Presents

ow much is this?" he asked the clerk.

"$9.95" said the clerk.

John put down the candlestick and moved toward the back of the store. John was hard pressed to find a suitable present for his mother. He passed aisles full of knick knacks no one needed but always received. He had given ceramic candlesticks, carved wooden frogs, and picture frames galore.

He thought to himself, "all of these goddamn birthdays, holidays, Mother's day, Christmas. I have to buy my mother at least 3 presents a year. How can all these gifts matter? Only one or two must mean something to her."

"Excuse me, is this yours?" John turns, a woman is rising from the floor.

She is strikingly beautiful. She reaches out to him with her hand.

His key chain. "Uh, yes. Thank you."

She looks down and turns away as he takes the keys from her. He glances at her as she walks down the aisle. He imagines her naked. Kissing him passionately. He's holding her. Satin sheets caressing their intertwined bodies, enveloping them.

He blinks and turns to the shelf at left. He picks up a combination candlestick picture frame with a carved wooden frog ornament and carries it up to the register. He thinks, "Mother will love this, and hey, its only $9.95."