TheDollandtheWhiteRoseTheDollandtheWhiteRoseIhurriedintothelocaldepartmentstoretograb1somelastminuteChirsmasgifts.Ilookedatallthepeopleandgrumbled2tomyself.IwouldbeinhereforeverandIjusthadsomuchtodo.Chirsmaswasbeginningtobecomesuchadrag.IkindawishedthatIcouldjustsleepthroughChirsmas.ButIhurriedthebestIcouldthroughallthepeopletothetoydepartment.OnceagainIkindofmumbled3tomyselfatthepricesofallthesetoys,andwonderedifthegrandkidswouldevenplaywhit4them.Ifoundmyselfinthedollaisle5.OutofthecornerofmyeyeIsawalittleboyabout5holdingalovelydoll. Hekepttouching6herhairandheheldhersogently.Icouldnotseemtohelpmyself.Ijustkeptlokingoveratthelittleboyandwonderedwhothedollwasfor.Iwatchedhimturntoawomanandhecalledhisauntbynameandsaid,"AreyousureIdon'thaveenoughmoney?"Sherepliedabitimpatiently,"Youknowthatyoudon'thaveenoughmoneyforit."Theaunttoldthelittleboynottogoanywherethatshehadtogoandgetsomeotherthingsandwouldbebackinafewminutes.Andthenshelefttheaisle.Theboycontinuedtoholdthedoll. AfterabitIaskedtheboywhothedollwasfor.Hesaid,"ItisthedollmysisterwantedsobadlyforChirsmas.ShejustknewthatSantawouldbringit."ItoldhimthatmaybeSantawasgoingtobringit.Hesaid,"No,Santacan'tgowheremysisteris....IhavetogivethedolltomyMamatotaketoher."Iaskedhimwherehissiterwas.Helookedatmewiththesaddesteyesandsaid,"ShewasgonetobewithJesus.MyDaddysaysthatMammaisgoingtohavetogobewithher." Myheartnearlystoppedbeating.Thentheboylookedatmeagainandsaid,"ItoldmyDaddytotellmyMamanottogoyet.ItoldhimtotellhertowaittillIgotbackfromthestore."Thenheaskedmeifiwantedtoseehispicture.ItoldhimI'dloveto.Hepulledoutsomepicturehe'dhadtakenatthefrontofthestore.Hesaid,"IwantmyMamatotakethiswithhersothedosen'teverforgetme.IlovemyMamasoverymuchandIwishshedindnothavetoleaveme.ButDaddysaysshewillneedtobewithmysister." Isawthatthelittleboyhadloweredhisheadandhadgrownsoqiuet.WhilehewasnotlookingIreachedintomypurseandpilledoutahandfulofbills.Iaskedthelittleboy,"Shallwecountthatmineyonemoretime?"Hegrewexcitedandsaid,"Y