The best Christmas (a short story)

Hello there! My name is Matthew. This is a story of the best Christmas I've ever had! It led to so many great things in the future too! Welp I guess on with the story!

"Merry Christmas!" I wake up to hear. I look up and see Mama and Papa. "Merry Christmas!" I say back. I get up from the floor. I live in a boxcar with Mama and Papa. We are homeless. We have been homeless since I was like, I don't know 5. I am thankful though to have this sort of warm boxcar, And these clothes, even if they are torn. Usually on Christmas since we can't afford to buy anything, we go for a walk. I live in New York so it's kinda crowded when we do but hey, it's better than nothing. Anyways, back to the day. Us three went outside to go walk. "So Matthew, how are you?" Papa asked me. "Oh I'm fine Papa. How are you Mama and Papa?" I asked both of them. "Not fine. We feel bad. Your not able to spend Christmas like every other kid does." Mama said looking down. "I agree" Papa said. "Well, what if I don't want to spend it like them? I like this way better." I said trying to comfort them. They smiled at me. We kept walking and talking and cracking jokes. It was nice not having to worry about where are we going to get food or my education for a while. As we were walking I guess I zoned out because I apparently bumped into a man and his iced coffee spilled all over me. "Oh my my I am so sorry child! I wasn't looking where I was going!" He said. "Oh no sir! I am truly sorry! I was the one not paying attention!" I said. My clothes were now all wet but eh they'll dry, like always. Mama and Papa didn't even know what was going on. "No no it was my fault. Please let me take you to my home and get you a nice pair of warm and dry clothes. And for your parents too. You all look like you haven't had a warm pair of clothes in a while." The man said with a sympathetic look. "Oh sir it's truly fine. They will dry." I said looking in his eyes. "Please it's the least I can do." The man said. "Ok I guess." I said finally giving in.

