The Gift

Gift: something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance.

Someone bestowed a gift upon me when I was 25 that I will never forget. One day, as I lazed about my apartment, sans boyfriend for the day my doorbell buzzed loudly. At the door stood a familiar face, an extended family member with a serious look on his face. "I brought you a gift", he said as he handed me the package. Several thoughts ran through my head as I stood in the doorway. One- it was not my birthday Two- this family member does not randomly "drop in" to give gifts and Three- I wonder what it is. As I searched his face for some meaning, I took the gift and began to feel its surface in my hand. Hard. Rectangular. 3 cm thick. My guess was that it was a book. Fabulous- I was in need of a new good read.

As I began to peel away the paper, he stopped me. He clearly instructed that I open it alone. With my face scrunched up with an uncertain gaze, he double checked to see that my boyfriend of 3 years at the time was not with me. I shook my head, with even more concern. He gave me a quick nod and left.

My feet couldn't move fast enough as I double timed it up the flight of twenty stairs to my apartment. I put the wrapped gift down on the coffee table and stared at it. In times of uncertainty the best remedy was to brew a cup a tea and light a ciggy (this concoction got me through most of twenties).

With the paper strewn on the floor beside me, my gift was revealed. I scanned the glossy cover for titles and words that would capture my attention. At first glance, the words, "from a writer and a consultant of sex and the city" were printed at the bottom of the cover. Bright hues of flashy pink and lime green caught my eye as I then saw the image of a white phone. A spark of excitement rushed through me as I held my new girly read close to my chest. Then as my eyes narrowed on the big pink circle in the middle of the cover I saw the typed words, "He's Just Not that into You". My eyes flicked from side to side as I read it again, and this time the smaller print read, "the no excuses truth to understanding guys" . I flipped through the pages, not completely understanding. This had to be a joke. As the pages slipped through my fingers, I scanned the table of contents.

Chapter 1, "He's just not that into you if he's not asking you out", or Chapter 2"if he's not calling you" or Chapter 4 "if he's not having sex with you". As my blood pressure eased, relief settled in. Phew - this was a joke- this had zero connection with me and my current relationship. I scanned a few more and there they were Chapters 7, 8 and 11. "He's just not that into you if he's breaking up with you"; "if he doesn't want to marry you" and the clincher, "if he's a selfish jerk, bully or a really big freak". Fury and rage rushed through me and I blindly launched the book through the air.

"How dare he", I glared. I got up, picked up the book, and stored it neatly away on my bookshelf. I actually took the time to hide it behind some other books. Never to be opened again.

That's a lie. One year later when the nigtmare was finally over with my boyfriend, I ransacked my apartment knowing that I had been given this "gift" but couldn't excatly remember where I had placed it. Several spots later, there it was, exactly as I had left it. I read the enitre book in less than an hour.

In hindsight, my Uncle's gift was one of assistance. A gentle prodding- a reality check. At the time I hated him for his "hidden meaning" gift. But as the years carried on, I found myself giving the same gifts to loved ones around me. They probably hate me too, but I realize that there is nothing more gratifying than giving someone the gift of wisdom.