Boy Runs into Huge Box on Doorstep in the Winter Cold, Hears Loud Cry from Inside — Story of the Day

A little boy stops in his tracks when he answers the doorbell and discovers a box on the doorstep with a crying baby inside – but who had mercilessly abandoned the child out there in the cold, let alone in a box?

When Kevin Anderson turned 6, he asked his parents to give him something that left them awestruck. “Mommy! Daddy!” he said. “Do you promise me that you will get me what I want for my birthday?”

“Sure, honey,” his mother, Caroline, said. “What exactly do you want?”

“Well, I think I know it,” his father, Andrew, guessed. “Isn’t it the latest Transformers collection? I know Kevin wants that!”

“No, Daddy!” Kevin giggled. “I want a little baby! Paul told me that when his sister was born, his parents said she was a gift from God. Can you please ask God to give me a little sister too? Even a little brother is okay.”

His parents exchanged a quick look, their faces flushed with embarrassment. Caroline and Andrew had decided to expand their family once they had a larger house, but when Kevin suggested having a younger sibling, they couldn’t help but smile shyly at the boy. “All right, Kevin,” his father said. “You know there is a way by which God can answer your wishes.”

“Really?”

“Yes, honey. All you need to do is write a letter to him. Maybe ask Santa for a little help? He’s quite close with God.”

To little Kevin, it sounded pretty convincing, and he was relieved that his father’s idea would work. So that year, at Christmas, Kevin wrote his first letter to Santa to help him convince God to send him a little sister or brother soon. Little did the boy know that God would answer his prayers far too soon…

Kevin wrote a letter to Santa to ask for a sibling | Photo: Pexels

Kevin wrote a letter to Santa to ask for a sibling | Photo: Pexels

One wintry evening, Kevin was about to leave the house to play with his friends when his doorbell rang. “Andrew, could you please check who’s there?” Caroline asked from the kitchen where she was baking cookies.

Andrew, who was busy looking for something in his closet, asked Kevin to check the door. “Kevin, can you please check the door, honey? Daddy will be there in a minute.”

“Okay, daddy,” the boy replied, running to the door, but when he answered it, he was baffled. There wasn’t anyone standing at their doorstep, but there was a huge brown box. He tried lifting it to bring it inside, but as he shook it a little, a loud crying sound came from within it.

Kevin took a step back from the box, terrified, but the crying continued. When he finally opened it, he couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw a baby inside, wrapped in a thin rag.

He dashed to his parents with the baby in his arms. “Mommy! Daddy! God answered my prayer! Look, it’s a baby.”

Kevin found a baby inside a box | Photo: Pexels

Kevin found a baby inside a box | Photo: Pexels

Having just entered the living room, Andrew froze in place when he saw the child in Kevin’s arms. Caroline, too, wondered about the crying sound from the living room and gasped when she arrived and saw Kevin holding a baby.

“Where did you find the baby, honey?” she asked, worried.

“There was a box on our doorstep, mommy. I am so happy that God sent me a sibling! Yay!”

Andrew took the baby from Kevin and rushed to the door, where the box was lying. He looked around to see if the person who’d left the box and the baby was still there. But all he saw was thick snow that had enclosed the entire area.

“There’s no one there,” he said when he returned. “What should we do now?”

Caroline took the baby in her arms, and as she rocked the child to stop the crying, she sensed the little one was running a temperature. “Honey,” she told Andrew. “I think we should take the child to a hospital. We need to get the baby checked.”

With that, Andrew and Caroline decided to visit the hospital and asked their neighbor, Mrs. Clemmens, to look after Kevin while they were away.

Caroline noticed the baby was running a temperature | Photo: Pexels

Caroline noticed the baby was running a temperature | Photo: Pexels

The doctors said the baby had a fever because of being left in the cold, and they would keep her under observation for a while. “Your daughter will be here for a while, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. Before we admit her, please complete the formalities at the reception desk.”

Andrew and Caroline looked at each other. They couldn’t just write it in the form that they were the child’s parents. They needed to inform the cops about it, so they did. The CPS and police were informed, and it was decided that after the baby girl was discharged, she would be placed in the hospital’s orphanage while the cops searched for her parents.

Back at home, Andrew and Caroline had to lie to Kevin that the baby was sick and would be hospitalized for a long time. However, after nearly a month passed with no news of anyone showing up as the baby’s parents, she was officially admitted to the orphanage. And it was at that point that Andrew and Caroline considered adopting her.

They decided to embrace her and raise her as her own and thought that Kevin would love to have her as a younger sibling. So they filed for her adoption, and two months later, when it was finalized and the baby came home, Andrew and Caroline felt like their family was finally complete.

