Sid entered the house quietly because he expected Teddy to be asleep and didn't want to wake the old man. It wasn't very late yet, but Teddy was one of those old people who went to bed pretty early. So Sid was surprised to see his host watching TV. At the sound of the door closing, Teddy got up and smiled at Sid like a real grandfather.
"Happy Birthday!" the old man greeted the boy and picked up a package wrapped with a ribbon from the couch. "It's your birthday present."
"Birthday present?" Sid wondered. "For me?"
"Of course," Teddy confirmed. "In previous years I did not give you anything, because it is not proper for an adult, old man to give gifts to underage people, but the eighteenth birthday is a very special day, don't you think?"
"But ..." Sid hesitated. "I really don't need a gift, besides ..."
Teddy's smile grew a little sad, melancholic.
"Since my wife died, I have no one to give gifts to. It's been so many years... "
