Last Christmas I was in Athens. And so as I was walking I saw a girl about my age on the street. I went and talked to her, she got scared. I asked her if she wanted help, if she was okay. She told me that she was from Ukraine and had come with her friend's mom to Greece and lives in this shed.Then I went and got her some water, some bread and a set of clothes from shorter shop. As soon as she saw me she was happy and I sat with her until she ate. I asked her about her family and she said she doesn't know where they are. We sat for a long time talking about different things and it was very nice. We became friends and she also told me that she didn't have anyone else here except her friend's mum. After she ate I had to leave and I told her that I had to leave and that I would come again one day in the new year to see her. On the way I thought that I did a good deed at Christmas, I will never forget it!

Last Christmas, two student-friends, Joe and Nena, had a project from school, where they had to do a nice act for Christmas. All the students were separated and the teacher was waiting for their work after the holidays.

The two friends didn't know what to do but suddenly, an idea came to Nena. The idea was to give things to a homeless person for Christmas. Joe agreed with her idea.

 They filled a bag with things like clothes, food, blankets and they left the house. Also in the bag, they had a small letter with good wishes.

They found a woman and gave to her the bag with all the things. The woman was suprised and very happy. She thanked the students and they wished her a Merry Christmas.

Nancy Marini D2

Kindness is the best present

It was New Year's Eve. Clare had invited over her student Amelia, to spend New Year's Eve with her, since Amelia didn't have any family to spend that special event with.

Amelia was having a great time with her teacher and her teacher's husband. They ate, watched a Christmas movie and danced to some delightfull Christmas songs! While Clare and her husband continued dancing, Amelia excused herself to the bathroom. Amelia didn't have enough money to get Clare a present so she decided to write on a small sheet of paper 'Happy New Year', hoping her teacher would like it. When it was time to open up the presents, Amelia was shivering. She was afraid of her teacher's reaction. Clare was kind of disappointed but she put on a smile on her face. However Clare's husband was furious! He yelled at Amelia for being ungrateful and told her to get out. After that they never saw eachother again or so they thought.

It had been 20 years since that incident. Amelia was all grown up and had a fine paying job. One day, she run into Clare. Amelia didn't hold a grudge towards Clare so she talked to her. Clare's husband had a serious illness, and they had to leave for England immediately. Sadly, they didn't have enough money so they couldn't go. Amelia thought for a while. She had flashbacks of how her teacher treated her when she had nothing. Since it was Christmas, she decided to pay for all of the expenses without thinking twice. It was Clare's best Christmas present.

Kindness is the best present that you can give to another person. Kindness is a human sense. To be kind is a pleasant feeling that you have to show to others. It's good to be kind because everyone likes you and when you give something that you don't want to someone that wants it, then he will like you and when you need something, perhaps he will help you.

Yesterday, I was on the bus to go to school when I saw an old person get on the bus. I quickly stood up and gave him my seat. Next day, when my friend and I were at the dentist, an old person came in with a terrible toothache. So we have them our turn. 

When you are doing these acts, you aren't waiting for the other person to thank you. You do it again and again out of kindness. 

Kindness is the best present 

One cold winter day, a poor man who had no money was sitting down on the cold sidewalk with a paper in front of him that read, 'I haven't got any money. Help me'.

Too many people passed in front of him without even looking at him. The poor man suddenly saw a serious man standing in front of him. He was happy because he thought that he might give me some money. But instead of giving him money, he kicked the paper away and left, laughing. The poor man lowered his head and said nothing.

The next two days, no one gave money to the poor man and he couldn't stand it. He died from cold and hunger. When the serious man found out, he was very upset and felt remorse. He wanted to make amends somehow. So, he decided to take part in a charity for the poor people. Those who had a lot of money and could help poor people took part in this organization. Since then, he has helped many poor people and whenever he saw a poor person, he gave them money.

On Christmas day, I met a girl whose name was Sally.  I asked her name and why she was on the street alone in this snowy weather.

She didn't answer. I asked her again and if she wanted to come to my home. She answered, "Don't worry. I am okay, thank you". I left and she started crying.

The next day. I asked my Aunt if she was ok with me bringing Sally home. She answered, "Yes, of course. You can bring anyone you want".

I went again to Sally with a little bread. She was ate the bread very quickly. I asked her, "Do you want to come to my home? I live with my Aunt".

She said, "No, please. I am okay". I was thinking that she was scared of me. She started crying again. I told her, "Don't worry, I won't bother you. We will just eat and sleep because it is night". She answered, "Okay" and we went home. We ate chicken with potatoes and after that, we slept. 

One day, a homeless man was standing outside the supermarket’s door and was waiting for someone to give him some money or some food. Nobody gave him anything. But then a girl called Mary gave him some money to get food and clothes, and then she paid a hotel for the homeless man until he found a job and had some money. This girl was a billionaire but nobody knew it because she was wearing old shoes, old clothes and lived in a small house. Mary saw the homeless man on the road or at the supermarket every day, so she decided to give him money. One day, the man found work at a restaurant and got paid enough to pay to rent an apartment, pay for his food and wanted to give Mary some money. Mary didn't keep the money from him, not because she was rich but because some people don't even have what the homeless man does now. This money went on some children and their families that needed it. 

This story takes place on Christmas Eve, inside a closed museum in Sendai, the capital of the Miyagi prefecture in Japan.

Hello there. Let me introduce myself. My name is Masamune, and I have been a ghost for centuries now. Allow me to tell you of the times when I was alive. I was born into a clan in the Sengoku period, an era of conflict and civil war. Feudalism was present all across the country. When I became eighteen years old, my father stepped down from his position as the head of the clan, and so, I took leadership.

I suffered from smallpox as a child, and as a result, I lost the vision in my right eye. I thought it was a weakness, so I cut it out and wore an eyepatch. I was a man of discipline, of valor, of honour. I started expanding my territories but was soon faced with a challenge; another warlord uniting the country under one banner. And so, I had to face him eventually. I knew I had a severe disadvantage, so I submitted to him. Later on, when he died, another person took his place, hoping to unify the lands once more. He succeeded, and as before, I submitted, since he was more powerful. After some years, he dishonoured a treaty he had made and ordered everyone to attack a clan that was opposing his rule. I had agreed, but as I continued, I realised I had lost the values I sought to possess. When I realised this, I ordered my men to fire at our supposed allies while they were battling someone else.

I died of illness in my late 60's. For so many years, I have been frowning upon people because they never act the way they actually desire; they hide their true intentions and try to take advantage of others. They are not honest, they don't live up to their word. But, when Christmas arrives, everyone seems so cheerful, so positive, and I truly believe that they do indeed feel that way and are not faking it. I see people making promises and it reminds me of my time, when we would make peace treaties with eternal foes and still have fun with them. Even in times of conflict and stress, we would see the positive side of things and thank the gods that we have lived to fight another day.