On Christmas morning,

I started with the smallest box. 

It wasn’t from Erica’s, our go-to jewelry store, and I know the La De Da’s wrapping like the back of my hand.  The industrial, brown paper and twine ribbon were unfamiliar.

I opened it quickly, dreaming of a yellow gold signet ring, size eight (thank you very much).
  
The second I saw it, I shook my head. 

“No.  No, no, no.  No way.”

I wanted it, I really did, but not before earning it. 

I told my mom to take it back, hide it, and we’d pretend it never happened. 

“We can try again” I said “noonish, on March 4th”.

But we wont.

And I’ll never wear it.