Twenty five boxes and a piece of paper

1st April, 20051

"Mummy, mummy! What's in the big parcel Auntie Elsa has sent us?", Mirika shouted excitedly. Mirika couldn't wait to see what was inside the box her Auntie had sent. It was always something interesting or big like the Milkshake maker she had sent to them a year ago. Auntie Elsa was also the only grown up that liked to play games with Mirika besides her mum and dad so that made Auntie Elsa her faveourite relative.2

"Calm down Miri, its your brothers nap time.",replied Mirika's mother. "Anyhow, this time though the parcel just for you."
Miri's mother placed the huge box on the table in front of Mirika and looked at her daughter. "Really mum?", Miri asked. "Yes Miri it is.Now are you going to open it or just gawp around like a goldfish all day?" "Of course I'm going to open it!" 3

Miri started tearing at the sticky tape and parts of the brown box to leave ribbons of the stuff falling to the ground. Slowly, she opened the parcel. "Whaaaatt?!?!4

Another box lay inside the dull brown one with hibiscuses and frangapanis painted all over it. "Hmmmm....maybe the present is inside of this one." Mirika quickly opened the box only to find a slightly smaller one painted silver.
"Auntie Elsa sure likes boxes",mumbled Mirika under her breath. 5

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Twenty five boxes later Miri held a tiny match box with rainbow dots glued on so you couldn't see the print underneath.7

"I think this is the last one", whispered Mirika's mum.8

"Yay! Now I can finally find out what it is!"  Mirika yelled so loud that their cat Mia scampered up a tree outside. Its a miracle Miri's baby brother Danny hasn't woken up, thought Miri's mum. 9

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With steady hands mirika pushed out the match box compartment and unfurled the rolled up piece of paper that lay in it.11

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As Miri read the scrawled writing, her features turned from excited to surprised and left her mouth gaping open. Mirika's mother wondered why Mirika was like that until she read the note Auntie Elsa had written. Laughing, Mirika's mother said, "Well Auntie Elsa always said she likes playing tricks and games with you. I never thought she would do it like this!13

Mirika grinned widely.Auntie had played the perfect trick on Miri at the perfect time. "I'll get her back one day!", Miri replied loudly. Watch out Auntie Elsa!14

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On the note was written in block letters, 'Got you Miri! April fools day! I know you love jokes.16

Love Auntie Elsa.'17

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