~ THURSDAY ~

Thursday is a busy day at school. We’re doing final show preparations. I’m still worried about not bringing a gift. Geraldine’s already told me how her package will be wrapped.

“Make sure to pick mine, it’ll be something you’d really like.”

I’ll just tell her, “I forgot to bring my gift,” or lost it—or something.

When I get home, Mama says she has a surprise for me. Surprise? Whatever could it be? And why for me?

She brings out an old shoe box. “Open it.”

Slowly, I take off the cover. Inside is just a bunch of brown fur. Some surprise.

“I made you something, for the school gift exchange.”

I don’t want to give someone a piece of old fur, even if they don’t know who it came from. I take the thing out of the box, trying not to look too disappointed. Suddenly, it turns into a soft kitten. Mama made a precious little kitten out of pieces of fur from an old coat she cut apart. There’s glass buttons for eyes, a long furry tail, and yarn whiskers. Around its neck is a collar of tinsel with little bells. It’s so cute, I want to keep it for myself.

“Do I have to give it away?” I ask, hugging it tight.

“Yes, you do,” Mama says. “I made it for some child in your school, not for you.”

“I just hope whoever gets it likes it much as I do.” I keep petting the soft fur.

“Just remember, there’s more joy in giving away something that you yourself want.”

I hope that’s true, because I’d rather give away things I don’t want.