Congratulations !
You have been awarded points.
Thank you for !
- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Family & Friends
- Subject: Family
- Published: 11/11/2014
The Perfect Gift
Born 1969, F, from Texas, United States.jpg)
The Perfect Gift
For Sarah and James life should have been comfortable. But as a recently married couple they couldn’t afford a home of their own, since they were still paying off the cost of their lavish wedding twelve months earlier.
James worked long hours as an accountant, and Sarah was a legal secretary at a local law firm. Like many women though, Sarah loved shopping. Often spending her lunch hour shopping instead of having lunch. Much of what she bought was dresses or lingerie, even shoes that she didn’t need.
Every morning, Sarah would stop for a skinny latte on her way into work, and a few doors down would buy a double choc chip muffin in the bakery. As she made her way to the office, she had to walk past ‘Classique’, a somewhat expensive boutique, As she passed the little boutique, she couldn’t help but notice the dress hanging on the mannequin. Sophisticated and chic, the sassy black cocktail dress would be perfect for her works Christmas party that next week. The asymmetrical bodice had a single shoulder strap and shimmered with a glittering array of stunning rhinestone swirls. Ruched from the empire waist, the body would hug her curves highlighting her figure.
As Sarah stepped closer to the window to admire the dress further, it would look perfect with the black stilettos that she bought the day before. Standing there gazing at the dress, she couldn’t help but notice the label hanging to the side of it, £175. This was far more than she could afford. Shaking her head in dismay, she walked away.
Arriving home later that evening, Sarah began preparing the evening meal. As she chopped the potatoes, she heard James’s key turning in the lock. He strolled into the kitchen throwing his briefcase to the side. ‘I have bad news’ he sighed. ‘The company is having financial difficulties, and I am facing redundancy’ he said sulkily. Sarah turned and hugged him tenderly. ‘We still have my income, and perhaps with your redundancy pay we could use it as a deposit for the new house’. James stood there in silence for a couple of minutes. ‘We need to ease up on spending’ he said, ‘stop having meals out and no more coffee’s on the way to work’. Sarah nodded in agreement, but all she could think about, was that dress.
With that James headed out the room. ‘Taking a shower’ he said softly. A few minutes later James yelled. ‘Sarah get in here now’ he yelled. She turned the stove off and ran to the bedroom. ‘Is everything alright’ she called as she got to the bedroom door. ‘NO’ bellowed James,’ what’s all this crap in these bags?’ he yelled. Sarah stood there in the doorway, watching, as James pulled several l bags out the closet. Emptying them onto the bed he turned and stared at her. ‘For goodness sake, we can’t afford to be buying new dresses and lingerie he said.
As they ate dinner in silence that night, Sarah could see the stress on James’s face. ‘I’m sorry’ she whispered. ‘I promise to stop. ‘I know you like nice things, but we just can’t afford it, we are meant to be saving for the deposit on a house’ he said. ‘I bet you can’t go until our Anniversary next week without spending a penny on anything other than the weekly groceries’ he said. Sarah smiled half heartedly. ‘Bet I can’ she replied, remembering that their wedding anniversary was on the same day of her works Christmas party – the following Friday.
Resisting the temptation of shopping would be hard for Sarah, but she knew she couldn’t let James down. On her way to work the following morning, she passed the boutique. Trying hard not to look at the window, she quickly hurried by, not waiting to look at the dress she longed for but couldn’t afford.
The morning seemed to drag and Sarah felt relieved when it was lunchtime. As she unwrapped the cheese and pickle sandwiches she had made that morning at home, she couldn’t help but feel the pang of jealousy as she saw the other secretaries heading out for a pub lunch at the nearby tavern. As she ate her sandwiches, she began thinking about the money she was saving, by not buying anything that week. Would she have saved enough for a deposit for the dress?
For the week, Sarah didn’t buy anything. Tempted to go and do some window shopping one lunchtime, she remembered her promise to James. When Friday afternoon arrived she felt pleased when her boss let everyone go home early to prepare the party that evening..
