Meals on Wheels

Six-year-old Jimmy was an only child, and very selfish. The only
person he ever thought about, was himself.

Every Christmas his list of toys for Santa increased, and every year
his list would be fulfilled. You would think a boy who had everything
would be happy, but he wasn't. Jimmy wanted more and more!

One afternoon, Jimmy stared out the living room window in anticipation.
Christmas was a week away. Oh how he couldn't wait! He would finally
receive that new bike he'd been dreaming about, and the new ultrasonic
airplane with its real working engine! Jimmy continued to stare out the
window, until something down the street caught his eye. It was a bright
red and white vehicle pulling up to his neighbor's drive, with its
flashers going.

"Hey mommy!" Jimmy called out. "What's that?"

His mother joined him at the window and peered out in disbelief. "It's
an ambulance! Something must have happened at the Simpsons!"

Jimmy watched his mother scurry from the room to the telephone, where
he could hear her frantic voice asking endless questions.

"What happened?" Jimmy asked, after she hung up the phone.

"Mr. Simpson had a bad fall and will be bedridden for awhile."

"Does that mean I won't get a gift from him this year?" Jimmy
questioned.

"I don't know darling," she replied softly.
"All I know, is we'll have to do our best to help them out."

"But I want my new truck he promised me!" Jimmy said, stomping his feet
on the carpet.

Jimmy sat on the couch with a pout on his face. He didn't like Mr.
Simpson anymore. He wanted his new truck!

His mother put on a happy face and sat down beside him. "I know what
you can do that would cheer you up," she said.

"What?" Jimmy scoffed.

"I just baked a hot apple pie. Why don't you deliver it to Mr. Simpson?
I think he would really appreciate it."

"Who wants apple pie? I want my truck!"

"Listen," his mother scolded. "Mr. Simpson is a sick, elderly man. Do
something nice for somebody else for a change."

Jimmy got up from the couch with tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Okay," he said, grabbing his jacket.

His mother placed the pie in his carrier and watched him ride his bike
to the end of the street. Jimmy knocked softly on the door as Mrs.
Simpson opened it, smiling down at him.

"Oh my! What do we have here?"

Jimmy held out the plate. "My mommy made me do it," he replied.

"Why don't you come in Jimmy? Mr. Simpson would love to have some
company."

Jimmy carried his gift into Mr. Simpson's bedroom. He was sitting up in
bed reading a newspaper, with his leg in a cast.

"My goodness, Jimmy!" he chuckled. "What a pleasant surprise."

"My mommy made me do it," Jimmy said.

Mr. Simpson put his newspaper down and reached for the pie plate. "Did
you know hot apple pie is my favorite?"

Jimmy stood in the middle of the room with a pout on his face. "I know
something that will cheer you up. Why don't you grab that pen over
there, and you can be the very first person to sign my cast."

"Really?" Jimmy perked up.

"Really," Mr. Simpson replied.

Jimmy grabbed the pen and carefully signed his name in black ink. "That
was fun!" he smiled.

"Well the next time you come over, you can do it again."

Jimmy biked home to tell his mother the good news. From that moment on,
Jimmy got busy helping his mother in the kitchen.

"I want to surprise him again!" he said excitedly.

A few hours later he showed up on their doorstep, this time with a
plate of warm biscuits and apple cider.

Jimmy carried the tray into Mr. Simpson's bedroom and once again,
signed the cast. Over the next few days, Jimmy continued to deliver
special gifts to Mr. Simpson and each time, he would sign his cast.
Before long, the signatures covering the white bandages were scribbled
in Jimmy's shaky handwriting.

On Christmas Eve, Mr. Simpson looked Jimmy right in the eye. "Listen,
son. What you have done over the last few days had meant more to me
than anything else in the world. I'm sorry I wasn't able to buy you
that shiny red truck you wanted for Christmas, but I made you
something, instead."

Jimmy sat quietly on the edge of the bed, as Mr. Simpson held out a
small green box covered in ribbons. "This was made especially for
you."

Jimmy unwrapped the package with his eager little hands. Lying on the
bottom of the box, in white tissue paper, was a shiny brass medal which
read:

"This medal of honor is dedicated to Jimmy,
and his excellent meals on wheels service."

Jimmy held the brass medal proudly in his hands. "Thank you," he said,
wrapping his arms tightly around Mr. Simpson's neck. "This is the best
gift ever!"

Mr. Simpson smiled back in return. "Christmas isn't about buying
expensive gifts and receiving lots of toys. It's about the giving the
greatest gift of all, the gift from the heart."