NEW CASTLE —
I usually appreciate all my Christmas presents, no matter how useless they are.
There was one present I got as a little boy that I really, really didn't want.
Everyone knows that kids are supposed to get toys for Christmas. Everyone knew this except my older sister Lealia.
I must confess that as a child, sometimes I would venture into everyone’s closets to see what they got me for Christmas.
On one of these occasions, I spotted a box that hadn't been wrapped yet.
I peeked inside, and there they were.
My sister had gotten me a pair of brown pants.
Who would give a sweet little boy like me a pair of brown pants for Christmas?
I wanted toys. Lots and lots of toys.
Brother Bill got me a wagon and Dad bought me a scooter. Those were more in line with what I wanted.
Brown pants were not in that line.
When I opened the gift, I may have not said the kindest of remarks toward my sister.
From that day forward, I never got brown pants again for Christmas.
Sixty five years later and I still don't own a pair of brown pants.
There goes my chance to work for UPS.
Just to prove kids haven't changed much, I made a shopping list of what I might get my daughter and grandson.
Just to agitate him, the only thing I wrote down on my grandson's list was socks.
I noticed after he had gone home, the word socks was mysteriously scratched out. I have no idea who would have done such a thing.
Perhaps a few alternate dates to give kids clothes would be Jan. 19 or June 27.
Take it from someone who has been scarred for life.
Brown pants for Christmas is a definite no-no.
If you don't believe me, wrap up a pair.
See how quickly he shoves them aside so he can unwrap the next gift.
As long as it isn’t socks.
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About Gary Church: Gary is a columnist and contributing writer for The News. He’ll share his thoughts on this blog each Tuesday and Friday.
Discussion
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