Re-Gifted

As a middle school teacher, my mom is showered with Christmas gifts. Tempting as all the candles and assorted chocolates may be, she reserves these gifts for unexpected guests. So when our festive neighbors show up, she runs to the back room, leaving them at the front door, smiles and gifts mid-offer. Ripping off “To Mrs. Gilbert” tags, she curses the children who scrawled their message directly onto the gift bag. Now equipped with reciprocative gifts, she offers unnecessary, lighthearted explanation as to why she didn’t visit first. Pleasantries over, she stores away the new gift for the next guest.