A/N This story is inspired by a Facebook post I saw. It was about gift giving and my mind ran with this idea. Happy holidays everyone.
It was a cold cloudy day with small snow flurries flying up occasionally.
''Do you think its gonna snow so much we get to leave school early?'' Min Jun asked as they pulled up to the school.
''Probably not but it's supposed to snow tonight so you might get lucky tomorrow.'' Mi Sun told him.
''Yes.'' Min Jun cheered as he exited the car and caught up to Phil and Kai.
''Do you have your secret Santa gift?'' Mi Sun asked as she helped Ji Yeon unbuckle and get out of the car.
''Right here.'' Ji Yeon said holding up the small colorful package.''And I know don't tell the kids about Santa.''
''That's right.'' Mi Sub told her as they walked inside. MI Sun still felt a little guilty for telling Ji Yeon the truth when she was so young but Ji Yeon understood not to ruin the magic for other kids. Instead she got to help spread the magic just like Santa.
Once inside the classroom Ji Yeon placed the wrapped gift at the seat of the kid it was meant for. Ji Yeon didn't know the girl that she had picked but she hoped she liked what she picked out to give. Ji Yeon sat at her seat waiting for the other students to arrive.
Once the whole class had arrived everyone began passing their gifts out. Once everyone had one they all began opening them.
''What did you get?'' Dil asked excitedly as he admired his new glow in the dark Reptar car.
''I don't really know.'' Ji Yeon admitted as she tilted her head to get a better look at what she had opened.
''It looks like a cat.'' Rose commented as she leaned over to get a better look.
''Yeah it does.'' Ji Yeon remarked as she stared at the small black and white cat with a missing ear. It was a pitiful looking stuffed animal and Ji Yeon wondered why she had been given such a gift.
Ji Yeon looked over at the girl who had given her the cat stuffed animal. The girl was skinny with dark brown hair and wore stained clothes that looked to small for her.
Ji Yeon turned away as the girl noticed her watching and began to come over to their table.
''We can share this.'' The girl said shyly as she placed the play dough toy on the table.''I don't think I can play with this at home.''
''Ok.'' Ji Yeon agreed as she opened the play dough.''You can have your cat back if you want.''
''No. You keep it so you still get something.'' The girl assured her.
The two girls played with the play dough for awhile and slowly the girl began to open about up about herself. She had only been in the class a few weeks. She was in foster care and her name was Kate.
''How was school?l' Mun Hee asked when Ji Yeon got in the car after school.
''Good. I made a new friend.'' Ji Yeon said as she looked out the window watching the snowflakes swirl in the wind. She suddenly spotted a small figure walking down the sidewalk wearing only a sweatshirt and pants that were to short for her.''I'll be right back.''
Ji Yeon got out of the car and ran up to Kate.
''Does your mom or dad not pick you up when its cold?'' Ji Yeon asked.
Kate shivered and shook her head no.
''Want to come to my house?'' Ji Yeon asked. She didn't think that Mun Hee would mind one more kid coming over since Min Jun had invited Phil over.
Kate nodded and followed Ji Yeon to the car.
''You can wear this.'' Ji Yeon said giving Kate her pink coat to wear as they walked.
''Now can we go?'' Min Jun asked eagerly as Ji Yeon and Kate got in the car.
''If it keeps snowing like this we won't have school tomorrow for sure.'' Phil said as they began to drive home.
''What do you want to do first?'' Ji Yeon asked once they had arrived home.''We can go play or watch a movie.''
Kate looked around the house.''Um can we eat something before we play?''
''Sure. Follow me.'' Ji Yeon said leading the way to the kitchen to find Phil and Min Jun already making plates full of random snacks.
''Can we have all those snacks too?'' Kate asked as she eyed Phil and Min Jun's full plates.
''If you want to.'' Ji Yeon answered reaching into the cabinet and pulling out two of her divided plates.
