Photo by Antoni Shkraba
As I stood at the foot of my bed, filling my bags with work clothes and travel essentials, my youngest sister walked into my room. She perched on the edge of the mattress and casually mentioned, "So I'm planning to have a few friends over for my birthday…"
I smiled inwardly. There was always a reason behind her actions. I knew the reason behind this one. But I was way ahead of her.
Her tone was light and conversational, but my heart sank because I was set to leave the city for a week-long conference, meaning I wouldn't be able to celebrate with her. That was a first for both of us. I'd always been there for her birthdays and the idea of missing out felt like a personal loss.
I assumed a nonchalant tone and replied, "That's great. Do you need some money to buy food and stuff that you would entertain them with?" I asked but I knew our parents would take care of her friends' entertainment. She was curious to know if I had a gift for her. It would make sense to give it to her before I left.
I had a surprise planned for her.
I had ordered two black leather handbags of the same design online, one for her and one for me. She loved it when we dressed alike and looked like twins, so I thought it would be the perfect birthday present.
I worked with my elder brother to make sure she received her gift, even though I wouldn't be there to give it to her in person. I hid the wrapped gift in my brother's room and made him promise she wouldn't see it if she came in. We agreed he would give her the gift first thing in the morning, to start her day off right.
On her birthday, I called my sister early in the morning to wish her well. However, as soon as I heard her voice, I could sense that she was expecting something more. I grew anxious, realising that my brother had not yet given her the gift, as we had planned. Then I called him. He explained that something came up, but reassured me that everything was going to be fine. I felt bad because I wanted her day to go according to my plan.
As the day wore on, my anticipation grew. I eagerly checked my phone every hour during the conference, waiting for news of her reaction to the gift. To my surprise, there were no calls or messages from her. I started to worry that maybe the gift hadn't been delivered after all.
Later at night when I returned to my hotel room, I called my sister to ask if she had received the gift. The joy in her voice was palpable as she told me our brother had given her a wrapped gift after her friends left in the evening. She knew immediately that the gift was from me, and she was deeply touched by the unexpected surprise.
She thanked me profusely, and I could feel the warmth of her gratitude through the phone line. Her excitement was contagious, and it made me happy to know that I could make her birthday special, even from a distance.
Yes, the surprise did not happen when I wanted it to, believing that was the best time but being the last gift she received that day made everything great. It was memorable.
Giving a surprise gift to a loved one is a joyous experience. It's not about material possessions, but rather a way to show affection and care. Looking back, I'm grateful for the opportunity to have made my sister's day, even when I couldn't be there in person.
It was a reminder that even small gestures of love and kindness can have a profound impact on the people we care about. The effect it had on our relationship was long-lasting, and it became a sort of tradition to make her birthday special each year.
I hope you enjoyed reading my story. It is my response to The Ink Well Creative Nonfiction Contest #18 inspired by the prompt "surprise!".