On a freezing winter night, snow covered the small village of Pinewood. The wind howled through the empty streets, and everyone stayed inside their warm homes.
Near the marketplace, a poor boy named Leo shivered in the cold. His clothes were torn, and his hands were numb. He had no family and nowhere to sleep. The cold felt unbearable.
Behind a shop, Leo saw a small pile of coal. Desperate to stay warm, he quietly took a few pieces and ran away. He knew stealing was wrong, but he feared he might freeze during the night.
As he hurried away, a girl named Clara saw him. Clara was kind-hearted and curious. Instead of shouting or calling for help, she followed him to an old shed near the forest.
There she saw Leo trying to light a tiny fire with the coal. His hands trembled from the cold.
“Why did you steal it?” Clara asked softly.
Leo looked down in shame. “I was cold and hungry. I didn’t want to steal, but I didn’t know what else to do.”
Clara felt sorry for him. She realized he was not a bad boy—just someone trying to survive the harsh winter.
“Wait here,” she said.
A few minutes later, Clara returned carrying a basket with warm soup, bread, and a thick blanket. Leo’s eyes filled with tears.
“You’re helping me?” he asked in surprise.
“Everyone deserves kindness in winter,” Clara replied with a smile.
Leo ate the food gratefully while warming himself by the fire. From that day on, Clara often visited him and helped him find work in the village. Slowly, Leo’s life became better.
The villagers later learned what had happened. Instead of punishing Leo, they helped him too. Clara’s kindness had changed not only Leo’s life but also the hearts of the people around her.
And in the coldest winter, the warmest thing of all was kindness.
