It happened when I was inside a clothing shop, trying to buy a couple last minute gifts for both Dick and Alfred as Christmas was approaching quickly, too quickly for my taste.

I know I shouldn't be a scrooge, especially with a young child around the house now, and maybe I wouldn't be if crime took even a small break for the holidays. But Batman has been so busy these nights, and with business to attend to during the day, I am hardly in the merry mood. I was expecting to be able to spend more personal time with Dick during these last few weeks leading up to Christmas.

But alas, here it is, Christmas eve, and I'm in line making last minute purchases for my new son…when really, he should have been the very first person I got my shopping done for. I should be home with him right now… But I digress.

There is a little boy standing right in front of me in line, can't be any older than nine or ten years of age. His clothes are worn and old. He doesn't look like he has had a bath in I don't even want to think about how long. He has dirt on him from head to toe.

This makes me think to all the kids that are homeless in gotham, far too many. It breaks my heart. Even with how rich I am, I could never help all the kids in this city.

The boy is fidgeting quite anxiously as he waits. Has a pair of shoes in his hands. And even with as much as his appearance unsettled me, nothing could have prepared me for what he said when it came his time to pay.

"sir, I want to buy these shoes for my mama please. Its Christmas eve and these shoes are just her size." The man at the till smiled at the boy.

"Of course" He took the shoes and started typing some code into the computer.

"I'm sorry, but could you hurry sir? I don't think there's much time left. You see, she's been sick for quite a while, but I know these shoes will make her smile. And I want her to look beautiful, if mama meets Jesus tonight."

The man paused, seemingly frozen for a moment, then nodded at the boy.

"Well, let's see what we can do then." With that, the boy took a penny bank and emptied its contents onto the counter. Pennies, nothing but pennies. They took forever counting them all, and when it was finally done, the cashier looked at the boy and said,

"Son, there's not enough here." Frantically, the boy searched his pockets, coming up with nothing. Then it happened, he turned and looked at said,

" Mama made Christmas good in our house, though most years she just did without. Tell me sir, what am I going to do? Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes."

No comments, no thinking, my hand moved automatically. Putting the money he needed down on the counter. How could I, who was I to say no to this little boy? I just had to help him out.

I'll never forget the look on his face when he said "Mama's gonna look so great!"

He finished paying the cashier, thanked me and ran out.

At that moment, I knew that I had caught a glimpse of heaven's love. I knew that God had sent that little boy, and as I left the store, there was a feeling that I just could not ignore. That this was not the last that I would see of that little boy.

Somehow, someway, someday I would meet him again.

Any guesses on who the little boy was? I think it's pretty obvious LOL. This is based on the song with the same name.

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