The Perfect Gift

Chapter 17

Mary hung up her coat on the hook beside the door. She looked around. Nobody was sitting in the living room or at the dining room table. She peeked her head in the kitchen. No one there either. She figured no one had come into the living space and seen the message, although, even if John had, he wouldn't have been able to read it. Mary's father, along with her grandmother, knew the basics of reading. They could read well enough to understand what Mary had written. In their town, it was encouraged to take at least one year of education before the age of thirty-five. This would give someone what they needed to know to live their everyday life. So, although it didn't give someone a full education, it was enough to get by. Both her father and her grandmother had taken the class when they were adults. She imagined herself being an adult too by the time she would be able to take the class.

She decided to go upstairs to her room and ask John what he had wanted from her when she was leaving. She marched up the stairs, expecting to find John in their room, sitting on his bed, playing monopoly with himself again. He l0ved that game. Instead, when she looked in their room, he wasn't there. Where is he? she wondered.

Just then, she heard a rustling sound coming from her parents' room. Well, just her father's now. She slowly walked towards the slightly ajar door. It could be a rat. We've had a few of those before. Or maybe it's John, but why would he be in Pa's bedroom? She couldn't wait any longer... she needed to find out! She put one foot in front of the other, and kept doing so all the way through the hall, as quiet as a mouse. When she reached the door, she pushed it open slowly. She couldn't see anything or anyone. She continued to push the door all the way open. She stepped in the door frame and poked her head inside the room. She turned her head left and saw John near the closet, his back towards her. He was digging through a bin.

"John?"

"Ahh!" John turned around. "Mary, you scared me! I thought you were gone."

"I was. I'm back now! Surprise!"

"Yeah, it sure was." John mumbled. He blocked the bin he was searching in.

"What are you doing in here, anyways? You know you aren't supposed to come in here!" Mary exclaimed.

"I know. I just had the urge."

"How come?"

"I had this idea-"

"Is that what you were trying to say when I was leaving?" Mary asked?

"Yeah. Hey, wait a minute. You heard me? How come you ignored me? Back up. Where did you even go?"

"I didn't have time to listen to you because I needed to get gifts for Christmas."

"Oh. In that case...no complaint from me, but...what did you get me?"

"Uh, nothing."

"Very funny. What did you get?"

"I got distracted."

"Wait, you're serious? By what?" John asked.

"A man. A very kind man. Brian."

"You were talking to strangers?"

"Strange -ER. Besides, no one has to know. Not yet anyways. It will be our little secret. Unless you don't want this -you sneaking into Pa's room - to be a secret. I'm happy to tell Pa..."

"No! You can't. I mean, do you know how much trouble I would get in?"

"Yeah, I do. That's why I took this situation to my advantage!" Mary snorted. Mary was just joking. Of course she wouldn't tell on John! He didn't know that though.

"Yeah, yeah. Okay, but seriously, be careful Mary."

"I was. Brian was nice. He even gave me some candy."