What Love Really Is

[leigh.bess.toad]

This story has been re-blogged or liked on Tumbllr over 200,000 times. I thought I'd share it with you. WARNING: Get some tissues handy.

 

I was walking around in a Target store, when I saw a cashier hand this little boy some money back. The boy couldn’t have been more than 5 or 6 years old. The cashier said, “I’m sorry, but you don’t have enough money to buy this doll.” Then the little boy turned to the old woman next to him: ”Granny, are you sure I don’t have enough money?” The old lady replied: ”You know that you don’t have enough money to buy this doll, my dear.” Then she asked him to stay there for just 5 minutes while she went to look a round. She left quickly.

 

The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand. Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to. “It’s the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much for Christmas. She was sure that Santa Claus would bring it to her.” I replied to him that maybe Santa Claus would bring it to her afterall, and not to worry.

 

But he replied to me sadly. “No, Santa Claus can’t bring it to her where she is now. I have to give the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.” His eyes were so sad while saying this. “My sister has gone to be with God.

 

Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister.” My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said: “I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come back from the mall.”

 

Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing. He then told me “I want mommy to take my picture with her so she won’t forget me. I love my mommy and I wish she doesn’t have to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister.” Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly.

 

I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy. “Suppose we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll?” “OK,” he said, “I hope I do have enough.” I added some of my money to his without him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money.

 

The little boy said: “Thank you God for giving me enough money!” Then he looked at me and added, “I asked last night before I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll, so that mommy could give it to my sister. He heard me!” “I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn’t dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose.” “My mommy loves white roses.”

 

A few minutes later, the old lady returned and I left with my basket. I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started. I couldn’t get the little boy out of my mind. Then I remembered a local newspaper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-sustaining machine, because the young woman would not be able to recover from the coma.

 

Was this the family of the little boy? Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the newspaper that the young woman had passed away. I couldn’t stop myself as I bought a bunch of white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see and make last wishes before her burial. She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest.

 

I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed forever.. The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all this away from him.

 

http://www.flowers24hours.co.uk/flowers/images/images4/IMG_4465.jpg

 

http://theguythatgotaway.tumblr.com/post/8729269010/i-was-walking-around-in-a-target-store-when-i-saw-a

[Bosguy]

This story has been re-blogged or liked on Tumbllr over 200,000 times. I thought I'd share it with you. WARNING: Get some tissues handy.

 

 

I was walking around in a Target store, when I saw a cashier hand this little boy some money back. The boy couldn’t have been more than 5 or 6 years old. The cashier said, “I’m sorry, but you don’t have enough money to buy this doll.” Then the little boy turned to the old woman next to him: ”Granny, are you sure I don’t have enough money?” The old lady replied: ”You know that you don’t have enough money to buy this doll, my dear.” Then she asked him to stay there for just 5 minutes while she went to look a round. She left quickly. The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand. Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to. “It’s the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much for Christmas. She was sure that Santa Claus would bring it to her.” I replied to him that maybe Santa Claus would bring it to her afterall, and not to worry. But he replied to me sadly. “No, Santa Claus can’t bring it to her where she is now. I have to give the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.” His eyes were so sad while saying this. “My sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister.” My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said: “I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come back from the mall.” Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing. He then told me “I want mommy to take my picture with her so she won’t forget me. I love my mommy and I wish she doesn’t have to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister.” Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly. I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy. “Suppose we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll?” “OK,” he said, “I hope I do have enough.” I added some of my money to his without him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money. The little boy said: “Thank you God for giving me enough money!” Then he looked at me and added, “I asked last night before I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll, so that mommy could give it to my sister. He heard me!” “I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn’t dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose.” “My mommy loves white roses.” A few minutes later, the old lady returned and I left with my basket. I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started. I couldn’t get the little boy out of my mind. Then I remembered a local newspaper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-sustaining machine, because the young woman would not be able to recover from the coma. Was this the family of the little boy? Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the newspaper that the young woman had passed away. I couldn’t stop myself as I bought a bunch of white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see and make last wishes before her burial. She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest. I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed forever.. The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all this away from him.

 

 

http://theguythatgotaway.tumblr.com/post/8729269010/i-was-walking-around-in-a-target-store-when-i-saw-a

 

Through lots of tears and thoughts, there are only 2 things I can say:

 

Life is too short

 

Priorities

 

"Kola"

 

Bill

[gp0560]

Damn, I'm grouchy today!

 

I am about to offend Lee and Bill, and for that I apologize in advance. I am about to talk about the text, though, not about either of you personally.