As she took the short walk home, Sarah couldn’t help but glance at the window of’ Classique’. The dress was gone, and in its place was a brightly coloured floral print dress. ‘To hell with it’ she thought, ‘it has been a long and stressful week’ and I don’t care what James says.
Stepping inside the shop, Sarah saw many things that she liked. ‘May I help you?’ a woman asked. Turning to see the shop assistant standing before her, Sarah said’ yes, there was a dress in the window last week’. ‘Oh the stunning black cocktail one’ replied the assistant. ‘That’s the one’ Sarah replied. ‘I’m sorry Madam; a gentleman bought it just this lunchtime as a gift, for his wife I assume’ the assistant answered. Disappointed, Sarah picked up a silk scarf she had been looking at. ‘I will take this’ she said. ‘And please charge it to my account’.
Arriving home Sarah was surprised to see James home early. ‘I knew you would buy something’ he said, as he saw the little bag in her hand ‘Oh I didn’t’ she replied’ I got it on credit. ‘Look here is the £10 note I had at the start of the week’ she said opening her purse to show him. ‘So technically speaking’ I didn’t spend anything this week’. With that, they both began laughing. ‘Well I guess I had better take you out to dinner, as you didn’t spend any money, you win’ he said half laughing. ‘Happy Anniversary’ he chuckled as he kissed her on the cheek.
Walking into the bedroom to change for the party that evening, Sarah noticed a silver box on the bed, tied beautifully with a pink ribbon. ‘It is for you’ said James. Sarah opened the box and carefully lifted the pink tissue paper. Carefully folded inside was her dress. The black cocktail one that she had admired in the window of ‘Classique’. ‘My sister owns the boutique ‘laughed James, ‘and she called me this afternoon to say you kept admiring it, so she let me have it at sale price. With that she began laughing and crying together. ‘ but… I thought we couldn’t afford it’ she said, between the tears and the laughter. I was informed yesterday that I won’t be losing my job after all’ he laughed ‘ and when my sister called today saying that you kept admiring the dress, I knew it would be the perfect gift’
The Perfect Gift(Natalie Moon)
The Perfect Gift
For Sarah and James life should have been comfortable. But as a recently married couple they couldn’t afford a home of their own, since they were still paying off the cost of their lavish wedding twelve months earlier.
James worked long hours as an accountant, and Sarah was a legal secretary at a local law firm. Like many women though, Sarah loved shopping. Often spending her lunch hour shopping instead of having lunch. Much of what she bought was dresses or lingerie, even shoes that she didn’t need.
Every morning, Sarah would stop for a skinny latte on her way into work, and a few doors down would buy a double choc chip muffin in the bakery. As she made her way to the office, she had to walk past ‘Classique’, a somewhat expensive boutique, As she passed the little boutique, she couldn’t help but notice the dress hanging on the mannequin. Sophisticated and chic, the sassy black cocktail dress would be perfect for her works Christmas party that next week. The asymmetrical bodice had a single shoulder strap and shimmered with a glittering array of stunning rhinestone swirls. Ruched from the empire waist, the body would hug her curves highlighting her figure.
As Sarah stepped closer to the window to admire the dress further, it would look perfect with the black stilettos that she bought the day before. Standing there gazing at the dress, she couldn’t help but notice the label hanging to the side of it, £175. This was far more than she could afford. Shaking her head in dismay, she walked away.
Arriving home later that evening, Sarah began preparing the evening meal. As she chopped the potatoes, she heard James’s key turning in the lock. He strolled into the kitchen throwing his briefcase to the side. ‘I have bad news’ he sighed. ‘The company is having financial difficulties, and I am facing redundancy’ he said sulkily. Sarah turned and hugged him tenderly. ‘We still have my income, and perhaps with your redundancy pay we could use it as a deposit for the new house’. James stood there in silence for a couple of minutes. ‘We need to ease up on spending’ he said, ‘stop having meals out and no more coffee’s on the way to work’. Sarah nodded in agreement, but all she could think about, was that dress.
