"As he flicked through the letters, a small, handwritten envelope caught his attention and his

Side note: RAWR I AM A BEAR. Mom had a dream that there was a bear in the yard, and she was just kind of like “Okay, please don’t eat my chickens” and went back inside.

“As he flicked through the letters, a small, handwritten envelope caught his attention and his heart began to thump.”

He knew that this was what he had been looking for, the final piece to the puzzle. In this envelope would be all the information he was seeking, the answers to all of his questions. There was no turning back now. It was do or die.

He opened the envelope and unfolded the letter within. He took a deep breath, and read the three words it contained.

Give it up.

He staggered back, desperately trying to hold back the tears.

He had spent every hour of every day for the past several months searching, and still he was no closer to answers. No closer to the knowledge that could change his life forever, no closer to moving forward. Still he was left waiting, not knowing how things would play out.

Left without knowing what his parents were getting him for Christmas.

How was he supposed to plan? How was he supposed to compete in the bragging competitions between his friends? How was he supposed to go on, not knowing the answers?

It was too much to ask of one person, too much to expect that he could wait. They had been baiting him for months now, telling him that this year’s Christmas gift would be the best yet. And there were still two months to go, and no hiding place he had not yet searched.