Victoria’s heart sank every time the phone didn’t ring. Her children were always too busy to call, except on Christmas. That’s why she looked forward to the holidays—it was her only chance to hear from them. But this year was different.
Her son, Matthew, had discovered she was working as a cleaner at a furniture store, and since then, he stopped communicating with her altogether.
Victoria braced herself to spend the holidays alone.
She quietly swept the floors of the store she worked at, the bristles scratching softly against the polished tiles, when suddenly, a man walked in. She froze, her broom gripping tightly in her hands. It was Matthew. His eyes were wide, staring at her with a mix of shock and disbelief.
“Matthew?” she whispered, stepping forward with a warm smile.
But instead of coming closer, he turned and bolted out of the store.
Victoria blinked in surprise. Her son had always been a mama’s boy, the kind who adored her with all his heart. Yet, as children grow, things change, she thought. She sighed, letting go of the broom, deciding to talk to him later, and returned to her work.
Ten years ago, after her husband’s death, Victoria’s children had suggested selling their large family home and moving her into a small apartment. The plan, they said, would free up money for their own businesses.
Victoria agreed, trusting them. Over time, their businesses thrived, and they became so busy that calls home were few and far between.
But Victoria’s retirement savings were not enough to live comfortably, let alone buy presents for her children and grandchildren. At 65, she took a job as a cleaner at the mall’s furniture store. The work was not hard, and she enjoyed it, chatting with coworkers and keeping herself active.
With her paycheck, she could cover her bills and even buy gifts for everyone—but she kept her job a secret from her children, fearing their reactions.
Now, seeing Matthew’s stunned expression, she understood his reaction. He seemed embarrassed, and Victoria’s heart ached. That night, she called him.
“Hi, mother… I’m busy right now. Can I call you later?” Matthew’s voice was tense, distant.
“But, honey… about today—” Victoria started, her voice trembling.
“Bye, mother,” he said firmly, and the line went dead.
Victoria’s heart sank. Being a cleaner was honest work; there was nothing shameful about it. Confused and worried, she called her daughter, Marina.
“Mom, I’m busy. I’ll call later,” Marina said sharply, barely letting Victoria speak.
Victoria sighed. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll see them at Christmas and explain everything,” she told herself.
But as the days drew closer, no calls came. She didn’t even know which of her children would host the family Christmas. Anxiety gnawed at her.
Two days before Christmas, she confided in her neighbor, Lorena Atkinson, pouring out her worries over cookies and coffee.
“I’m sure they’ll call soon, Vickie,” Lorena said, patting her hand.
“I don’t know, Lorena… They’ve never acted like this. What if they don’t invite me at all? What will I do?” Victoria fretted, gripping her cup tightly.
“Then you come to my house! Honestly, Vickie, there’s nothing wrong with your job. You’re working hard, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Lorena replied, popping a cookie into her mouth.
Lorena’s words were kind, but Victoria’s heart still ached. She wanted to spend Christmas with her family.
Christmas morning arrived, gray and cold. Victoria sat by her tree, staring at the presents, tears welling in her eyes. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. She hesitated, thinking it might be Lorena with her cheerful holiday invitation.
She opened the door—and froze. “Surprise!” her children and grandchildren shouted, filling the doorway with warmth and laughter.
Victoria clutched her chest, overwhelmed. “What… what are you doing here?”
“We’re here to see you, Grandma! This year, we’re spending the whole Christmas day with you!” Marina’s daughter, Elizabeth, called excitedly, holding a huge gift box. The other grandchildren, ages five to nine, tumbled in after her, heading straight for the presents under the tree.
“Everyone, calm down! Let’s get settled first, and then Grandma will give you your gifts,” Marina called, smiling warmly at her mother. “Mom, sorry we didn’t call earlier. This was kind of unplanned.”
“Oh, come in, come in!” Victoria exclaimed, ushering them inside. Marina’s husband entered, followed by Matthew’s wife, who hugged Victoria tightly.
Matthew came in last. Their eyes met, and Victoria felt tears prick at her eyes. He pulled her into a long, tight hug.
“I’m so sorry, Mom. I… I don’t know what came over me when I saw you at the store,” he said, his voice shaking.
Victoria held him close, savoring the moment. “Were you ashamed of me?” she whispered.
“At first, I thought so. I couldn’t believe my mother was a cleaning lady,” he admitted. “But then… after a call from Mrs. Atkinson, I realized I was more ashamed of myself.”
“My neighbor?” Victoria asked, pulling back slightly.
“Yes,” Matthew nodded. “She called and scolded me for not inviting you and not answering your calls. She told me I should be ashamed for letting you work so hard while we enjoyed the life you helped us build. That’s when it hit me.”
“What hit you?” Victoria asked.
“I felt ashamed that I never repaid you for the money from the house. I have a business, a nice car, a remodeled home… and you were struggling to pay bills. I thought I was angry at you, but it was really disappointment in myself,” Matthew explained.
Just then, Marina placed a gentle hand on Victoria’s back. “I thought I was angry too—for not knowing you needed money, for not knowing about your job. But I was really mad at myself. You should never have had to work like this. We should have taken care of you.”
“You don’t have to…” Victoria began, but Marina cut her off.
“Yes, we do. Especially after Mrs. Atkinson called me too. She reminded me how hard you worked so our kids could have presents from their grandmother. We’ve been selfish,” Marina said.
Victoria smiled, feeling grateful for Lorena’s wise intervention. “Let’s forget about it for now. It’s time to open presents!”
And they did. Laughter, joy, and hugs filled her small apartment. It was the best Christmas she’d ever had—a day she would never forget.
In the months that followed, Matthew and Marina ensured Victoria’s retirement account grew comfortably.
But she never quit her job at the furniture store; she loved it too much for the friendly coworkers and the sense of purpose it gave her. When she finally retired at 70, she had a tidy sum saved and a heart full of cherished memories.
From that Christmas onward, her children never forgot to invite her to celebrations, and they always answered her calls.
Lessons from Victoria’s story:
- Honest work is nothing to be ashamed of. Hard work matters more than the job title.
- Appreciate the sacrifices your parents made. Sometimes, children forget, but realizing and correcting those oversights can heal deep wounds.