Alright, gifts. So you get a gift, right? And you have to act like you love it, even if it’s clearly a miniature ceramic cat playing a tiny banjo. You have to smile, ‘Oh, you shouldn’t have!’ Which, by the way, is a perfectly reasonable response for that banjo cat. You *really* shouldn’t have. And then there’s the ‘When do I open it?’ dance. In front of them? Later? What if your reaction isn’t enthusiastic enough? Are they judging your sincerity? And then the big one: the reciprocation. Do I owe them a gift now? For the banjo cat? Is there a gift ledger being kept somewhere, a cosmic balance sheet of unwanted trinkets? It’s not about the thought, it’s about the obligation! It’s a whole social contract, a silent agreement to pretend to appreciate each other’s questionable taste. It’s a lot, I’m telling you, it’s a lot for a tiny banjo-playing feline.
About the Author
