Jeanette had spent nearly the whole day looking out the window. There'd been last minute tidying, wrapping, cooking and cleaning, but between chores she sat and stared out at the street. Eleanor looked at her sympathetically.

"There won't be any more mail, Jeanette. It's Christmas Eve."

"Maybe…" Jeanette began.

"Oh! Jeanette!" Britany stood in the doorway, her hands on her hips. "We're due there in half an hour and you're not even ready!" Jeanette looked down at herself confused. Sure, her socks had fallen down again, and she hadn't tied her shoelaces properly, but that didn't take half an hour. Britany frowned crossly as her sister looked baffled.

"We're only going to see the boys." She pointed out.

"It's a special occasion so you have to wear a special outfit." She marched over and pulled Jeanette up. "Now you go and bathe while I pick something out for you." Jeanette looked to Eleanor for help as she was pushed out the room, but she only shrugged.

Typically, she had only just got in the bath when she heard the doorbell. She almost slipped as she rushed up to try and see out the little window. But the glass was frosted and she didn't have her glasses on. Quickly she lathered herself in soap, then used the shower to rinse it off. Stopping only to grab her glasses and wrap a towel round herself, she hurried out the bathroom and down the stairs.

The front door was shut and no-one was in the hall. She headed into the kitchen. There was a box on the table.

"Jeanette dear," Miss Miller called up the stairs. "A parcel's arrived for you."

"Thank you," she called back as she carefully pulled the tape off. The lid lifted up, and under a layer of bubble wrap was a book. It's here! She gazed at it happily. But what about the inscription? She was just reaching for the cover when Britany appeared again.

"Argh! Jeanette!" She grabbed her arm. "You have to get dressed!"

To Jeanette's mind this shouldn't have taken long. A clean skirt, her blue jersey, maybe a ribbon for her hair. But her older sister had picked out a number of fancy dresses that frankly Jeanette didn't think she'd ever wear. Britany could wear such dresses with ease, she mused. She just didn't feel comfortable in them. But she had to try each one on.

"I feel like a fool." She muttered.

"You're just not wearing it right." Britany pulled the shoulders about and adjusted the neckline but Jeanette kept shifting uncomfortably. Eventually, after a lot of arguing, Britany agreed on a simpler dress of blue, with a purple sash. Jeanette hurried downstairs to find the book had gone!

"We have to go now, girls." Miss Miller called. Jeanette began looking under the table.

"Oh. I wrapped your book, Jeanette." She banged her head as Eleanor spoke. "I knew Britany would fuss until it was time to go." She handed over a beautifully wrapped box.

"Thank you, Eleanor." Jeanette smiled but she was disappointed she hadn't read the inscription. As she followed her sisters out she thought about all the effort that she'd put into getting this book. She'd met the author while they were touring in England. He'd given an amazing talk on who invented science and when she'd had a project on the subject she'd written to him. He'd kindly written back and they'd corresponded occasionally, mostly about science but he had asked about her school, family and friends. Then she'd sent him this book to request a signature. She'd worried it was perhaps too assuming but his letters had always seemed so kind. Perhaps she'd gone on a bit too much about how good Simon was at science? It had been weeks since she'd sent it and she'd been so worried it wouldn't get here in time. But now it was here she worried perhaps it was too much. Would he think she was over generous? Maybe it wouldn't occur to him that it had been difficult to get it signed? What if he didn't like it? She clutched it to her and hoped it was the right gift.