 

This piece is sentimental schmaltz, and simple-minded schmaltz at that. It may make the reader weep, but so can the fumes of a cut onion. The writer is playing on the reader's heartstrings as best s/he can. Granny, a sad little boy, a dead sister, a dying mother, a doll, a white rose, and an open coffin -- oh, puleeze.

 

For more of the same, but in bite-size pieces, try http://goddamnyourebeautiful.tumblr.com/

 

All of this is aimed at the Lifetime, Oxygen, Hallmark Theatre, Reader's Digest audience.

 

That said, is there anyone left whom I have not offended?

[Bosguy]

I am about to offend Lee and Bill, and for that I apologize in advance. I am about to talk about the text, though, not about either of you personally.

 

This piece is sentimental schmaltz, and simple-minded schmaltz at that. It may make the reader weep, but so can the fumes of a cut onion. The writer is playing on the reader's heartstrings as best s/he can. Granny, a sad little boy, a dead sister, a dying mother, a doll, a white rose, and an open coffin -- oh, puleeze.

 

For more of the same, but in bite-size pieces, try http://goddamnyourebeautiful.tumblr.com/

 

All of this is aimed at the Lifetime, Oxygen, Hallmark Theatre, Reader's Digest audience.

 

That said, is there anyone left whom I have not offended?

 

You didn't offend me at all. Your point is correct, however, sometimes people identify with some thing(s) in their lives that these type of "stories" resurrect.

 

My tough exterior does sometimes break down to a sentimental slob. Thanks for the reality check.

 

Bill

[KMEM]

You didn't offend me. I am not immune to those types of stories but I also know they are not necessarily anything other than generic, so to speak. When and if, I can document the reality of such stories I try to react appropriately. Otherwise, Oliver, I am so sad that you are not getting enough to eat.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[jjkrkwood]

You didn't offend me at all. Your point is correct, however, sometimes people identify with some thing(s) in their lives that these type of "stories" resurrect.

 

My tough exterior does sometimes break down to a sentimental slob. Thanks for the reality check.

 

Bill

 

There is a market for over the top sentiment, perhaps not in your backyard, but nonetheless for those that seek it, it is available. You didnt offend me either, you stated YOUR opinion, and I respect that, although I might not agree. There are stories I am moved by, and others I am not. We live in a wonderful country that affords us a little bit of everything. Take your choice.

[MsGuy]

That said, is there anyone left whom I have not offended?

 

You named formulaic schlocky hackwork formulaic schlocky hackwork; what's there to be offended about?

 

I'm a sucker for a good tear jerker but, as for this, you summed it up well: "Oh puleeze."

 

"Gimme a break" would also have earned partial credit.

[Phil_musc]

I'm actually a real softie for this kind of thing, but there was something from the get-go in this story that made me wait for when it was going to turn funny and make me really howl. Somehow I wasn't drawn in this time. It seemed like every heart-string tugger was put in this one and as such I was expected the humor twist that never came. So for those of you who wrote cynically, I was certainly not offended - in fact I'm wondering why more people weren't moved the same way (although the end of the story does kinda bring it around again to be almost effective - for me)

[seeker630]

... there was something from the get-go in this story that made me wait for when it was going to turn funny and make me really howl. Somehow I wasn't drawn in this time. It seemed like every heart-string tugger was put in this one and as such I was expected the humor twist that never came...)

 

I had a similar reaction - I kept anticipating a punchline that never came. I've seen very similar pieces before, but this one seemed almost ALMOST a parody.

[Rick Munroe]

WARNING: Get some tissues handy.

 

I got the tissues handy, but I have to say, I didn't feel the need to jerk off so they went unused.

 

Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to.

 

Why does the speaker automatically assume the little boy doesn't want the doll for himself? Not every little boy naturally likes guns and trucks. Just ask Marlo Thomas.

 

“I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn’t dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose.”

 

That is quite the precocious 5 year old! I am much older than him and I have no idea how much a single white rose costs.

 

I couldn’t stop myself as I bought a bunch of white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see

 

I'm not sure what's creepier...the fact that the speaker goes there to stalk a dead woman, or the fact that the funeral home didn't have the decency to put some clothes on her.

[Rick Munroe]

This piece is sentimental schmaltz, and simple-minded schmaltz at that. It may make the reader weep, but so can the fumes of a cut onion.

 

Jerry, I hope my husband doesn't mind if I say...I love you!

[gp0560]

Jerry, I hope my husband doesn't mind if I say...I love you!

 

Who cares what he thinks? Our true love will find a way. Climbing every mountain, fording every stream, following every rainbow till we find our dream. I'd do it all again for you, babe, if you just whisper those three little words in my shell-like ear.

 

Meet me at 10, usual place, for mad crazy fucking. He'll never know.