June 4 2007: QOTW: Steamy Cartoon
I took my shower today straight after my brother. When I walk into the bathroom, the air is thick with condensation and steam, with all reflective surfaces steamed up. Humming to myself, I start taking off my clothes. Looking towards the mirror to check my hair, I scream earsplittingly, the sound magnified ten times by the acoustics in the bathroom. Do I have a huge pimple smack bang in the centre of my forehead? Is my hair inexplicably falling out on its own accord? Have I been walking around the whole day with a huge pen mark across my cheek?
No. Instead, it’s a crudely drawn picture in the condensation on the mirror – a cartoon Amanda complete with glasses, braces and streaky hair. Confronting him after my shower, he says happily: “Did you find my surprise for you? I thought you’d like it!”
He isn’t being ironic. I bite back my anger, and try to paste a smile on my face. “Oh! Thank you for your…thoughtful present!” So…
Question Of The Week: When have you received a present or surprise that was entirely inappropriate and/or which you disliked?
18 Responses to “QOTW: Steamy Cartoon”
Leave a Reply
I reserve the right to edit or delete your comment as I see fit, though I only delete comments from anonymous commenters, or people with multiple aliases. Using a genuine name/email combination will ensure that your comment is approved.
Um… I don’t believe I have. Though mom did have the annoying tendency of buying me bras and slips at Christmas and demanding I open them in front of the whole family (no way!).
By the way, I’m not really fond of this new leaves background. It looks like a wallpaper pattern (wallpaper as in what you put on your walls at home not the desktop).
Vera on June 5 2007 #
How sweet of your brother :-)
Anastasia on June 5 2007 #
There was one year where I got three lots of decorated envelopes and paper for Christmas. Never mind that I never write letters to people, and have never found a use for all this paper. Everyone who gave me that paper said, “Well, we know you like to write!”
On a birthday I had at some point, I got two clocks. Not bad presents so much as “Why would I need two?” I did need a clock, though, because the one I had at the time was broken and digital, so it’d give me wise times such as “6:5_”.
Jessica on June 5 2007 #
Pretty much all my presents from my Grandma have been unwanted but then I feel evil for not wanting them, especially the clothes. Generally they end up in Oxfam to ease my guilt. I never open up my Birthday or Christmas presents in front of people for that reason and have a standard, “Thank you!” to everything so people never know. :P
Amber on June 5 2007 #
I have often received presents that was very unthoughtful. Presents given as a “hint” to get something done about my appearance, intellectuality or something else. I have thought of starting to re-gift but haven’t made the move yet.
Nan on June 5 2007 #
I don’t think I’ve received anything was entirely inappropriate, but there have been some presents I regifted (shh!) or just randomly gave away to other people. One time I got this giant candle that had a disgusting scent and a big dent because the girl who gave it to me dropped it. I disliked the girl even more than the present, though. I don’t remember what I did with the candle…
Megan on June 5 2007 #
For Christmas my stepmom got me a car-washing kit. Personally, I hate spending money on it because I think it is a waste; every time I get my car washed, a bird comes along and says hi. I have a black car, so it helps. So, my car gets a bath whenever it rains.
The kit was her hint to me. It still hasn’t been opened. (I put it in the garage so anybody else could use it if they wanted as well. See! I learned how to share!)
Skye on June 5 2007 #
Part of me really wants to comment on how ridiculously sweet that is. But then, yeah, it kind of wins the weird present award.
Belinda on June 5 2007 #
I’m trying really hard not to laugh out loud here. :D I guess I find it funny because I don’t have a younger brother.
I don’t think I’ve ever received an inappropriate present.
Kycoo on June 5 2007 #
Awww that’s cute!!! I can’t say Michael has ever done something like that. Pfffft.
Tracey on June 5 2007 #
I never really received an inappropriate surprise or present but I do remember the gift my grandmother gave me once; a bottle of perfume for Christmas. I didn’t want to be ungrateful so accepted it and smiled but we all know we don’t get the right perfume when grandma picks something out she likes…..
Chans on June 5 2007 #
Mum just came into my room and gave me some “presents” that a friend got from Japan – some small bag of tea, a handkerchief, some disneyland hair ties (just a black elastic with some small mickey mouse shaped heads on them the size of my pinky nail if not smaller), and a box of desserts.
I know the box of tea will sit in our cupboard for all eternity, we just at the small box of desserts that I could probably have bought from Chinatown myself. Handkerchiefs are pretty much useless – so the only thing useful is the elastics (I’ll probably rip off the mickey mouse heads anyway).
I don’t see how any of it is gift material, but my mum seems very happy =\
Raye on June 5 2007 #
I received a g-string from a bunch of friends. Yup.
Mish on June 5 2007 #
I hate when I receive perfume, soap, body wash and the like because to me, it suggests that I smell bad.
And it doesn’t require a lot of thought.
Nellie on June 6 2007 #
When I turned 16, like any teenager with a license, I wanted a car. Or maybe not, but something worthy of getting a “Great Sixteenth Birthday Present” award for.
Instead, I got a hope chest from my mom. I was dumbfounded. Four years later, it still just sits in my room taking up space.
Angela on June 6 2007 #
When I read the title, I thought you meant a dirty cartoon. You’ve gone and corrupted my pure mind! :P
Josh on June 6 2007 #
Haha your brother’s hilarious!
Well.. I wasn’t the one who got a gift that I disliked but for Christmas 3 years ago, my aunt gave my sister a jacket that was like a cross between a cowboy jacket and a coat that an African tribal king would wear. She was really excited about it, too, so my sister tried her best to smile. lol
Felisa on June 6 2007 #
My stepmother likes to buy me clothes which are three or four dress sizes too big for me…I’m thinner than she is, lol.
And what your brother did was cute. x)
Li on June 7 2007 #