After seeing everyone’s gifts, Eleanor suddenly remembered she had prepared something as well.

She hurried back to her room, then dashed back, panting from the stairs. When she finally returned, she had a flushed face from running or perhaps embarrassment and handed the items to Maria.

"I originally planned to give these to you in the evening," Eleanor said.

Maria was a bit surprised that Eleanor had prepared a gift since they weren’t celebrating Christmas. Though she had told them the story of Santa Claus, she hadn’t mentioned that family and friends could exchange gifts.

Eleanor shyly explained, "You said today that good children would receive gifts, so I prepared...