The next morning, I expected him to wake up sad, but instead he padded into the kitchen with a soft smile, asking if we could still keep the decorations up “just a little longer.” His resilience surprised me, and it stirred something inside me—something firm and determined. I decided that his joy wouldn’t depend on people who didn’t value kindness. So I reached out to neighbors, cousins, and the kids at the community center. I didn’t explain what happened; I simply asked if they’d like to join a small gathering that coming weekend. To my surprise, the responses flooded in warmly. Some even apologized, saying they hadn’t realized we wanted company beyond immediate school friends. By Saturday afternoon, our once-quiet living room was filled with laughter, tiny footsteps, and the delighted shouts of children racing toy cars across the rug.