the gift

Gift

TiffanyQi

“Mum,whoisthemaninmynecklace?”Cathywasusingherlittlefingertoopen

theheartshapednecklacewiththepicturesframedinsidewhichhadbeenwith

hersinceshecouldremember.

“That’syourfather”answeredMichelle.

“Wheredoesn’thelivewithus?Whereishenow?”

“Um…Ithink…helivedinasmalldarkroom”

“Whyheshouldbethere?”

“Becauhedidsomethingwronganditisthewaythegivehimalittle

punishment”

“Whatkindofmistakedidhemake?”

“Um…youwillunderstandwhenyougrowup,gotosleepCathy”

“Whodoeshelivewith?”

“Isaidyouwillunderstandwhenyougrowup!”

“ButIwanttoknowitnow!”

ThisconversationwasveryfamiliartoMichelleasitwasconstantlyinhermind

sthefirsttimeCathyasked

aboutherfather,Michellecouldn’onlythingshecouldn’t

actuallyrememberwashowsheansweredthequestionsandhowtheyended

thetopic,becaushewasstillhesitatingabouttellingthetruthornot.

Fiveyearsago,inasmallAmericantown,ahandsomeboynamedJames

rslater,theirlovelydaughterCathy

neveryoneinthetownwasrejoicingforthehappylifeofthe

family,,veralpolicemen

rushedintotheirhomeandtookJamesoffandsaidJameswasaccudofa

lecouldn’t

believeJameswassuchanavariciousperson,butunfortunately,Jamespleaded

ogizedtothefamily,andpromidhewouldbeback

kisdhis8-month-olddaughtergoodbye,he

gaveheraheart-shapednecklacewithhisphotoinside,andhopedlittleCathy

auofthe

heavyblow,Michelledidn’tknowifshecouldstilltrustJamesanymore.

Thiswastheentirestorybehindthenecklace,alsoeverythingMichellereally

alreadyhesitatedaboutitforalong

timeShehopedCathycouldfacethetruth;ontheotherhand,shedidn’tknow

whetherlittleCathycouldacceptthatherfatherisarobber.

Aachdaypasd,Cathybecamemorethirstyfortheansweraboutherfather,

“Whycan’tmydadlivewithme?”sheaskedthequestioneverydayandto

rtobrokethissituationanddistractedCathy,Michelle

ughtnewfriendsandanew

r,itdidnotwork.

Onedayafterschool,CathyshoutedatMichelleangrily:“Allmyfriendshavea

father!Peter’sdadplayswithhimeveryday,Alice’sfatherisagreatboss,and

Jessicasaidherfatherwillbuyhereverythingshewants!Butwhereismyfather?

Doeshenotloveme?”Cathycriedlouderandlouder,le

didn’ewasafraidtoeherdaughter’s

redandswellingface,althoughsheknewCathywasstaringather,andudan

expressionthatdidn’tbelongtoa5yearsoldgirllikeher.

Father’’sfriendsstartedtotalkaboutitandmakeCathy

morepainfulaboutthequestion.

OnFather’sDay,

theclasswasover,

nooneknewthatthecommendationfromteachersandfriendsjustmadeCathy

feelsadandregretful.

“Mom,itisfather’sday,I…”

“IknowCathy”Michelleinterruptedher.

“Makeonepaperstareverydayandcollectthem,yourfatherwillbebackwhen

yougotawholebottleofthem“.

elieveda

robberwouldmisshishome,includingherlf.

HoweverCathybelieveditverymuch.

Fromthatdayon,Cathy’sroutineeverynightbeforegoingtosleepwastomake

astar,putitinhercrystalbottle,thenopenthenecklace,kissthephoto,andhold

ittightly.

“Willyoucome?Iwillwaitforyou”Cathywhisperedtoherlfassheturnedoff

thelighteachnight.

Asthedaywent,lebegantoregrettelling

uldhappenifJameswouldn’tcome?WouldCathybedepresd?

Wouldshedoubtme?

Asthesunlightpoureddownthroughtheskylightedceilingitreflectedoffthe

openedhereyesandheardaman’svoiceoutsideherbedroom.”Father!Isthat

you?”Cathywhisperedexcitedlyandrushedintothelivingroom.

Themanwhoappearedbeforeherwastall,dark,little

bitlikethemaninhernecklace,rhewasreallyrembledher

fatherJames,hiyes,hisno,hissmile……

“Oh!Father!Youaremyfather!Isthatyou?”

“Yes,it’sme!MylittleCathy!”

Cathycouldn’ivingherlfapinchtomakesureitwas

notadream,Cathycouldn’tmastermyemotionsanymore,hertearspoured

downherface.

JameswalkedgentlytoCathyandheldherinawarmembrace.

“Dad,Ihaveagiftforyou”

“Really?Iwillloveit”

Cathyranbacktoherroomandtookoutherbottlefullofstars.

“It’sthis----paperstarsthatImadeeverydayforaboutoneyear”

Jamesdidnotknowhowtoreceivesuchapreciousgift;hisonlyreactionwasa

pregnantsilence.

“Thankyoumydear,Ibelieveit’sthebestgiftintheworld,”saidJames.

“Noitisn’t”

“Why?”

“Thisis!”answeredCathy,shetookhernecklaceoffandputitonJames’shand.

“Thenecklace?”askedmum.

“Thehope”