By Kate Casper
Mara wanted to thank her mother. But the scarf would never look any good on her. Should she tell her? No. She didn’t want to appear ungrateful. Should she return it to her mother? No. A returned gift is painful. People think it’s a repudiation of their love.
But she’d been taught not to lie.
She picked through her note cards and selected one with damask roses, the color of the scarf. Mara’s least favorite color. The pen wobbled over the paper.
Thank you for thinking of me. Your gift is a blessing.
She left out one word: mixed. Honest mistake.
So clever!
I love it.
I also find it hard to gush over something I don’t like, but struggle not to seem ungrateful or hurt someone’s feelings. A lovely compromise. Sadly, too late for this year’s thank-you letters 🙁
Oh what a pity! Missing words. Every writers’ bugbear!
I know what that is like!
Thank you for your comments. Love your takeaways.
-a perfect illustration of all the pitfalls of gift giving.
So often the “giver” has no idea the amount of anguish they are also giving.
Very well done!
Well done