Unbelievable Surprise

With much relief, I awoke this morning to realize that Christmas is over. Although Christmas can be an enjoyable time, I’m glad that we have another year to go before doing it all again. As I jumped out of bed to celebrate, I tripped over a box that had been placed on the floor next to it.

Turning on the light and climbing back onto the bed, I reached down and lifted up the small box. It was beautifully wrapped with a bright red bow, now half smashed, on the top. Secured underneath the bow was a note that read, “Open me, if you dare.”

Immediately, I was reminded of a lesson my mom taught me years ago. When a child asks you to take something out of their closed hand, don’t do it. You never know what’s hidden in there. But, this wasn’t a hand. It was a tightly wrapped box. So I was fairly certain that nothing gross or alive would be hidden inside.

Slowly I removed the wrapping paper and peeled off the twenty or more pieces of tape that held the box closed. Whoever wrapped it obviously wanted to make opening it a challenge. After finally getting inside the box, I saw an envelope tightly sealed with another twenty or more pieces of tape.

Did I mention that I hadn’t had my coffee yet? Carefully peeling off the tape one by one, I finally got the envelope open and to my excitement there were two plane tickets inside! I love to travel and have been craving a trip for months!

Smiling from ear to ear, I pulled them out of the envelope. When my eyes spotted the destination I couldn’t believe what I saw. “Milan, Italy.” Italy!? I was stunned! Reading my name on the first ticket, I wondered who the second one was for. When I flipped it over to see the name, tears immediately began rolling down my cheeks.

It was for my mother! She and I have always wanted to go to Italy together. It’s been a dream of ours for years. What a great surprise! I couldn’t believe it!

Along with the plane tickets was a small note that read, “For all of your hard work and for putting up with me all these years, please accept this as my Christmas gift to you. Your lodging has been taken care of and there will be a driver waiting for you and your mother when you arrive. Love, your husband.”

Shaking with excitement, I picked up my phone to share the news with my mother. I couldn’t wait to tell her! A dream come true!

….it’s still a dream. But given today’s prompt, it sure was fun to live it for a moment.

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This post is in response to The Daily Post prompt: Mystery Box

You wake up one morning to find a beautifully wrapped package next to your bed. Attached to it is a note: “Open me, if you dare.” What’s inside the mystery box? Do you open it?