Where to Shop For the Woman That Has Everything

“Oh, no!” Toshi’s father exclaimed. He smacked himself on the forehead with the palm of his hand and winced. “Your mother’s birthday is tomorrow!”

On the other side of the family room, Toshi just shook his head and smiled. As an almost fully grown man, now a senior in college, he had seen this very same scene played out for as long as he could remember. “Let me guess, Dad, I’m betting that since you didn’t remember Mom’s birthday, that also means that you have no gift,” he said.

“Ah, ah, um, no. Of course I have a gift,” stammered Toshi’s father. “I was just yelling and doing that stuff for theatrics.”

“You mean sort of like the theatrics you saw when you bought Mom tickets to the KISS reunion tour? How did she take that present, I wonder?”

A glowering stare was the only response that Toshi received.

“If I remember correctly,” Toshi said, “that was a last minute purchase. I think that gift was even better than the bison burgers that you bought a few years back at that store that was going out of business! Do you remember the look on Mom’s face when she tore off the wrapping, hoping against hope that you had finally gotten her a thoughtful gift, and she got burgers!” Toshi broke into cackles of laughter.

“I choose not to remember some things in life, and that is a moment that I have selectively decided to not recall,” Toshi’s dad said. He thought to himself for a few moments. As he rolled the list of gifts back in his mind, he realized that he had given some pretty horrible duds. He was on a birthday losing streak that seemed to be lasting for years. He had to turn things around.

“You know, Toshi, you have two sisters, but it’s just the two of us guys in this family,” began Toshi’s dad, “and we men should stick together and look out for eachother. So, err, son, I would really appreciate it if you could give a few suggestions as to what you think I should buy your mother.”

“Whoa, are you serious, Dad? You’re finally trying to shake off the Neanderthal-style presents?” Toshi paused before adding, “I’m so…I’m so proud of you.”

“Okay, okay, enough, Mr.Comedian. I know that you already got your mother something nice, so just tell me what to do.”

With a big smile still on his face, Toshi walked over the family room’s entertainment cabinet and reached a thick arm behind the plasma TV, pulling out an ornately wrapped red box crowned by an aquamarine bow. “This is my present,” he stated proudly.

His father took it from his son’s hands, turning the box around so he could see all sides. He had to admit, even the box alone was nicer than all the gifts that he had given, but he wasn’t going to say it out loud. Moving his fingers, Toshi’s dad gingerly shimmied the top off the box and peered inside.

“Whoa, those are beautiful!” The words escaped from his lips before he had the time to stop them. “These earrings are absolutely gorgeous.”

“Thanks,” acknowledged Toshi.

“I know that it didn’t come from me, so where did you get such good taste?” inquired Toshi’s father.

Toshi smiled again. “I didn’t. I have to thank Gilbert & Frech for that.”

“Gilber & who?” asked Toshi’s dad.

“Gilbert & Frech. They’re a jewelry brad, Dad,” Toshi said, shaking his head. “You need to know this stuff. They have it all, whether it’s gemstones, necklaces or earrings, you can bet that they’ll have the most eye-catching, timeless designs around.”

“Gilbert & Frech. I like them already! And, with Christmas just around the corner, it looks like I’ll be accompanying you on your next jewelry shopping expedition, son.” Toshi’s father was now examining the card that Toshi had picked out and signed for his mother. He produced a pen from his shirt pocket.

“Dad?” Toshi asked. “Dad? Why are you signing the card that I bought for Mom?

Toshi’s dad looked at him and let out a pleased sigh. “You mean the card that we bought for Mom, don’t you?,” he smiled and said. “I think it is only fitting that I put my name on this card since I taught you about the wonderful jewelry at Gilbert & Frech. Bestowing my knowledge on you isn’t always free, you know. Let’s just think about it as my fee for teaching you the three little words that always save the day.”

Toshi’s eyebrows curled quizzically. He wasn’t sure exactly what his father was talking about. “And, what three words are those?,” asked Toshi.

His father looked at him and replied, “Why, ‘Gilbert & Frech,’ of course!”

Toshi laughed as he finally understood. “Gilbert and Frech it is!”