Transformation: Day 20

Word Total: 120,040

Year to Date: 1,080,373

Summary of Events:

Elianne was preparing to ride Enya when some people arrived, including a girl just a few months older than her named Virginia, who joined her on her ride; as they talked Elianne became hopeful that she had a friend in the making. Taylor tried to get Whitney to tell him just how he had succeeded in convincing Taylor's grandparents to let him stay at Adaminaby doing endurance riding, but Whitney refused to tell. Ian reluctantly went out with Ms. Carlyle for New Year's Eve; thankfully he managed to get home before midnight, although not without a Christmas present from Ms. Carlyle that he opened with much trepidation . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

The box was wrapped with what Ian considered slightly childish paper, as it featured anthropomorphic caricatures of snowmen all over it. A store-bought bow was affixed to the top, as well as a small sticker on which was printed To Ian, with love, Yvette.

Carefully Ian removed the bow so that he could invert the present and open it carefully, detaching each piece of tape from the paper, as if he were intent to save the paper for a future date, instead of just being filled with trepidation.

Once each fold was released Ian folded the paper down and tried to see if he could tell what the contents were without fully opening the present, but once he’d released three of the four edges of the paper he discovered that the box containing his gift was probably recycled, as according to the printing on the outside it contained some sort of a small kitchen appliance, and he doubted Ms. Carlyle had bought him such a thing.

Removing the paper all the way, Ian set the paper aside, placing the tape and the bow onto it and then slit the tape that was holding the lid shut before cautiously raising the lid and warily looking inside.

On top of the contents was a neatly-folded piece of paper covered in rather businesslike print. Ian took hold of it with the barest of grasps and set it aside before peering back into the box.

Just as he’d suspected. He removed four different pairs of what he observed was a rather expensive brand of underwear — although he had heard tell that it was highly comfortable.

Checking to ensure the box was empty, Ian was shocked and horrified to see what was on the bottom. He didn’t remove the box, but instead closed the kitchen appliance box back over it and cautiously unfolded the letter, his face red with mortification.

As he’d feared, the professionalism of the print didn’t reflect on the content of the letter; in fact, the letter left him feeling highly uncomfortable — honestly, it made him actually feel naked somehow.

Although he wanted to quit reading before he’d gotten too far, he read every single word and then quickly folded the letter shut and discarded it back into the box as quickly as possible.

Considering the expense — and reported comfort — of the underwear, he was going to acquiesce to keep it, however, all the rest of it was being discarded at once, and he wasn’t merely going to leave it for the garbage man to pick up; he was going to burn it.

He harboured no love for Ms. Carlyle, pretty though she could be. Although she had caught his eye and been appealing at the beginning, as time had passed, he had found her to be thoroughly unappealing in character, and thus he had no intentions of going as far as her letter suggested she wanted to go with him.

Next Post: 30 November.