With that James headed out the room. ‘Taking a shower’ he said softly. A few minutes later James yelled. ‘Sarah get in here now’ he yelled. She turned the stove off and ran to the bedroom. ‘Is everything alright’ she called as she got to the bedroom door. ‘NO’ bellowed James,’ what’s all this crap in these bags?’ he yelled. Sarah stood there in the doorway, watching, as James pulled several l bags out the closet. Emptying them onto the bed he turned and stared at her. ‘For goodness sake, we can’t afford to be buying new dresses and lingerie he said.
As they ate dinner in silence that night, Sarah could see the stress on James’s face. ‘I’m sorry’ she whispered. ‘I promise to stop. ‘I know you like nice things, but we just can’t afford it, we are meant to be saving for the deposit on a house’ he said. ‘I bet you can’t go until our Anniversary next week without spending a penny on anything other than the weekly groceries’ he said. Sarah smiled half heartedly. ‘Bet I can’ she replied, remembering that their wedding anniversary was on the same day of her works Christmas party – the following Friday.
Resisting the temptation of shopping would be hard for Sarah, but she knew she couldn’t let James down. On her way to work the following morning, she passed the boutique. Trying hard not to look at the window, she quickly hurried by, not waiting to look at the dress she longed for but couldn’t afford.
The morning seemed to drag and Sarah felt relieved when it was lunchtime. As she unwrapped the cheese and pickle sandwiches she had made that morning at home, she couldn’t help but feel the pang of jealousy as she saw the other secretaries heading out for a pub lunch at the nearby tavern. As she ate her sandwiches, she began thinking about the money she was saving, by not buying anything that week. Would she have saved enough for a deposit for the dress?
For the week, Sarah didn’t buy anything. Tempted to go and do some window shopping one lunchtime, she remembered her promise to James. When Friday afternoon arrived she felt pleased when her boss let everyone go home early to prepare the party that evening..
As she took the short walk home, Sarah couldn’t help but glance at the window of’ Classique’. The dress was gone, and in its place was a brightly coloured floral print dress. ‘To hell with it’ she thought, ‘it has been a long and stressful week’ and I don’t care what James says.
Stepping inside the shop, Sarah saw many things that she liked. ‘May I help you?’ a woman asked. Turning to see the shop assistant standing before her, Sarah said’ yes, there was a dress in the window last week’. ‘Oh the stunning black cocktail one’ replied the assistant. ‘That’s the one’ Sarah replied. ‘I’m sorry Madam; a gentleman bought it just this lunchtime as a gift, for his wife I assume’ the assistant answered. Disappointed, Sarah picked up a silk scarf she had been looking at. ‘I will take this’ she said. ‘And please charge it to my account’.
Arriving home Sarah was surprised to see James home early. ‘I knew you would buy something’ he said, as he saw the little bag in her hand ‘Oh I didn’t’ she replied’ I got it on credit. ‘Look here is the £10 note I had at the start of the week’ she said opening her purse to show him. ‘So technically speaking’ I didn’t spend anything this week’. With that, they both began laughing. ‘Well I guess I had better take you out to dinner, as you didn’t spend any money, you win’ he said half laughing. ‘Happy Anniversary’ he chuckled as he kissed her on the cheek.
Walking into the bedroom to change for the party that evening, Sarah noticed a silver box on the bed, tied beautifully with a pink ribbon. ‘It is for you’ said James. Sarah opened the box and carefully lifted the pink tissue paper. Carefully folded inside was her dress. The black cocktail one that she had admired in the window of ‘Classique’. ‘My sister owns the boutique ‘laughed James, ‘and she called me this afternoon to say you kept admiring it, so she let me have it at sale price. With that she began laughing and crying together. ‘ but… I thought we couldn’t afford it’ she said, between the tears and the laughter. I was informed yesterday that I won’t be losing my job after all’ he laughed ‘ and when my sister called today saying that you kept admiring the dress, I knew it would be the perfect gift’
- Share this story on
- 5
COMMENTS (0)