The Christmas Present

At thirty four and a repeat offender in the single stakes, Sharni was always on the look-out for eligible men. However that search didn’t normally extend to a queue in a department store at Christmas. It was not the optimal place to meet someone. It was difficult to get beyond a greeting and she would have liked to have done that with him. So it was with some regret that she left the store to continue her shopping. 

With shiny auburn hair, blue eyes and a well proportioned figure Sharni didn’t have trouble getting the attention of men, but she never seemed to be able to hang on to them. They all tended to lose interest after a while or she did. She didn’t know why that was but she hoped with the next man, it would be different. 

After ordering a chicken and picking up some nuts for Christmas day, her contribution to the meal at her parents, all Sharni had to do for this trip to the shops was to get something for her dinner that night. She’s come straight to the shops from work, knowing if she sat down at home she wouldn’t have left again and she’d have been another day down and even further behind. With her bags weighing her down she headed for the supermarket. 

Half an hour later Sharni was heading out to her car having picked up a trolley to save her arms. She had just walked out of the carpark door when she heard a crash and a male voice say “damn” behind her.

Turning she saw the same brown eyed Christmas present. At his feet was a box that had obviously fallen from the heap in his arms. There was no way he could pick the box up without putting all the rest down.