The Day After Christmas

         “Where are you going with that?”

         “It’s my new paint set from Aunt Jean. I’m taking it up to my room to paint with it”

         “You know the rules. You don’t play with a present until you write your thank you note.”

         “Oh, man!”

         “The note papers are on the desk.”

         “I hate writing notes.”

         “But you like presents. Go. Write!”

         “Now?”

         “Or else, put the paint set back under the tree for now.”

         “This sucks.”

         “So does choosing and sending a present and getting no acknowledgement for it.”

         “Carly didn’t have to write any notes.”

         “Carly can’t write yet.”

         “She gets away with everything.”

         “She’s three. Now put it back under the tree or go write to Aunt Jean.”

         “Oh man!”

         “You said that already. Here’s the pen and the paper and the stamp. The address is on the Rolodex. Sit down and write!”

“Dear Aunt Jean.
         Thank you for the really cool paint set. It is the one I wanted. I hope you had a Merry Christmas and come see us again in the summer.
Love, Kevin”

         “There. Is that good enough?”

         “That’s great. Now go paint something!”