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A couple minutes later we were at his house. There was nobody here. I'm surprised, he has this huge house yet no guests? That's kinda...odd for me. His house must have been like I don't know 4 stories tall. We walk up to his front door and he unlocks it. When we walked in it was..really fancy. I kinda expected it to be like this just filled with people. I mean, the least you would expect is his family agreeing to meet here because it's the biggest house. "Let me just go get the clothes!" He says happily and walks upstairs. Mama, Papa, and I took in the scenery. "This place is fancy but beautiful." Mama says. "I agree." Papa says. I stay silent and just look around. My clothes are still damp from the coffee but I don't mind. Mama, Papa, and I just stand in the same spot near the door and wait I silence. About five minutes later the man came back. "Sorry to keep you waiting." He said sincerely. He walked over to Mama and handed her a pink long sleeve shirt and some jeans. "Thank you." Mama said while smiling. He next walked over to Papa and handed him a black short sleeve shirt with jeans. "Thank you very much." Papa said. Lastly, he went to me. He handed me a green long sleeve shirt with jeans. "Thank you very much sir. I appreciate it." I said while smiling. "You're welcome." He said with the biggest smile I've ever seen anyone have. "Why don't you all stay for dinner? I'm sure Andrea won't mind." The man whom I've now realized I've never gotten his name said. "Is Andrea your wife?" Mama asked. "Yes. She is at the store right now picking up a turkey." He said. "Sir I was just wondering, what is your name?" I asked him. He's smiled and said "My name is Will." I smiled back at him.
--10 minutes later--
Mama,Papa, and I were in the clothes Will have us. Right now we are all in the living room, drinking tea. "How have you all been holding up?" Will asked. "We've been..here and there. But were doing fine." Mama said. "So young man, I believe I've said my name but I never got one in return." Will said smiling. "My name is Matthew sir." I said. "Oh no need to call me sir Matthew. We're friends now." Will said. I smiled and said "ok Will." He smiled back at me. We suddenly heard the door open. "That's probably Andrea right now." Will said and walked over to the kitchen. We followed behind. When we walked in we saw a lady. She had red hair tied up and beautiful bright blue eyes. "Hello there! You all must be friends of Will!" Andrea said. Mama,Papa, and I nodded and Papa said "Yes." "Well it's nice to meet you all! I'm Andrea!" She said. "Hello! I'm Sandra and this is Dave and Matthew." Mama said pointing to us as she said our names. I smiled at Andrea. She smiled back. "I'll go get plates. You all must be starving!" Andrea said. "Thank you." Mama and Papa said. Andrea smiles and goes to the cupboards. "Well while Andrea does that why don't we all get to know each other in the living room." Will said. We all walked to the living room and sat down. Mama, Papa and I sat on the sofa while Will sat on the love seat across from us. We all started talking about our selves and what we love, you know the basics. I was still really curious as to why he had no family over. "Will, how come none of your family is here? Besides Andrea." I asked. Once I realized what I asked I deeply regretted it. I turned as red as the reddest tomato in the world. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked that." I said. "No Matthew, it's fine." He said. "The reason my family hasn't come over is because we are in a conflict right now. You see, long ago when I was becoming rich, I was greedy. Everyone realized it except me, until now. I was always so selfish and never helped anyone. My cousin Archie, his house was being demolished. I realize now I could have given him money to stop it but I didn't. I tried apologizing to him but he didn't forgive me. Ever since then, my family and I have been in a feud." Will added on. "Also, ever since then I vowed to help anyone in need, and to never become that selfish person again." He finished his story. Mama, Papa, and I stared at him. "Will, the past is the past. What you just told us you should tell your family, and Archie. Tell them your sorry. They may understand." I said staring at Will. Will looked me in the eyes and smiled. "You know what, your right." He said. I smiled back at him. "Everything's ready!" Andrea said happily as she walked in. "What did I miss?" She asked. "Nothing much." Will said smiling. "Well then, let's go eat!" Andrea said.
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All of us are now done eating. It's actually already dark out. I'm pretty sure we're about to leave. It was nice here though. I like Will. He's a nice man, and I hope to see him again someday. "Well Will, we would love to stay longer but we have to go. If we don't leave now then the boxcar will be too cold." Papa said. "Are you sure you all don't want to spend the night?" Will asked. "As much as we'd like to, we don't want to be a burden." Mama said. "I understand. Let me just give you all something. Consider it as a Christmas gift." Will said. Andrea followed him, looking excited. About five minutes later Andrea and Will came back down with something in their pockets. Andrea walked up to Mama. She grabs as her hand gently and puts something in her hand. Will walks up to Papa and hands him something in his hand too. Will then walks up to me and puts something in my hand. Mama, Papa and I looked down at our hands. I had $1,000 dollars sitting in the palm of my hand. Mama, Papa and I's eyes widened in shocked. "We can accept this. It's too much." Mama said. Papa and I nodded. Mama and Papa had $5,000 each. In total we all had $11,000. Holy cow! That's a lot! "No please. I insist! It won't effect my budget." Will said. I walked over to Will and Andrea. I hugged them both and said "thank you for everything." "It's no problem Matthew." Will and Andrea said. "Thank you Will and Andrea." Mama and Papa said.
---------------Eventually we had to leave. We brought a house and started a new life. Mama and Papa got a job and I got and education. I never saw Will and Andrea again. The only time I last saw Will was in the newspaper, the obituary section. He died on 4-7-12. I still visit his grave everyday. I owe that man my life. If it weren't for him I wouldn't be here. Right now I am at his grave. I had brought a white rose. I place the rose on his grave. "Will, thank you for everything. You gave me all this. You also gave me the best Christmas. I owe you my life. Thank you." I said. When I got up from my knees I looked across the street. I saw him. I saw Will. He smiled at me and nodded up and down. I smiled back at him. He disappeared. I'll see him again one day I just have to wait. For now, I'll remember him as the man who gave me The Best Christmas.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS! the moral of the story was to basically help others. It can mean a lot to them, even if you are strangers. This Christmas, help one another. Even if it just to put up a light, anything small counts as something big. Well that's all I had to say. MERRY CHRISTMAS AGAIN!!! Stay beautiful <3