December 6th brought with it a quiet excitement. On the board, Ms. Larsen had written in neat cursive: “Mission #06 – Be someone’s St. Nicholas.” Below that, a short instruction: Secretly leave a kind note or a small treat for someone today.
No one said much that morning, but there was a sparkle in the air. During breaks, whispers filled the classroom — someone sneaking a folded note into a pencil case, another slipping a chocolate onto a classmate’s chair before hurrying away. Emma left a small candy heart on Nora’s desk with a note: “For always being kind.” Jonas wrote “You make people laugh when they need it most” and placed it in Erik’s locker.
By lunchtime, the school was alive with quiet discoveries. Students found messages tucked inside books, mittens, or taped to their water bottles. The laughter that followed wasn’t loud — it was the soft kind that comes from being seen. Even those who pretended not to care couldn’t hide their smiles.
When the final bell rang, Ms. Larsen simply said, “St. Nicholas gave in secret so others would feel valued. You’ve done the same today.” And as they left, the class realized something small but powerful — you don’t need to be noticed to make a difference.