Danny "Sparkie" Johnson is 62 years old, and for the last 10 years he's earned spare money by going up and down the street near the California group home in which he lives, mowing lawns for friends and neighbors for $5 or $10 a pop.

Johnson has cerebral palsy and mentally is still a child, but his lawn mowing keeps him busy and has allowed him to make friends in the neighborhood. But at least one person in the neighborhood is less than friendly -- whoever stole Johnson's lawnmower while he was on a break last week.

Did we mention that the $200 mower was brand new, bought with Johnson's longtime mowing savings? And that Johnson then came home and cried?

OK, now that everybody is sufficiently bummed out by the world's saddest holiday tale, the good news is that anyone taken with the Christmas spirit who wants to help Sparkie out can call facility manager Regina Olandez at 818-366-6791.

Whatever happens, here's hoping Sparkie is back in business as soon as possible.