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Not Just Any Pen

My father is a great believer in good stationery, especially writing instruments. Which is why I was bequeathed my first Parker pen when I was 8. Every year after that my dad would upgrade it... first from the cheap plastic tips that come in different colors to full stainless steel ones with gold tips and finally to a solid silver one that was striped when I was 15. I believe that that particular pen was my lucky pen. When I was 15 everything was going great for me.

However, one day my pencil box disappeared - presumably stolen. I was distraught and didn't have the courage to tell my father about it. After all, not only was that pen in that pencil box, but also a large collection of my colored pens that were very much in vogue at that time as well as another brand name ball pen. Yes yes... which crazy parents let their children even touch such expensive things, let alone bring it to school every day where most crimes occur at such a young and tender age. Let's just say that my parents trusted me to be careful.

Anyway, I confessed to my mom tearfully and she promised me that she wouldn't breathe a word about it to my dad and just forget the whole thing ever happened and adviced me to downgrade to plain 20 cent ballpoint pens from then on.

The next morning I woke up heavy hearted and still feeling blue over the loss of my favourite pen in the world. I started to pack my bag to go to school and lo and behold - there was a brand new Parker pen sitting on the study desk. Not the exact same one I lost, but similar. In the back of my mind, I knew what happened - my mom had told my dad about my loss but told him not to admonish me. He didn't - and he went further. He gave me another pen - even after my carelessness and undeservingnesss. I was touched.

5 years later on my 20th birthday he gave me a box. I opened it and there it was - the exact pen I lost when I was 15. He had managed to find the exact model again even though it was out of production many years before he even gave me the first one). Now I use it daily - its weight comforting and reassuring. My father's gift to me.

Sometimes it's difficult to deny the fact that I am a pampered princess.

posted by Evelyn at 11:10 AM