David, a young and talented football player, always dreamed of making it to the national team. Despite being just 12, he practiced a lot, and was determined to make his dream come true. He also dreamed of a pair of spiked shoes.
Every now and then, while sitting at the window seat on the school bus, he daydreamed of lifting the trophy of an important championship and thanking his mother for everything she had done for him. “That would be an awesome speech,” he would mumble.
For months, David had been saving for a new pair of sneakers. He loved those sneakers so much. Every day, he would sell lemonade on the stand he had built himself and would help his neighbors with errands in order to be able to collect the money himself without burdening his mom who already had a lot on her plate raising him and his twin sisters.
David stopped by the shoe store and told the owner that he had been saving up for the new shoes. “Young man, your shoes will be here waiting,” Mr. Manning said with a smile on his face.
One day, on the way to school, a boy named Guillermo asked David if he could take the seat next to him. “Of course,” David replied.
Guillermo admired David. He wanted to be famous among the schoolmates just as David was.
That day, Guillermo told David that he liked his shoes, but David said they were old already and that he was saving up for a brand new pair.
Guillermo felt a bit embarrassed and hid his feet under the seat. The truth was that it was his shoes that were old and worn out, not David’s.
In the days that followed, David and Guillermo became close friends. One day, David told his friend, “Guillermo, I finally did it. My piggy bank is full. I’m getting my dream shoes today.”
Guillermo was very happy for David, and as the two talked, the bus suddenly jolted over a pothole, and one of Guillermo’s shoes fell off onto the bus floor.
David was taken aback. The shoe had a hole on the sole. He felt sorry for his friend and a bit embarrassed because he was bragging about the new shoes this whole time, while his friend’s were really old, the canvas was coming apart, and there was no sign of a lace.
The following day, David asked Guillermo to go with him to the store.
Once inside, Mr. Manning told David, “Congrats, young man, you earned your own money for the shoes. They are perfectly set in a box, waiting for you.”
“Mr. Manning,” David said, “I want the shoes, but in a smaller size, please.”
Mr. Manning was confused. “But these are your size, young man,” he said. David then pointed to Guillermo and said, “I want them in his size.”
Guillermo was stunned. “No, David, there is no need to…” But David stopped him before he finished his sentence. “Guillermo, you are such a good friend. You say I;m your idol and you call me your hero. Please, let me get these shoes for you.”
Mr. Manning knew David was a special boy, but he was still stunned at how kind his heart was.
He took out a pair of shoes in Guillermo’s size and handed it to him.
The two friends were happy and headed home.
Once home, however, David’s mom asked him if he got the shoes. Looking at the floor, thinking she would scold him, he said quietly, “Mom, I bought them for my friend Guillermo. His were really old, and I thought he needed them more than I did.”
His mom gave him a hug. “Oh, son, you are such a kind and compassionate young man. I’m so proud of you.”
As the two talked about Guillermo, a truck pulled in front of their home.
It was Mr. Manning. He brought plenty of shoes for David, his sister, and his friend.
“I know how much you wanted those spiked sneakers, and I’ve seen you selling lemonade and delivering newspapers. You helped a friend in need, and I wanted to surprise you today.”
David learned that day that even the tiniest act of kindness always goes a long way.