But everything changed one fateful afternoon when a woman appeared on Andrew and Caroline’s doorstep, claiming to be the baby’s biological mother…

Caroline and Andrew adopted the baby | Photo: Pexels

Caroline and Andrew adopted the baby | Photo: Pexels

One year later…

“Hi there, lady, my name is Laura. And the baby you’re holding in your arms is my daughter. I shouldn’t have left her in that stupid box! Give her back,” the woman said rudely as Caroline answered the door. Her demeanor was stiff and stern, and her tone was anything but sweet. Caroline was taken aback by her sight, to say the least.

“What? What did you just say? Your daughter?!” A fit of sudden anger gripped Caroline. “She’s mine, and I’m not going to give her to you! We officially adopted her a year ago, and you have no legal right to her!”

Laura smirked. “We’ll see about that in court, lady! Here,” she said, handing Caroline a document. “I’ve filed for custody of my daughter, and I’ll get her back at any cost! After all, I am the biological mother,” she said before walking away.

That night, Caroline and Andrew were very worried. The first court hearing was a week later, and they had no idea what would happen. What if they lost? What if their daughter was taken away? They knew the chances of that happening were minimal, but they were scared.

Laura challenged Caroline for the baby's custody | Photo: Pexels

Laura challenged Caroline for the baby’s custody | Photo: Pexels

Thankfully, after hearing from both parties, the judge ruled in Andrew and Caroline’s favor. Laura’s parental rights were terminated because she abandoned her child a year ago and never bothered to look after her, and if she wanted them restored, she would have to adhere to a specific timeframe as described by the law and provide additional proof that she could care for her child better than her adoptive parents.

Laura knew she couldn’t do that. She lived in a small house and had very little money. After her husband had died, she decided to abandon the baby on the Andersons’ doorstep and focus on her new boyfriend.

However, when she discovered that her late husband had left all of his money to their daughter rather than her, she left her boyfriend so that she wouldn’t have to share all of the money and decided to take her daughter back. But it was too late. She was merely a waitress at a pub, and her living conditions would never persuade the court that she was capable of caring for her child.

So, in the end, Andrew and Caroline won the case. And years later, they also bought a new house and welcomed another beautiful baby girl. Kevin was overjoyed when he found out he had another younger sister.

What can we learn from this story?

  • Love is what makes a family and not necessarily biology. Andrew and Caroline adopted Laura’s child and raised her as their own.
  • Greed will lead you nowhere. Laura first abandoned her baby to enjoy life with her new boyfriend, and later, to obtain all of her husband’s money, she left her boyfriend. In the end, she ended up with nothing.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a young widow who heard her late husband knock from inside his coffin at his funeral.

This account is inspired by our reader’s story and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.

I Found a Christmas Gift in My Husband’s Closet, but It Had His Mistress’s Name on It – So I Switched It to Get Revenge

Finding a hidden Christmas gift is supposed to bring excitement and joy — but what if the tag reveals a name that shatters your trust? One woman’s discovery turned heartbreak into a bold act of revenge that’s equal parts shocking and satisfying.

Two days before Christmas, I found a hidden gift box in my husband’s closet meant for his mistress. I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. I planned the “perfect” surprise instead, one they’d never forget.

I never thought I’d be the type of woman who’d get creative with payback, but life has a way of surprising you. Just like finding that little red gift box in my husband’s closet surprised me. Now, sitting here with a glass of wine, I can’t help but smile at how perfectly my Christmas surprise turned out.

An upset woman | Source: Midjourney

An upset woman | Source: Midjourney

The first sign something was wrong came a month before Christmas. Jimmy started working late… really late. The kind of late that makes you wonder if your husband’s office actually has a bed hidden somewhere.

Then, one day, out of the blue, he was already home. Weird.

“Hey, you’re home early! I took half a day off today. Headache. So, how was the meeting with the client” his voice echoed from the kitchen as I walked through our front door at 7 p.m. These days, that counts as early.

I dropped my keys in the ceramic bowl we’d bought on our honeymoon. “Yeah, the meeting was fine.”

A man smiling | Source: Midjourney

A man smiling | Source: Midjourney

The house felt empty despite the Christmas decorations I’d put up — the garland along the stairs, the wreaths on every door, and the giant tree in our living room that I’d decorated alone while Jimmy worked another late night.

“I made pasta,” he called out. “Want some?”

“Already ate.” I headed upstairs, my footsteps heavy on the wooden stairs. “Got a headache. Think I’ll turn in early.”

A woman ascending upstairs | Source: Midjourney

A woman ascending upstairs | Source: Midjourney

That night, I lay awake listening to Jimmy’s steady breathing beside me, wondering when exactly we’d become strangers who shared a bed. Five years of marriage, no kids yet. We’d been “waiting for the right time.”

Now, I wondered if there’d ever be one.

My mom had warned me about marrying young. “You’re only 23, Alina,” she’d said. “What’s the rush?”

