White Elephant Disaster

Boys and girls gather around the classroom in a circle,

it's the Friday before their winter break and all the third-grade teachers

have arranged a game of White Elephant. The gifts are piled in the center

of the children's circle and child number one picks one to open.

Child number two takes one as well. The third steals the first gift and

the game continues until there is only one little boy left without a box or toy

in his hand. So he goes to the center and gently picks up a silver box tied with

a sparkling green bow, maybe it's a new video game,

or a book to read over the break, could it be a toy train for his collection

or do the others not know each other

well enough for something like that?


"Unwrap your presents children!" One of the teachers exclaims as the boy

sits back down. There are dolls and cars and a few books scattered through

the crowd, but the most unique thing of all is in the last little boy's hand.

A pair of Alaskan earmuffs, too big for his fragile head, signed by the 44th President

of the United States - President Obama. Such an odd gift, but maybe,

just maybe, his dad would take them off his hands for a few dollars or so.