The Little Red Coat

There once was a little red coat. It was the perfect size for a little person just over two feet high, and about the same age in years. The first little boy who wore the coat, loved to laugh and go to the library. The second little person was a girl, for red is a girl color too you see. She was so beautiful with her big blue eyes. The third little person to wear the coat was once again a little boy, so handsome. He loved to play in the shower, where he did not need to wear his little red coat. The last little boy still wears the coat, mostly to play outside in the dirt.

All through the years the mother of these small people had faithfully washed the coat. Without a second thought she would throw it in the washing machine with the other dirty clothes. Then one day as she quickly took the little red coat off the last little boy, she saw that it was covered in melted ice cream and would, once again, need to be washed. This time, however, she looked at the worn cuffs with the elastic showing through, and sadly realized that this little boy would be the last to wear the little red coat.

How many times had this little coat played at the park, gone for a treat, or went for a walk? The mother then thought to herself, I am so tired of doing laundry, I must have washed this little red coat 500 times. With a sigh she put that little red coat in the washer once again. Feeling sorry for herself, she thought of all the loads of laundry she had washed, dried, folded, and put away over the years. Despite her efforts, the piles of laundry always returning.

Then one day, the mother went to the school where the first little boy, and the little girl now went to school. She spoke with their teachers, and came home with a pile of notes and graded assignments. She quickly placed the papers on the counter with a thought that she would look at them later, maybe once the kids were all in bed.

Days passed, and the pile of papers sat waiting. The mother not yet knowing, that the pile sat holding a treasure that would warm her tired heart. One day, however, she shuffled through the papers and found the treasure! The first little boy, who had worn the red coat, had written a paper that said this:

"My Mom helps me in many ways. She cooks me dinner every night and makes sure everybody likes the food she makes. My mom also almost always comes to my school and sporting events and always makes me feel good. When I am sick my mom makes me special food that is easy for me to eat.

"My mom is one of the funniest people I know. One time at the gas station she was accidentally mooned by a man with his pants low but she has always had a great sense of humor about that and other things.

"My Mom is a realy supportive person. She always laughs at my jokes, and help me when something funny to other people, hurts my feelings.

"My Mom loves me so much and I know that because she always makes sure I have clean clothes to wear. And when I go somewhere with my friends She makes sure I am safe and happy."

A smile came to the mother's mouth and her eyes glistened with tears. When she walked through the kitchen to the laundry room, there was a lightness in her step that had not been there before. With a happy heart, she moved the clean clothes into the dryer, yet again.

-Alma