When I was 15, I really wanted a dog. My mom knew this.
Cue Christmas morning. After we had opened any other presents, my mom came back with one last one…it was a wrapped box with holes in the sides, bouncing/moving some, and puppy barks of cuteness.
I got sooooo excited to open it and meet my new best friend. When I opened it, it had a stuffed animal puppy (not taxidermized…), a bumble ball toy, and a small tape recorder with puppy barks.
My heart sank and I just sat there and cried.
AlwaysForgetsMyName
When I unwrapped it, my brothers – even my dad – went silent.
Grandma: “Do you like it? All of the boys by me have them.”
My brother: “They must be some strange boys…”
Dad: (to my brother) “Shaddap! (To me) “You OK?”
He could see my eyes tearing-up.
I was probably 11 or 12…..and I’m thinking:
“Why is she giving me a large, woman’s handbag??? I’m a boy!!”
She was annoyed/insulted, but she took it and promised to exchange it for something else.
Decades later and I’m still ‘WTF???’