Surprise Presents
It can be so easy to get mixed up with who wrapped gifts are for…
Jackie read her emails. “Aunt Dora wants to come for Christmas,” she said. Brian groaned openly. “Can’t you put her off? I fancy a quiet Christmas, just us two.”
“I’ve already told her she’s more than welcome,” Jackie replied as she hit send. “She’s a sweet old dear, a bit forgetful at times, but so what?” Dora arrived on Christmas Eve. “I’ve knitted hats and scarves for everybody,” she announced. “Team colours for the football fans, fashion colours for everybody else.”
Dora upended a tartan bag and the presents fell out. She selected a parcel and handed it to Brian. “Bells for Brian.” “What?” Baffled, he studied it. “I know that’s yours because it’s got bells on the wrapping paper. That’s my system,” she explained. “I find something on the paper that begins with the first letter of your name. B for Brian, and B for bells. Saves faffing about with gift tags – I always lose them,” she added. “And when I find the tags, I lose the pen.”
“I told you she was forgetful,” Jackie whispered. “Which one is Jackie’s?” Brian asked. “This one – J for Jackie and J for Jack Frost!” The paper had icicles on it.
Brian squeezed his parcel. Perhaps the old girl wasn’t so bad after all. A handknitted hat and scarf in the team’s colours – he couldn’t argue with that! “Thank you, Dora,” he said. “You can open them now, if you like.” “No, we’ll wait for the rest of the family,” Jackie said.
“I want to open it now,” Brian muttered, like a spoilt kid.
“We’re having a carol-sing ging session tonight,” Jackie reminded him. “The family are coming over r. We can all open our presents together.”
“Good idea – I can finish knitting my scarf this afternoon.” Grabbing a bag, Dora dragged it to Brian’s favourite armchair. “I’ll knit my way through James Bond…”
Brian had been looking forward to the film, but he hadn’t reckoned on 007 outsmarting criminals to the sound of clicking needles.
He went upstairs to find Jackie. She was in the bedroom, sorting family gifts.
“Let’s open Dora’s presents now,” he said, fingering the bells-for-Brian package. “I want to try on my new gear.”
Jackie laughed. “Oh, go on, then.” She lifted the sticky tape on her parcel while Brian ripped his open.
Jackie shook out a blue-and-white scarf plus a matching bobble hat. “It’s lovely. It’ll match my denim jacket.”
“I can’t wear this,” Brian shrieked holding up a pastel striped scarf and beret.
“Why not?” Jackie draped the scarf round his shoulders. “Pastel colours are trendy.” She placed the beret on his head. “You look like a French artist – I quite fancy foreign painters…”
“What football team does she think I support?” Brian ranted. “Wimps United? She must have given me someone else’s by mistake.”
“But it was your wrapping paper – bells for Brian.”
“Are you two trying on your scarves?” They hadn’t heard Dora creeping up the stairs. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to wait.” She popped her head round the door and frowned. “Why are you wearing Jackie’s things?” Dora asked Brian.
“But these are what you gave us,” Jackie said. “Bells for Brian and Jack Frost for Jackie.”
“Did I?” Dora studied Brian’s crumpled discarded gift-wrap. “Bells, baubles, bangles and beads… as in Jewellery. J for jewellery, J for Jackie – I must have got confused…”
“So, what begins with B on Jackie’s gift-wrap?” Brian asked.
“Bears,” said Dora. “B for bears and B for Brian. Look, there in between the Jack Frost icicles are little Polar bears. You’d better swap,” she said. “Or the family will think you support Wimps United!” Brian and Jackie exchanged glances. “Hurry up,” said Dora. “I’m sorry for the mix-up – it’s easily done…” Just then, the doorbell chimed. Wearing her pastel accessories, Jackie let in her noisy carol-singing family. The singing stopped when Brian appeared.
“Nice scarf,” said Jackie’s dad. “But why is it blue-and-white? They’re Spurs colours and you’re an Arsenal fan…”