Unnerving

“Mummy, Uncle Steve is here to see you! Look what he got for me.” Harper exclaimed, barging into her mother’s room as Ava was dressing up to attend an event.

As usual, he had brought Harper a gift which was in a box that was tied with a pink bow and now, the little girl put the box on her mother’s bed and waited eagerly for Ava to give her approval for the gift to be opened.

“Harper go to your room and continue with your homework. I don’t want to have to tell you twice.” Ava told her daughter sternly.

“But Mom, I have to see what Uncle Steve brought for me first.”

“You’ll see it after you have obeyed me and done your homework, but if you continue to argue with me, I’ll ask Steve not to bring you gifts anymore.”

“Okay, okay, Mom. I’m going to do them.” Harper said and quickly disappeared through the door without further argument.

Ava had to smile. Her daughter loved gifts, as did any young child, and the thought of not getting them had to be a nightmare to her, so she was willing to do