High school student Kailah McAlister dreamed of a ball gown for her upcoming Spring Formal. She fell in love with a beautiful sea-blue, floor-length gown embellished with flowers, but sadly, it was way out of her budget.
The determined teen set her eyes on the prize, however, and started working extra jobs to save up for the gown she wanted. She was reluctant to ask her parents for help; Kailah knew they couldn’t afford it.
Time went by, and Kailah’s bank balance grew slowly but surely. Still, the teen knew she had a way to go before the dress could come home with her. Kailah revisited the store to see the dress and remind herself that her hard work was worth it. However, when she arrived, there was a shock in store for her.
The ball gown had been sold.
Kailah was devastated. Her hard work and diligence would count for nothing! She would never be able to find that same dress again in time for her prom.
Or so she thought.
Before long, the holidays took over everybody’s thoughts. Christmas morning rolled around, and Kailah’s doting dad, Jeremy, had the camera rolling as he and his wife invited their girls downstairs to open Christmas gifts. Kailah, having buried her heartache over her dream dress, had no idea what was in store for her.
“Merry Christmas!” Dad says, as Kailah descends the stairs, only to get the shock of her life. She quickly clocks the dress she‘d been saving for but never thought she’d own hanging proudly by the Christmas tree.
Her reaction is precious; the overwhelmed teen buries her face in her hands and starts to sob.
“You don’t even know how much this means to me!” she cries, as her father squeezes her tightly. Touched by his daughter’s reaction, Jeremy sheds a quiet tear of his own.
“I was so worried that I wasn’t going to be able to get it,” Kailah sobs. “Now I got it, thank you!”
Then, Kailah’s mom reveals a hidden detail of the story: the store owner was in on it! When Kailah returned to inquire about the dress, the store owner told her, “I’m sorry honey, somebody bought that dress.”
A heartbroken Kailah returned home. But what the store owner didn’t tell her was that Kailah’s own parents had bought the dress instead. She had kept the McAlisters’ secret in order to preserve the adorable surprise.
It’s no wonder that Kailah’s moving response went viral!
Friends Read Free