Poor Boy Cries About Leaky Boots until He Meets New Classmate Without Legs – Story of the Day

A poor boy who whines to his mother about his leaking boots learns the meaning of true happiness after meeting his new classmate who is confined to a wheelchair.

Eric was a nine-year-old boy who lived with his single mother, Stacey, and sister, Lily. Stacey worked as a waitress and didn't make a huge living, so they sometimes lived paycheck to paycheck.

Because they were in a hand-to-mouth condition, they couldn't always afford groceries and sometimes survived on ramen for days. Eric felt horrible for their situation but worse for himself, especially in school.

Eric's leather boots were worn, with most of the material flaking off. Worse, the shoes did not protect his feet from the rain, and his socks became soaked as water seeped through the holes. Stacey had attempted to patch the holes with the leather from an old purse, but it was futile.

Eric's classmates teased and mocked him because he wore his filthy, leaking boots to school every day. He couldn't afford expensive sneakers like his peers, and he was ridiculed for it.

Appreciate the things you have and be grateful.

"I'll give you my old sneakers for free, Eric," the class bully would taunt him. "All I need is someone to carry my schoolbag for me daily. I can give you some of my pocket money... After all, you and your mother are so poor!"

All the kids would join him in laughing at Eric, and Eric felt very hurt. He would always cry on the way back home and hated his boots.

One day, Eric returned from school and complained to Stacey about his outdated boots. He told her he needed new shoes. He began sobbing and stomping his feet. "Can we please buy them, mom? Please, please, please?"

Stacey was making dinner and very tired. She got irritated and yelled at Eric. "How many times have I told you not to bother me while I'm cooking, Eric? Go to your room."

"I hate my boots, mom! They were leaking again today in the rain. Why can't you get me new shoes? Please, mom!"

"Because I spent our last savings on your sister's medication! She is sick, Eric, you know that. You need to act like a responsible big brother. Stop throwing tantrums!" she told him irritably, and Eric's eyes welled up.

"I HATE YOU!" he yelled. "You only care about Lily! You don't love me!"

Stacey sighed, realizing she was too harsh. "I'm sorry, Eric. Look, the thing is…."

"No, mom! I don't want to listen to anything! I hate you!" he cried and ran to his room.

After preparing dinner, Stacey went to his room with his dinner plate and consoled him.

"I'm sorry, Eric," she whispered as she hugged him. "We're going through a rough patch, honey, but I swear I'll get you new shoes as soon as possible. You see, Eric, it matters a lot when we are happy during tough times. Because tough times don't last long, but tough people do….As far as the boots are concerned, I'll take them to a cobbler and have them repaired. I'm sure they'll last longer."

But Eric refused to listen to her. "You got it fixed so many times, mom! You can spend money on Lily, but you never buy anything for me! You had promised me new shoes for my birthday, mom, but you never got them!"

Stacey's eyes welled up with tears. "Oh, honey..."

"Leave it, mom!" Eric said sadly. "I don't want anything. I don't want shoes, and I don't want dinner..."

Stacey tried to console Eric again, but it was futile. With time, he stopped spending time with her and Lily and was always alone in his room. He would refuse to eat dinner and go to bed hungry almost every night.

Stacey was very worried because Eric was a growing boy. He needed food and good nutrition. It hurt her that she was to blame for everything that had happened. Eric wouldn't be disappointed if she had a decent job. She wished she had been a better mother to him.

A few days later, when Eric went to class, he took his seat quietly and hid his feet under his chair, as usual. He was embarrassed to show his boots, as he knew the other classmates would laugh at him.

As the math teacher, Mrs. Fletcher, entered the class, all the students greeted her. "Today, we have a very special friend with us," she said with a smile. "Everyone, please welcome Ben, your new classmate."

Soon after, a boy in a wheelchair entered, and a loud gasp rang out in the classroom because the new boy didn't have legs. Eric put his hand to his mouth in shock.

Someone from behind yelled: "He is handicapped! Do you even know how to walk?" Then some students began to laugh.

Despite the insult, Ben had a huge smile on his face, and Eric wondered why.

"Shh...everyone, be quiet!" Mrs. Fletcher told the children, and they became quiet. Eric, on the other hand, couldn't take his eyes off Ben.

Throughout the day, Ben smiled at everyone, seemed happy, and didn't react to the insults of the students who tried to mock him for being disabled. Eric couldn't believe Ben was happy as if was nothing wrong with him.

When everyone left the class, he decided to talk to Ben. "How can you be so happy? Don't you feel bad when others make fun of you? You...you don't have legs. Doesn't that make you sad?"

"Hey, I'm Ben, and you are…."

"I'm Eric. All the kids tease me for my old boots because my mom is poor," he said shyly. "They tease you too. I know they hurt you."

"No, they don't," said Ben, and Eric was confused. "They can't hurt me, and they can't hurt you either, Eric, if you don't let them."

"What - what do you mean?"

Ben grinned. "I don't have legs, but I have a chair that takes me around, and I'm grateful for that. This is my magic chair! My mom always tells me that we should be thankful for what we have because we will be happy when we are grateful and appreciate what we have. Else, we will always be sad."

"And who wants to be sad when you can be happy? Imagine if I didn't have my magic chair. I wouldn't be able to go to different places…So we should be happy with what we have. That's true happiness!"

After listening to Ben, Eric realized he could be happy with his boots. Because if he didn't have them, he'd have to walk barefoot, which would hurt his feet! But because he had boots, he could walk comfortably! Rain was an issue, but he could always get his shoes fixed!

So when Eric got home that day, he decided to apologize to Stacey for his bad behavior. He had picked up flowers on the way home and tied them together with a rubber band, and made a bouquet for Stacey before he apologized.

"I should appreciate what I have, mom," he told her. "I am sorry I hurt you and shouted at you. I am ok with my boots. I am happy," he said. Then he gave her the bouquet and hugged her.

"Oh, honey, but…."

"I don't want new boots, mom. I want to be happy. We can be happy if we want to be happy, mom. My new friend told me. I won't trouble you again!"

"Oh, I love you, honey. You are a big boy!" Stacey hugged Eric, and her tears poured silently.

What can we learn from this story?

• We can be happy if we want to be. Nothing, not even a serious injury, made Ben miserable because he chose happiness over despair.
• Appreciate the things you have and be grateful. After speaking with Ben, Eric understood he could be content with what he had and learned to value it.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a poor mom who sold her late son's unworn boots to help a homeless woman and her child.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone's life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.