Christmas Experience with Amin

Christmas is the most special time for the kids. This is the time other than their birthdays that they receive gifts, lots of them.

I just got back from the Rotary Xmas Dinner tonight where I was tasked to prepare the programme and the gifts. I got all member's kid's names and ages and spent a day shopping for their gifts. At the party, all the kids were seated together in one long table while we and our guests have our own tables. After the Rotary grace and toasts, dinner was served followed by the most awaited time - the gift giving. The kids' eyes lit up when I mentioned to them about the gift prepared for them by the club. I asked them to sing a song first, impromptu, though all shy since they are not all acquainted to each other, they were able to sing "Jingle Bells" together. And they won their gifts for that song. Being the youngest, I decided to give little Amin his present first. He quickly asked if he can unwrap it. I suggested that he ask the "big people". He just looked at the members seated at the other end and everybody shouted..."open it"! He was so excited but got very disappointed to see a big box of Cadbury Chocolate underneath the wrappers. He wanted something not edible. The other kids were very happy and opened up thier gifts too. They started playing with their toys and others started eating their chocolates. Amin, the next minute I saw him had teary eyes. His mom said it's past his bedtime and he was already very tired. After few games, we had the raffle. The last winner was Amin. His grandpa after the party was giving him another wrapped gift. He looked at it and said, "it looks like the box of my chocolates. I don't like it. I like this one." He came to me and said " Thank you very much for my gift and this prize", showing off a plastic bag with 2 Nestle mugs inside, " I like it very much." That prize was just a give away from Nestle but this little boy liked it better than the gift specifically chosen for him. He walked back to his parents after giving me a goodbye kiss. That was the first time I met Amin but he has shown simplicity, sincerity and sweetness as a little boy. He is a good description of innocence in a child.