"Here you go. Happy birthday," Charlie said, smiling, showing Mina the package on her dining room table.
"Aww, you shouldn't have. Well, yes, you should. But it's nice anyway." Mina briefly examined the package before picking it up. It was a big box, about a foot on each side. Heavy too. Charlie sat down to watch her.
"So, you tied it up in rope," Mina mused. "Very cute." She glanced at Charlie, who had reached his arms down to the rear legs of the chair, leaning back casually. Did he know what he was doing? She shrugged inwardly. It was probably intentional. She carefully undid the knots on the rope. Then she opened the box and looked inside.
"It's a safe? You got me a safe? What kind of gift is this?" Mina playfully pummeled him on the shoulder a couple of times, which Charlie just absorbed, laughing.
"Take it out," he said, after she was done.
Mina looked at him ruefully, and he looked repentant, sitting back up straight now in his chair. Then she shrugged, outwardly this time, and pulled the safe out. As she turned it upright she heard something slide around inside.
"Your gift," Charlie said quietly, "is *inside* the safe."
Mina glared at him, then at the undone ropes on the table, then back at Charlie. So meticulous, so planned. She couldn't speak, and her mouth suddenly felt like it was as dry as sand.
Charlie gripped the arms of the chair.
Copyright (c) 2000 {hamlet}Ophelia