A Desired Gift - Sweet Surprise! || Creative Nonfiction Writing Prompt #18

It was on a beautiful Sunday evening, I was sitting with my husband and my two sons under an avocado tree just in front of my gate. The weather was so hot and We thought of receiving natural fresh air outside the home since there was no electricity to turn on the AC in the living room. We used the opportunity also to chit-chat and play some simple outdoor games to enhance family bonding. By the time I was feeling exhausted, I sat down, grabbed my phone, and explored the online world a bit, just by a click, I saw some beautifully made elegant dinner dresses via online ads from one of these online vendors, but very expensive! Wow, I admired the dinner dresses to the hearing of my husband. Well, I didn't do that intentionally, it just happened and unknowingly, my husband picked my interest in the dress. Then I went further to say "if not because of all these bunches of responsibilities, I would have just paid for one of these dinner dresses and been happy". My second son, who is 3 years old then turned and said to me "mum, what do you mean by responsibilities"? He couldn't even pronounce the word "Responsibilities" very well.., he almost bite his tongue but I already got his message.

Then I took my time to explain to him that responsibilities include the house rent, school fees, health care, food, and other basic needs for him, his brother, and everyone at home and that I could afford such an expensive dress if I should overlook some of their needs at that time but I needed to support Daddy by placing the basic needs first before clothing even though I desired it.

When I got married new, it was just me and my husband, no children to care for, and so no serious responsibilities. I remember my husband buying all those expensive clothes, shoes, Jewelries and others on my special days and at ordinary times for me. Then the kids started coming and that means more responsibilities, so the way I got those gifts from my husband was reduced, he wasn't financially capable enough to satisfy my wants at all times but rather place his major priorities on our needs which is perfect and understandable for our financial level.

But something happened one day
He surprised me

He remembered how I admired a dinner dress (an expensive made-in-UK dress) the other day and added it to his budget just to make me happy. He knows how I love red dresses with golden accessories and so he ordered my perfect size online, he added a golden wristwatch, a golden necklace, a golden shoe, and a golden human hair wig. It was a complete set, or let me say a complete dressing for me from head to toe. It wasn't on my birthday, and neither was it on my anniversary day, it was just an ordinary day when I received this surprise present from a dispatch rider while my husband was away to work. You needed to see how curious I was opening that package 📦. The rider mentioned that the gift was for Mrs. Nkem, as I was opening the package, the rider was on a call with my husband and I sensed he was the brain behind the gift. I love surprise presents, I can express lots of excitement with them sometimes, it's just fun for me.

When I finally opened the parcel, I saw all the items inside as I described above. Both the dress and the shoe were my perfect size, I was just smiling with my cheeks wide open, then a message from hubby entered

Hi, honey
This is just a token to appreciate your love for me and our kids
Thanks for being a supportive wife
Thanks for understanding me better
Thanks for always exercising patience when I couldn't take care of you as supposed
Expect more surprises from me, you deserve the best.

Yours,
Sweetheart.

It's been almost 2 years ago, but I decided to save this text in a draft via my email. While I read this message from him, I feel encouraged to support him more knowing that he values my little support so far.

*That evening of surprise was so romantic for both of us, I could recall all that I did just to appreciate him. The day I wore the dress for a dinner party, I looked so elegant and gorgeous, he and my boys didn't seize to give me some nice compliments. It was a beautiful surprise gift I can't forget in a hurry.

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