I have been given strict instructions by the women in my life not to get him cigars or liquor. That leaves me with absolutely no clue as what to get him for Christmas. Besides he likes cigars and liquor but that is not a "proper" gift they say.
So what do you give a man who is over a 100 years old but looks 40? Somehow I don't think Logan will go for a silver business card holder. The saleslady in the store tries to help, but I tell her, I have to think about it and leave.
Mandy calls, she's at the clinic having her horn grinded down. Mandy is a mutant and when the horns get to long they annoy her, "ruins her hairstyle" she says. I know that in the old days a girl like Mandy would have experienced harassment for having such a visible mutation but these days folks are more enlightened – or so I'd like to think anyway.
Despite the fact we don't see him very often; he is an important part of our life so I do want to get him something he'll like. And then there it is, the perfect thing, in a little shop in Chinatown
As always Christmas morning is a loud affair. Paper is ripped and squeals of joy are heard. Little Lisa gets a new doll and a fight erupts as James tries to exchange it for the car he just got. Thankfully Sis lays down the law and the 3 year olds are pacified with candy.
Mandy loves the ring and all the women folk tear up as I ask her to marry me. Logan just smiles.
Finally as things quiet down we hand him his gift and he opens it carefully and again a faint smile.
It's a netsuke. In ancient Japan men would hand the little carved container from their ropes sash and keep money, medicines and such in them. It's in the shape of a monkey.
Grandma sends me a look and he catches it. He carefully picks her up (he freaked when she broke her hip last year) and while she protest loudly and the kids looks on with big eyes he kisses her head and tells her not to be jealous – she'll always be his favorite little wild monkey.
She laughs. That was what he called her as a little girl.
I know that again the women were wrong. It's not the gift that matters. It's family. Little Lisa and James plays as he watches on. The fifth generation he will se grow up.