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The Birthday Present

posted Friday January 29th, 2010

I love this story.

Monday night, I made a bracelet for Sarah’s mom, Rachel.

Sarah, if you have forgotten — and how could you, I talk about her all the time — is Sophie’s BFF. I love Rachel, too, and was happy to learn from Facebook that her birthday was Tuesday (happy I saw it BEFORE her birthday). I had just enough time to make her a little present — a bracelet of vintage beads, we’d discussed our mutual love of beads several times before.

Tuesday morning, in between making lunches and brushing teeth, I wrapped the bracelet in tissue paper, put it in a little bag and found just the right tag. Phew. Done. I was pretty pleased with my handiwork, and set the bag on the kitchen table, so I wouldn’t forget to drop it by Rachel and Sarah’s house on my way to work. Rachel works at the girls’ school, but I recalled her saying she’s only there Mondays.

Ray did the actual kid delivery that day, and I was finishing getting ready in the back of the house when they left. I emerged with just enough time to grab my purse, drop the present and skid into work.

But the present was gone. I stared at the dog. He looked back, guilt-free. Pencils are more his thing. I looked in the car, in the living room, all over the kitchen. Gone.

Out of time, I got in the car and called Ray. Twice. No answer. Finally I texted. Did you see a blue bag?

Yes, the text came back. “You were nowhere to be found. Sophie said she needed it, so I put it in her backpack!”

“Get it back!” I replied. That wasn’t happening. Ray didn’t see the big deal and frankly, it really wasn’t a big deal. But I was disappointed. I don’t know Rachel well, but she seems like the kind of person who would really appreciate getting a present on her real birthday. Now the bag was gone — probably smashed at the bottom of Sophie’s backpack, never to be seen again.

I felt tears well up in my eyes. But there wasn’t much I could do, so I headed to work. Ray called.

“Why’d you do that?” I asked.

“Well,” he replied, “Sophie always knows what’s going on. I figured she knew she was suppose to take the present to school with her.”

I harrumphed, said I was in mood to talk, and got off the phone, supremely annoyed.

To be honest, a few hours later, I’d all but forgotten about the little blue bag. Then I heard a text come in. It was from Rachel.

“Thanks a bunch friend!!! Two angels brought me the gift and gave me enough hugs and kisses for a whole week. Bracelet is totally me! Best day. Thx”

Turns out, Rachel does work on Tuesdays. Sophie carefully took the present from her backpack, presented it to her teacher and told her she needed to bring it to Sarah’s mom. So she and Sarah did.

Ray was right. Sophie knew exactly what to do.

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4 Responses to “The Birthday Present”

  1. Amy, this story made me smile. This is exactly the kind of thing that would have irritated me and then I’d remember that these things always work out. It was even better than your plan.

  2. I LOVE THIS STORY!!!!! After you told it to me, I thought about this story over and over again with smiles and happy tears! So is as thoughtful as you!!! She ALWAYS knows what is going on!!! It ended even better since Rachel got lots of hugs and kisses as well as her wonderful bracelet! Sophie loves celebrating!

  3. Oops, don’t know why it cut off but it said Sophie is as thoughtful as you!

  4. Oh I love this story too! And this is so something I would do. It is so easy to underestimate them.
    Leo is often the one who finds things in the house. It’s like he catalogs them in the recesses of his mind.
    And back to your story, isn’t it nice when the surprises are good ones?

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