"Open mine first!" Jason thrusts a bag spilling confetti into Charles's hands. Making a great to do about Charles slowly removes the tissue making a mess on the couch, until at last his fingers rub against a soft fabric. He yanks it out and takes all his effort not to laugh. This had to be the most hideous necktie he had ever seen.
"Wow thanks Jason. It's great." He shots Lila a look who is starting to snicker, she instantly stops.
"You can wear it to your birthday dinner!"
"Honey? Perhaps we should let Charles open the rest of his gifts before he selects his outfit?"
"Okay mom." Mrs. Pembroke hands him a perfectly wrapped box and upon opening it he nearly screams. A beautiful blue sweater, cashmere? Now that he'd be willing to wear, but looking over at Jason he knew it won't be that simple.
"Wear them both Charles!"
"Perhaps."
"My turn. Sorry I didn't wrap it." Douglas hands over a notebook.
"The End Of Her Fall, by Douglas Pembroke. Wow Douglas."
"It's about an alien invasion at a bayou where a young girl named Al-"
"He can't wear that!" Thank god Charles thinks flipping through the pages.