Please give me a plate of food, it's our Christmas.

That night of December 24, 2024, Ricardo had spoken to his family via WhatsApp, letting them know that it would not be possible to spend Christmas in the state of Piauí, since he was scheduled to spend it on December 25. He received blessings from his parents and wished everyone a blessed night, but before midnight he would call again, telling them that he would be changing address because he had bought another apartment.

At that moment, Ricardo left in a hurry, and suddenly, some presents fell out of his bag. Two boys who were at the building's fountain ran to pick up the presents that had fallen on the street, and one of them shouted loudly. The sound of the stores celebrating with sales and people rushing by was barely audible.

-Hey, young man! Hey, young man! These things fell out of your bag.

Ricardo heard the calls and looked back, saw the two boys running to give him the presents, and at that moment, Ricardo stopped and received them from the boys. Moments later Ricardo asks.

-Who are you?

The 12-year-old boy answers.

-We're from here, my father and mother Jesus already took. We live under that fountain.

-Do you live on the street? Aren't you afraid of bandits and gunshots? I really appreciate you calling me. And what about your Christmas?

Are there many presents?

Jorge, aged twelve, answers.

-No, sir, we didn't get anything. We don't have Christmas. Please give me a plate of food, we're hungry.

The younger brother, aged six, says:

-Sir, I want a bed and to sleep in peace without anyone throwing water on me.

Hearing this embarrassing situation, Ricardo asks.

-Didn't you have dinner?

-No one gave us dinner, much less helped us. Are we hungry, sir?

-Tell me, what would you really like to get this Christmas? Did you lose your slippers?

- Food and a bed to sleep in, that would be our Christmas. We haven't had slippers since Dad died.

The words of the boy Jorge touched Ricardo's heart, and he was moved and called the children to go to the clothing and shoe store.

Let's go to the clothing store and choose your clothes.

- Young man, we want to eat. Then we'll see about the clothes.

Ricardo got the food at the restaurant and took the younger ones, who left satisfied, and the oldest said,

- Today, the baby Jesus will bless you even more. Believe me.

- Thank you. Amen! Let's go to the clothing store.

When they arrived at the clothing store, Ricardo spoke to two attendants and they took care of their orders. They bought shorts, shirts, pants, T-shirts, sheets, sneakers, shoes and sandals.

The boys, with smiles on their faces, thanked them and put on new clothes.

- Young man, that's a lot. We don't have anywhere to store all this.

The tears fell to the floor. And the crying boy said,

- I've never had a Christmas like this. God is watching all this.

The other man spoke.

-Thank you, young man. God is with you.

-Young man, go to the lottery so you can play these 6 numbers for the Mega da Virada. This ticket is yours. It's my gift from God to you.

Ricardo then thanks you and tells the minors.

-We still need to buy the two beds. I'll buy them now and the store will tell me to leave them. And what about the Juvenile Court?

-I don't care. They've never done anything for us. They've never taken us off the streets, they've never given us school, lunch or snacks. They just say there are no vacancies. The only vacancies are at the cemetery and the jail. That's what they tell us.

Ricardo, when he arrives at his address, gets out with the bags.

-We're here and get out of the Uber with the boxes. I'll give you my apartment and please be careful. Tomorrow, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served until we resolve this problem. Here are the keys to the apartment. Soon your beds will be ready and you can forget about the streets. I never want to see you on the streets begging for money again.

- Young man, may God bless your words.

This is what happened on December 24, 2024, the night of the birth of baby Jesus in exchange for a plate of food. These multiple abandonments and also the deprivations of children on the streets, turning them into undesirable homes. Not to mention the countless situations that children go through.

The streets certainly become an addiction for children in their development, and public departments are responsible for doing little for the vulnerable people who live in public places.