SOLVED. SciFi Short Story - post-apocalyptic, group of children, tank that jingles and kids think it's Santa . [s]

[Sarah]

I remember reading a science fiction short story - possibly read in 80s, 90s, or 00s - about a small group of children surviving in a post-apocalyptic area. There was an older child (or possibly children), and several much younger children. They had possibly been scavenging, and maybe needed to move to a new location? And then there was a tank/war-bot, something like that - it was a military machine that was trying to kill people. It had taken some damage, so they heard it jingling, and the younger kids ran out to see Santa.
Fortunately, there were no more live weapons on it, and the kids grabbed some supplies and jumped into the tank/machine as it was headed to an area that would be better for them. I remember an older child boosting the younger ones into it.
Any help appreciated, and thank you!

[Ayshe]

"An Empty Gift" by Steve Benson? It has been included in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, December 1983 and Supertanks.

[Sarah]

Yes!! Yes Ayshe, that is it exactly. Thank you so much! Just went downstairs and found it in my old Analog magazines.

And wow, the memories that magazine brings back - Cascade Point, by Timothy Zahn, the Integral Trees by Larry Niven, Involuntary Man's Laughter by Spider Robinson, plus a guest editorial by Arthur C. Clarke about the global village brought on by satellite phones, and the possibility of that bastion of science fiction, wrist-watch phones.