Random Short Stories

Birthday gift

"Mummy, Mummy! Is this my birthday present?"

Hearing her son's excited tone, she cannot help but looked down ashamed at the little box in her hands.

It took a while before she could hand the gift over. Even then, she did it hesitantly, "I'm sorry my baby..." She repeated over and over again.

The child wondered why his mother looked so sad as she passed him his gift. Even though it was small, he still happily opened it.

It was a small straw doll.

It wasn't very pretty, the child thought, since the doll had straw hairs sticking out all over. He was sure his friends would laugh at him if they saw his doll.

Still he thanked his mum. After all that was what he was taught to do after receiving something.

Admist his disappointment, he noticed how his mother seemed even sadder.

"Mummy, are you ok?" He asked.

She broke down, sobbing.

"Mummy?" He moved closer, circling his small hands around his mother's waist as a form of reassurance.

"Mummy is sorry that she cannot buy you a nice gift..." The mother said between tears. "I'm so sorry my baby..."

The child however, couldn't understand why his mother was crying, so he stayed silent, face burried in her clothes as she continued to sob.