Of Hopes and Empty Boxes

When I was about 5 my father handed an unwrapped small box as xmas present. The box was surprisingly light. Suspecting that he gave me an empty box and was just making fun of me, I cried uncontrollably telling my mother how rude he was. Not until my father finally forced me to open the box did I find myself to be so stupid. Knowing how I loved playing badminton, my father gave me a real cock (real feather not like those cheap plastic ones). I never did use it and I believe it's still hidden somewhere with my treasured toys. It must be the best thing that I remember my dad with.

I remembered this anecdote of mine after reading this story I came accross in the internet:

The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy."

The man was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found out the box was empty. He yelled at her, stating, "Don't you know, when you give someone a present, there is supposed to be something inside? The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and cried, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty at all. I blew kisses into the box. They're all for you, Daddy."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.

Only a short time later, an accident took the life of the child. It is also told that her father kept that gold box by his bed for many years and, whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.