I was hurt. I'd come all the way to her work to drop off her boyfriend's parcel and she cut me off after I'd only said two words. I didn't know what I looked like to her. All I knew was that Russell, the boyfriend, would be pretty upset that she hadn't given me a chance to explain things.

It was wrapped in brown paper. Who isn't made the least bit curious about something wrapped in brown paper? It was bulky but not heavy, with her name written on it neatly. I'd just shoved it in the back seat of my car, and not really thought about it, but now I shook it a bit experimentally. It didn't jingle.

She'd shooed me off, so I was standing in one of the stationery aisles near the elevator, juggling the parcel and trying not to get in the way of people looking for notecards. Out of sight and getting my nerves back in order.

Ah, here she came again. "Could you help me?" I said. "I'm looking for scissors."

"Yeah right," she muttered, but led me to the appropriate aisle.

"Wait," I said imperiously, taking a pair down from their hook. Then I cut through the brown paper wrapping. Then I handed its contents to her and brandished the scissors approvingly. "These'll do nicely."

She was still looking at me as if I'd given her a tarantula.

"Xin," I said, getting really exasperated by now, "What's the problem? It's a gift, okay?"

"Nina," she replied in a very small voice, "Why is it ticking?"