''Pick anything you want.'' Ji Yeon assured Kate as they stood in front of the pantry.
Both girls filled their plates with various snacks.
''Can we have this too?'' Kate asked while looking at a package of noodles.
''Yeah, but we need help to make that.'' Ji Yeon told her as she grabbed two packges of noodles and took them to Mun Hee.
''Are you busy?'' Ji Yeon asked when she found Mun Hee sitting on the couch working on her laptop.
''Not anymore. What's up?'' Mun Hee asked.
''Will you make this for us please?'' Ji Yeon asked handing while handing her cousin the packages of noodles.
''Sure. Go ask your brother and Phil if they want some. Ni wait I'll just save you the time and make them some anyway.'' Mun Hee said getting up and going in the kitchen.
''Dont make mine to spicey please.'' Ji Yeon called.
''I know.'' Mun Hee called back.
''I don't know if I like spicey.'' Kate whispered.
''Don't make Kate's spicey.'' Ji Yeon called again.
The two girls sat down to enjoy their snacks and watch some TV.
''Are you Making noodles?'' Min Jun asked as he put his plate in the sink followed by Phil.
''Yeah but none for you.'' Mun Hee told him and then burst out laughing at the hurt look on Min Jun's face.''I'm kidding and I made it extra spicey like you two like.''
''Thanks cuz.'' Min Jun said grabbing his bowl.
''Yeah thanks cuz.'' Phil added while grabbing his own bowl.
''I'm not your cousin.'' Mun Hee muttered as Phil walked away.
''But you wish you were.'' Phil called.
''No I don't.'' Mun Hee said under her breath while she got herself, Ji Yeon, and Kate bowls of noodles.
''Can we get Boba please?'' Ji Yeon asked once everyone finished their noodles.
Mun Hee looked outside and while it was starting to get dark the snow had stopped.
Mun Hee agreed since she had to drop Phil and Kate at their houses anyway.
''I want watermelon.'' Ji Yeon said once they arrived at the Boba place.
''What kind does everywhere else want?'' Mun Hee asked.
''Coconut.'' Min Jun answered.
''Strawberry banana.'' Phil answered.
''I don't know what Boba is.'' Kate admitted quietly.
''It's popping bubbles in a fruit smoothie.'' Ji Yeon explained.''Watermelon is the best.''
''Ok I want watermelon too.'' Kate answered.
Once everyone had their Boba Phil and Kate were dropped off at their houses.
Ji Yeon was surprised to see Kate's house all decorated for Christmas. The house was big which Ji Yeon knew meant that they had money. Ji Yeon wondered why Kate wore clothes that were to small for her if her parents had money to buy her new ones.
The next day Kate arrived at school late and sporting a black eye and a couple bruises. She was also wearing a ratty super hero shirt that was clearly meant for a boy and was huge on Kate's small body.
''Are you ok?'' Ji Yeon asked when Kate took her seat next to Ji Yeon's chair but at the next table over.
Kate ignored her and got to work coloring a picture.
Ji Yeon wondered what she had done to make Kate mad at her.
''I think Kate is mad at me but I don't know why.'' Ji Yeon told Dil and Rose.
''Maybe she didn't have fun at your house yesterday.'' Rose suggested.
''That can't be right.'' Dil said.''We always have fun when we play at Ji Yeon's house.''
''You're right.'' Rose said feeling slightly guilty for her guess.
The kids couldn't think of any more reasons why Kate would be mad at Ji Yeon so they all got to work on drawings of their own.
Once lunch time came around everyone went to their cubbies to grab their lunches. Dil joined Ji Yeon and Rose at their table. All three began to eat until Ji Yeon noticed that Kate didn't have a lunch.
''Hey guys Kate doesn't have any lunch.'' Ji Yeon told them.
''She can have some of my mustard pretzels.'' Rose offered.
''And a cookie from my mommy.'' Dil added.''She gave me four today.''
