Mona stood at the window and looked at the shoes. Three days ago she had seen them there and now, whenever Mummy sent her to buy anything, she would stand at the shop window and gaze at the shoes. In fact, she dreamt about them last night!
They were red with shiny buckles on them. There were many other shoes in the window: green, blue, silver and many more. But there was something about those red shoes that made them really special for Mona. There was a small label next to it with the price on it. The shoes were very costly.
She wondered every day whether the shoes would still be there in the window or if someone would have bought them. But every day, Mona would look at them and go on to finish the errand for her mother.
One day, Mona had to buy some bread and cookies and get a cabbage too. She looked at the shoes and, as she stepped away, an old lady beside her slipped on the pavement and fell. Mona forgot all about the shoes and ran to help the old lady.
She had hurt her elbow and was in pain. Mona helped her into the shoe shop and asked Mr. Williams, the shopkeeper, to call a doctor to help her. The shopkeeper brought some tea for the old lady and Mona as they waited.
The doctor tied a bandage on the lady’s elbow and gave her some pills that made her comfortable soon. She told the doctor all about the kind little girl and everyone smiled at her.
Mona had to leave but the old lady said, “Wait, child. Will you please take this small gift? I want to thank you for taking care of me.”
Mona tried to refuse, but both the old lady and Mr Williams insisted on giving her a small packet. So, she finally took it, thanking them. When she got home with the bread and cookies and cabbage, she told Mummy all about the incident. Imagine her surprise when she opened the packet and found the red shoes inside!
It had a small card with it that read, ‘With love and thanks from Mr Williams and his mother’!
Moral: Kindness brings its own rewards.
