Lee. Sandra turned to the kids and chided them for keeping the incident from her. As they had done a good deed, they should have informed her earlier, instead of keeping mum. “Since Christmas is just round the corner and you have been such good kids, why don’t we get some presents for the Salvation Army?” Sandra suggested with a smile. The children heartily agreed and they all began busily discussing on what presents to buy, as their laughter filled the room.

Outside the window, the birds were happily chirping, seemingly singing in unison to their hearty laughter.

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