But I’d been so sure. Jimmy was different. He was special. He was… well, currently getting a text at 2 a.m. that made his phone light up the darkness of our bedroom.

A man using a smartphone in his bedroom | Source: Midjourney

A man using a smartphone in his bedroom | Source: Midjourney

Two days before Christmas, I finally tackled Jimmy’s disaster of a home office and then started cleaning his closet. Between the messy clothes, tangled charging cables, and abandoned gym gear, something caught my eye.

It was a red gift box tucked behind some of his winter coats.

My heart skipped. Maybe I’d been wrong. Maybe he’d planned a surprise. Maybe all those late nights were just him working hard to afford something special for me.

Then I saw the note attached with a pristine silver ribbon: “LOVE YOU, JULIE!”

Here’s the heartbreaker: My name IS NOT JULIE!

A red gift box | Source: Midjourney

A red gift box | Source: Midjourney

The world didn’t stop spinning. My hands didn’t shake. Instead, a strange calm washed over me as I opened the box to find a diamond necklace — the exact one I’d shown him months ago during our anniversary dinner.

“Look how beautiful that is,” I’d said, pointing to the jewelry store window.

“Too expensive,” he’d replied, barely glancing up from his phone.

Apparently not too expensive for Julie, though!

A heartbroken woman holding a red gift box | Source: Midjourney

A heartbroken woman holding a red gift box | Source: Midjourney

I pulled out my phone and dialed Mark, my furniture-fixing friend from college. “Remember when you said you owe me for helping with your divorce paperwork? Time to cash in that favor.”

“Alina? Everything okay?”

“Not really. How good are you at modifying gift boxes?”

Mark’s workshop smelled like sawdust and revenge when I visited. He whistled as he examined the box. “You sure about this, Alina? Once we modify it, we can’t—”

“Absolutely.” I handed him a small canister that contained my secret recipe for revenge. “Make it count.”

A woman holding a small canister | Source: Midjourney

A woman holding a small canister | Source: Midjourney

“It’ll trigger the moment anyone lifts the lid more than an inch.” He demonstrated the mechanism with careful hands. “Spring-loaded, just like you asked. It will hit everything within a three-foot radius. Industrial grade stuff.”

I smiled, imagining the scene. “Perfect!”

“Want to tell me who it’s for?”

“Let’s just say someone’s getting an extra special Christmas surprise this year.”

A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney

A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney

That evening, I returned the gift box to its hiding spot, right where Jimmy would expect to find it. Now came the hard part… waiting.

Christmas morning dawned bright and cold. I’d always loved the magic, anticipation, and joy of Christmas. This year, I felt a different kind of anticipation as I watched from the kitchen while Jimmy grabbed his coat, the red box poorly hidden under his arm.

“Heading to the office, hun?” I asked sweetly, stirring my coffee. “On Christmas?”

A man smiling against the backdrop of Christmas decorations | Source: Midjourney

A man smiling against the backdrop of Christmas decorations | Source: Midjourney

“Just for an hour,” he mumbled, not meeting my eyes. “Emergency client meeting, sugar.”

“Of course. Don’t work too hard.”

He smiled and left. I grabbed my car keys and followed him to Honey Bunz, our favorite restaurant.

Through the window, I saw her. JULIE. My husband’s mistress. She had that perfectly styled blonde hair, red lipstick, and a designer outfit. Everything I didn’t have.

A young woman smiling in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

A young woman smiling in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

Julie bounced in her seat like a kid on Christmas morning as Jimmy approached. “Awww, Jim, darling! You shouldn’t have!” She clapped her hands together, drawing stares from nearby tables.

“Anything for you, sweetheart.” Jimmy’s voice carried through the window he’d forgotten to close completely. He slid into the booth across from her, presenting the glittery box with a flourish. “I picked it out for you, my love.”

“Oh my god, is it…?” Julie’s eyes widened as she grabbed the box. “The diamond necklace from La Enchanted Diamonds? The one I showed you last month? The diamond ring from Botswana?”

An excited woman holding a glittery gift box | Source: Midjourney

An excited woman holding a glittery gift box | Source: Midjourney

“Open it and see, sugar.” Jimmy leaned forward, grinning like a fool.

“I’m trying. The knot seems a bit too tight,” Julie said.

“Let me help you,” Jimmy rose from his chair and approached her as they untied the ribbon.

“Three…” I whispered, my phone steady and recording. “Two… one…”

SPLAT!

The explosion of green paint was magnificent. Julie’s scream hit a note I didn’t think was humanly possible. “MY HAIR! MY DRESS!” She jumped up, paint dripping down her face like melted ice cream. “JIMMY, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?”