Ji Yeon looked down at her lunch and scooped out some rice and a few cucumber slices. She didn't know if Kate would eat any of the other Korean food that was Ji Yeon's lunch.
''We saw that you didn't have any food so we're sharing our lunches with you.'' Dil said as the three kids approached Kate with their offerings.
''Thanks guys.'' Kate said smiling a tiny smile.
''Come sit with us.'' Rose offered.
Kate followed and the four kids sat down and began eating.
''Sorry I ignored you earlier.'' Kate apologized once they had finished eating.
Ji Yeon sat in her chair with a sad look on her face. She had thought that they had had fun the day before.
''I got home to late and got in trouble. It's not your fault though. That was the most fun I had ever.'' Kate explained with a bright smile.
Ji Yeon smiled at that. Happy that she had made a new friend. From that day on she made sure to bring two lunches.
''Why do you want two lunches?'' Mi Sun asked on the second day that Ji Yeon asked for one.
''Cuz my new friend doesn't have lunch.'' Ji Yeon explained.
MI Sun thought it was strange but didn't ask anymore questions.
''Why don't you invite your new friend over for a sleepover this weekend.'' Mi Sun suggested as she handed Ji Yeon the second lunch which consisted of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, some grapes, and an orange.
''Can Dil and Rose come too?'' Ji Yeon begged.
''Sure.'' Mi Sun agreed.
''Do you guys want to have a sleepover this weekend?'' Ji Yeon asked when she arrived at school.
Dil and Rose agreed right away but Kate hesitated before answering.
''I gotta ask.'' Kate said quietly. She hoped her foster parents would say yes.
Friday came and since it was winter break the adults all agreed to the sleepover since the kids wouldn't see each other until school started after the new year.
They did all of the usual sleepover things like watch a movie, eat snacks, and stay up late. Soon it was time for everyone to go home. Kate left when the others did.
Ji Yeon was getting ready for bed when she heard tapping on her window.
''Kate what are you doing here? I thought you went home.'' Ji Yeon asked.
''Can I tell you a secret?'' Kate asked.
Ji Yeon nodded and moved away from the window to allow Kate into her room.
''You know how I don't live with my parents?'' Kate asked.
JI Yeon nodded once more and sat on her bed.
''Well my not parents are really mean to me. They hurt me and don't give me very much food.'' Kate explained.''I don't want to live with them anymore.''
The two girls jumped at the soft knock on the bedroom door. Soon after Mi Sun and Jin entered the room.
''I didn't know she was here. I promise.'' Ji Yeon pleaded.''We can't make her go back to her mean family.''
''I know.'' Mi Sun said giving Ji Yeon a hug.
''We're here to take her to her new family.'' Jin added.
''How do I have a new family?'' Kate asked.
''I made some calls and got you out.'' Jin said.''You can meet your new family in the morning now that we know where you are.''
Kate smiled and felt relaxed for what felt like the first time in a long time.
The next morning they went shopping for Kate to get a new outfit.
''Wait.'' Ji Yeon called when they had arrived at Kate's new house.''I got this for you.''
Kate turned away from the smiling couple who waited for her on the front porch and stared back at the friend who helped make her life better and saw what she was holding.
''It's like you old one,but not messed up.'' Ji Yeon said holding up a tuxedo cat stuffed animal.
''Do you like it?'' Ji Yeon asked hopefully.
''I love it. You can throw away my old one if you want to.'' Kate said.
Ji Yeon shook her head no.'' I'll keep it to remember you since you start a new school after new year.'' Ji Yeon told her.
''Thank you for everything.'' Kate said as the two shared a hug.
''I'm happy that Kate got a new home, but I'm gonna miss her.'' Ji Yeon admitted.
''I know you will, but you did the right thing by telling us what Kate was going through.'' Jin told her as they drove home.
That Christmas was extra special. Kate and her new family came all the way across town to celebrate with Ji Yeon and her family. Kate looked happy and even put on a little weight in the short time she had been at her new home.
The End