Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
Kindle Price: $0.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Maryann Miller
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Gift: A Short Story Kindle Edition

by Maryann Miller (Author), Dany Russell (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 41 ratings
See all formats and editions
Ralph has been like a grizzly bear in a dark cave for too long, and Stacey gets a wild idea to buy him a puppy for Christmas. Maybe that will make him smile. But that plan gets detoured when she meets a homeless man who has much more to be depressed about than Ralph.

"The Gift" is a story to warm your heart at the holiday season, or any day of the year. It comes from the author who won the Page Edwards Short Story Award for "Maybe Someday," one of the stories in her collection THE WISDOM OF AGES, which is also available here on Amazon.

REVIEWS FOR THE WISDOM OF AGES
"These three gems will make you think about time and how you use it. Maryann Miller has a rare gift for taking the pulse of ordinary lives and spinning that into extraordinary tales." -- Craig Lancaster, author of 600 Hours of Edward and The Summer Son

"Miller shares her skills as a writer and her humanity in this inspiring glimpse into the realities of aging and the heartbreak of letting go." Paula Stallings Yost Editor/Author, What Wildness is This: Women Write About the Southwest

"Sometimes the best stories come at the end of our lives, and so do the strongest lessons. Read Maryann Miller's poignant vignettes about aging and let them tug at your heart-strings. They capture the very essence of our tender humanity." ~ Dani Greer, author, editor and Special Projects Coordinator for Little Pickle Press,
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    8 - 18 years
  2. Print length
    10 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    November 29, 2015
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  8. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  9. See all details
Next page
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B018RJHPGW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ MCM Enterprises (November 29, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 29, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 321 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 10 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 41 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Maryann Miller

Maryann Miller

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Maryann Miller, an award-winning author, has been in love with story-telling since she was a child and used to scare her sister with stories of the monsters in the cellar. Those tales were never written down. They were always whispered in the dark, and when Maryann started writing stories, they were different types entirely.

As a young child, she didn't consider that she would grow up to be a writer. She fancied herself quite the singer and thought she would someday sing in front of crowds of thousands. Alas, that proved to be more dream than reality.

At another point in her childhood, she dreamed of being an actress, but it took many years before she was brave enough to give it a try. For fifteen years she was the Theatre Directer at the Winnsboro Center for the Arts where she directed shows for some time before getting brave enough to step on stage. It appears she was more suited to acting than singing, and she has since starred in several productions at various community theatres in East Texas.

A diverse writer of columns, feature stores, short fiction, novels, screenplays and stage plays, Maryann has won numerous awards including being a semi-finalist at the Sundance Institute for her screenplay, A Question Of Honor. She has also received the Page Edwards Short Story Award and the 2015 Best Mystery award for Doubletake.

Miller lives in a small town in NE Texas with one dog, and four cats. The cats rule! She has been writing all her life and plans to die at her computer.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
41 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Glenda
5.0 out of 5 stars Give a Heartwarming Gift to Yourself and Share It...
Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2016
Verified Purchase
The Gift is a gift for all readers who need a bit of heartwarming joy to brighten the day.

Stacey had been putting up Christmas decorations and asked her husband to go shopping with her. Ralph simply replied, "What for?"

Trying to help Ralph come out of a depression, she wasn't having too much success...

Many people do not understand that a depressed person cannot just snap out of it. Stacey realized that she needed to step in since her husband wouldn't seek help... You may think that the picture of the cute puppy was the answer, but you'll be wrong.

What really happens is a tiny little miracle that could not have been anticipated... That makes this story all the more heartwarming. Read it and give it to a friend...

GABixlerReviews
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Morgan Mandel
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Characterization and Portrayal of the True Christmas Spirit
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2016
Verified Purchase
I highly recommend The Gift: A Short Story, as a great thought-provoking, sweet read. The author does a marvelous job of getting into the minds of everyday people facing real problems.

The main character, Stacey's generosity reflects the true Christmas spirit. Her generosity presents a unique way to not only help a stranger, but also her own husband, through a difficult time.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Heidi
3.0 out of 5 stars A sweet story, but needed a bit more
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2017
Verified Purchase
This is one of those reads that suffers a bit due to its brevity. The reader doesn’t really get to know the characters well, not too much development happens, and the reader is left wanting more.

Though most of the story flowed fairly well, the ending was very abrupt. The resolution was concluded in one small paragraph at the end, and there were several questions left unanswered. With the ending, it didn’t really make sense with the storyline to have several days of the same routine, but then the next day everything changed. It would have been nice to see what was it that made the change occur.

Overall, this was a sweet story, but needed more depth and a more thorough ending. I would recommend this to those who like short, sweet Christmas stories.
Helpful
 Report
Anjanette Shake
5.0 out of 5 stars Pass it on!
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2016
Verified Purchase
What a lovely story about the complex relationship between a husband and wife. Set during the Christmas holidays, this couple struggles to connect and find the joy in the season. However, this is more than a holiday story. It translates wonderfully as a reminder that we can find joy through the simple acts of thoughtfulness, kindness, and generosity. This story reaffirms that we are all part of mankind. When we step away from our own troubles and look around to see that others also struggle, we can heal not only our own concerns, but change the circumstances for others - even complete strangers.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
N Costello
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice story
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2017
Verified Purchase
Stacey's husband had a heart attack and is very moody and she doesn't know what to do to cheer him up. I was really enjoying this story but, to me, it ended too abruptly.
Helpful
 Report
Polly Iyer
5.0 out of 5 stars A Lovely Story of Hope
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2016
Verified Purchase
A woman's quest to bring her husband out of his self-inflicted depression takes a surprising turn when she buys him a puppy and gives the puppy to a homeless man instead. Two men, dealing with life in different ways, come together over a puppy.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Kathleen
3.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat disappointed
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2016
Verified Purchase
I'm sorry, but I could only rate this book with a three. To me, the story was just okay.I found the story was too short and had gaps. I didn't find the characters were developed enough. I was disappointed in the ending. No spoilers here, but I think the story could have been improved by knowing how the depression was lifted. I felt the ending was left open ended, perhaps on purpose so there could be a sequel.
Helpful
 Report
ChattyCathy
4.0 out of 5 stars A LOVELY QUICK READ TO WARM ONE'S HEART
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2016
Verified Purchase
A lovely short story of patience, kindness and love. What better could come from a Christmas story? The Author writes with such clarity into living with a loved one battling depression.

Although a short story, I hungered for more!
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

R.M. Gauthier
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful Read
Reviewed in Canada on January 2, 2016
Verified Purchase
'The Gift' by Maryann Miller is a cute short novella about a woman attempting to cheer up her depressed husband for the holidays. The story was short and sweet offering an original idea I had not read before. The only problem with this story was that I wanted more. I wanted to know what when on with the men she was trying to help. This story was a delightful read especially at the holidays. Kudos to this author.
Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report