A MOTHER BUYS AN OLD DOLL FOR HER DAUGHTER AT A FLEA MARKET AND HEARS A STRANGE SOUND WHEN SHE HANDS IT TO HER. WHAT SHE DISCOVERS MAKES HER CRY.
“Oh, this is beautiful. Eve will love it,” exclaimed Pauline as she stopped at a stall where a woman was selling toys.
Pauline was a single mother working as a janitor. Her husband had died years ago from cancer, and since then, she had been raising Eve alone.
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When Pauline saw the doll at the flea market, she knew it would be the best birthday present for her little girl. Unfortunately, she didn’t have enough money to buy something expensive, so looking for something at the flea market was her best option.
When Pauline decided to buy the doll, she was so worried about Eve’s thoughts that she didn’t bother inspecting it closely. Two days later, when she gave it to Eve on her birthday, she heard a strange sound coming from the doll.
“Mommy,” Eve said sadly. “Can you buy me a doll?”
“Sweetheart,” Pauline replied softly, “You know we have a tight budget this month. Mommy will buy you one next month. That’s a promise.”
“But Mommy…” Eve’s voice started to break. “My birthday is in two days. Have you forgotten?”
“Oh no, no, sweetheart! Not at all!” said Pauline, but in truth, she had forgotten and felt terrible about it.
“Still, you’re not going to buy me a doll? I have no friends, Mommy. Nobody wants to be my friend because we’re poor. That doll could be my best friend.”
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“Oh, sweetheart,” Pauline hugged Eve. “I will get you the doll. I promise. Don’t be sad, okay?”
Pauline knew that the kids at Eve’s school didn’t treat her well because she wasn’t rich like them, but there wasn’t much she could do about it. Kids can be cruel sometimes.
Pauline was thrilled after buying the doll. She couldn’t wait to give it to Eve and see her beautiful smile. The doll was one of those vintage ones, holding a tiny baby in its arms.
“Oh, Eve will be so happy!” Pauline thought as she headed home.
And Eve was. The girl’s joy knew no bounds when Pauline showed her the doll on her birthday.
“Surprise! Mommy bought the doll for Eve,” Pauline exclaimed, holding the doll in her hands. “Can you give Mommy a kiss for that?”
Sometimes, the cause of someone’s smile is the origin of another’s pain.
“It’s so beautiful! Thank you, Mommy!” said Eve as she kissed Pauline on the cheek.
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When Pauline handed the doll to Eve, she suddenly heard a strange sound.
“What was that?” Pauline wondered.
She shook the doll, bringing it close to her ears, and heard the creaking again.
“Mommy! Give it to me! I want to hold my doll! Please! Please!” said Eve, excited to play with it.
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“One second, sweetheart. I think there’s something here…”
That was when Pauline examined the doll and found a secret pocket sewn into the doll’s dress. She unraveled the loose threads around it, and a note fell out.
Eve quickly picked it up and said, “Mommy, it says ‘Happy birthday, Mommy.’ It’s not your birthday. It’s my birthday!”
When Pauline read the note, she realized the message seemed scribbled by a child. At that moment, the thought of the woman selling the doll crossed Pauline’s mind.
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The next day, she returned to the flea market with the doll, and luckily, the woman’s stall was still there.
“I’m glad I found you here!” said Pauline. “Yesterday I bought this doll and found a note inside.”
When the woman, Miriam, saw the note, her eyes filled with tears.
“My daughter gave me this doll,” she said quietly. “She died two days before my birthday… My husband and I, oh, I’m sorry…” The woman covered her face as tears began to roll down her cheeks.
“I’m very sorry for your loss,” Pauline said apologetically. “I had no idea. I know I can’t take away your pain, but if it helps, I can give you a hug.”
“Oh, thank you…” said Miriam.
Pauline gave her a warm hug, after which Miriam revealed her sad story, which deeply moved the woman.
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“My little daughter was diagnosed with cancer,” Miriam said. “We needed money for her chemotherapy. My husband and I worked in a factory. We didn’t have enough money to cover the hospital bills, so we set up a stall here to sell our old furniture and things we didn’t need.”
“But we couldn’t save our daughter… She left us too soon. We are selling her toys because every time I look at them, it makes me sad.”
“One night, when I held my daughter’s hand, she asked me to be happy. She said, ‘Mom, when I’m gone, please remember me with a smile.’ So I decided to sell the toys. I had bought that doll because it reminded me of her. I’m sorry if I’m sharing too much with you, but my heart feels very relieved today. Thank you for listening.”
When Miriam finished, she cried again. Pauline comforted her, and the two women talked about their lives for a while. Pauline told her how she had been raising Eve alone and invited Miriam to spend time with them.
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“Eve will love to meet you,” she said. “And thank you so much for the doll. It brightened my daughter’s day. I’m sure your daughter is watching you and smiling. Thanks again,” she added before leaving.
A few days later, Miriam visited Eve and Pauline at their home.
“This is in thanks for your kind heart and for your patience in listening to me that day. I hope this helps you and Eve,” Miriam said, handing Pauline an envelope.
When Pauline opened it, she found a couple of dollar bills inside. Three thousand dollars in total.
“Oh, Miriam, we can’t accept this. This is too much. No, no, this isn’t right.”
“You can accept it, Pauline,” Miriam insisted. “A mother’s heart knows the pain when you can’t do enough for your child. We raised this money selling the toys. Please keep it. If not for me, then please keep it for Eve’s sake.”
Pauline cried. “Oh, Miriam, thank you. This will help us so much. Thank you.”
Since then, Miriam and Pauline became friends. Miriam loved and spoiled Eve dearly. But the best part was that the company of Pauline and Eve helped Miriam heal and move past her loss.
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What can we learn from this story?
• Help someone in need and you will never regret it: Pauline and Miriam helped each other as much as they could. That helped Miriam overcome her pain, and Pauline and Eve found someone who appreciated their company.
• Sometimes, the cause of someone’s smile is the origin of another’s pain: Unfortunately, the doll that made Eve happy on her birthday was a reminder of Miriam’s sad past.