A startled woman shrieking | Source: Midjourney

A startled woman shrieking | Source: Midjourney

Jimmy stood frozen, mouth open, green paint dripping from his nose. “I… I don’t…”

“Is this some kind of joke?” Julie shrieked, wiping paint from her eyes. “Do you think this is funny, you MORON?”

An elderly woman at the next table snorted into her mimosa. “Well, I think it’s hilarious!”

“Someone get this on video!” a teenage boy called out.

“Already trending!” another responded, typing furiously on his phone.

A shocked man with his face covered in green paint | Source: Midjourney

A shocked man with his face covered in green paint | Source: Midjourney

Julie grabbed her ruined designer purse. “I look like the Grinch threw up on me! This dress cost more than your monthly salary, you idiot!”

“Julie, baby, wait—” Jimmy stood up, spreading green paint everywhere.

“Don’t ‘baby’ me! I’m done being your dirty little suprise!” She stormed toward the door, leaving green footprints in her wake. “And by the way? Your wife’s way too good for you!”

You got that right, sister!

A furious woman | Source: Midjourney

A furious woman | Source: Midjourney

I barely made it home before Jimmy burst through the door, his face and expensive suit covered in bright green paint.

“What happened to you?” I gasped, fighting to keep my expression concerned. “You look like the Grinch!”

“Some… some kids with paint balloons,” he sputtered. “They were targeting everyone outside my office.”

“On Christmas? How awful!” I reached for the manila envelope on the counter. “Oh, by the way, these came for you today. Consider it my Christmas gift, DARLING!”

A woman holding a manila envelope | Source: Midjourney

A woman holding a manila envelope | Source: Midjourney

Jimmy’s paint-streaked fingers trembled as he opened the envelope. His eyes widened at the divorce papers inside.

“WHAT?” He looked up, anxiety dawning on his green face.

“Merry Christmas, darling.” I pulled the diamond necklace out of my pocket. “By the way, your taste in jewelry has improved since our anniversary. Poor Julie. She missed out on this!”

A woman holding a diamond necklace | Source: Midjourney

A woman holding a diamond necklace | Source: Midjourney

“You… you swi—”

“Yep! I switched the gift box you’d so lovingly hidden for your sweet mistress! How was the surprise? Liked it?”

“Alina, honey, let me explain. You don’t understand!” He stepped forward. “Julie means nothing to me! She was a mistake!”

“A mistake?” I laughed. “A mistake is forgetting to buy milk. A mistake is mixing whites with colors in the laundry. Buying your mistress the exact necklace your wife wanted? That’s betrayal.”

A man gaping in shock | Source: Midjourney

A man gaping in shock | Source: Midjourney

“We can fix this!” He reached for me with paint-stained hands. “I’ll do anything! Counseling, therapy, whatever you want!”

“What I want?” I stepped back. “I wanted a faithful husband. I wanted the man I married. Instead, I got a liar who can’t even come up with a decent excuse for being caught. ‘Kids with paint balloons?’ Really?”

“Baby, please,” Jimmy stepped forward, green paint dripping onto our pristine floors. “It was nothing serious. Julie was just… she didn’t mean anything. We never—”

“Save it.” I held up my hand. “I’ve heard all the excuses. ‘She’s just a friend.’ ‘We’re just colleagues.’ ‘Those late nights were just work.’ Do you know what the worst part is? I actually believed you for a while.”

An angry woman yelling | Source: Midjourney

An angry woman yelling | Source: Midjourney

“Don’t do this. Please. I’m sorry.”

I laughed. “You know what’s funny? I spent months thinking I wasn’t enough. That I needed to be prettier, smarter, and better somehow. But standing here looking at you covered in paint, I realize you’re the one who was never enough.”

“Give me another chance.”

“No.” I grabbed my packed suitcase from behind the couch. “But thanks for the necklace. Consider it my consolation prize. Oh, and Jimmy? Green really isn’t your color.”

As I drove away, I caught one last glimpse of Jimmy in my rearview mirror, a pathetic green figure standing in our driveway. My phone buzzed with notifications. Apparently, someone had posted the paint incident online. The video was already going viral.

A woman driving a car | Source: Unsplash

A woman driving a car | Source: Unsplash

The last I heard, Julie dumped him following the paint incident that made rounds at the law firm where they worked. She couldn’t handle being known as ‘the green mistress.

Jimmy tried dating apps for a while, but it’s hard to find matches when you’re infamous as “the green Christmas cheater.”

Me? I’m doing just fine. The necklace looks beautiful with everything I wear. Every time it catches the light, I smile, remembering my special Christmas payback: the day I wrapped up my marriage with a bow and a whole lot of green paint.

A cheerful woman wearing a diamond necklace | Source: Midjourney

A cheerful woman wearing a diamond necklace | Source: Midjourney

Here’s another story: I mourned my dead wife for 23 years after she died in a plane crash. But fate had arranged for one more meeting with her.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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