I thought quickly. We had to pass my flat on the way to the bus stop.
“That jewelry looks really nice with that dress,” I began, “but I have some jewelry at home that looks even better.”
The nine-year-old looked intrigued.
“What’s it like?” she asked. “It’s newer and even more sparkly,” I said. “Tell you what, let’s go and get it.”
When the girl took off her earrings and necklace, I hid them round the back of a plant pot. The jewelry I replaced them with wasn’t really newer or more sparkly, but it had a novelty value that the three-month-old gift lacked.
That day, the nine-year-old and my grandmother got on famously, and even bonded over their love of big jewelry. Meanwhile, I learned a valuable lesson about the spirit of Christmas: Always regift your presents to someone who will never meet the giver.
Ariane Sherine is editor of The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas.
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