Christmas just came and went. My husband never asks for presents. He’s lacking in giving and getting as he is not a “thing’’ person.  Finally, I nagged him so much, he said, “Oh, all right, I’d like a yellow sweater, but nothing else, and I mean it!” At last, I could give him something he would like.

I was surprised at his choice, but was determined to find one. I had to make a zillion phone calls, and look at lots of websites before I located just what he wanted. The place was a few hours away, out in the countryside.

Two middle aged friendly ladies met me, and asked that I take a seat.  Presently, they came back followed by a streak of red fur.  A wild Irish Setter puppy jumped up on my lap. She looked right into my eyes and smiled, a loving welcome.  

The little dog had been the runt of a prize winning litter.  She seemed perfect, but the breeders told me that she had been quite sick at birth. The kind ladies had paid for multiple operations that saved her life, but rendered her useless as a show dog. They wanted to find her a good home as a companion dog. They explained that she was usually very timid with people and were surprised that she liked me so much. That sealed the deal. 

Off I went to present her to my husband. He heard the car coming and came out to meet me in the driveway.  He asked, “Where have you been, you’ve been gone for ages?”  I explained that I had been out shopping for his present.  I told him to open the back hatch of our SUV.  He glared at me saying, “How could a yellow sweater take up that much room?” 

“A yellow what?”, I  gasped.  Annoyed, he replied, “The only thing I need is a yellow sweater.”  

“Oh, no!”, I shouted as he opened the hatch. The red puppy rushed toward him and licked his face. 

“What the hell, he declared, with a big smile on his face, I’m naming her Penny, she’s the best present ever, she will be my constant companion.”

What a relief. It was a wonderful Christmas as my husband and Penny bonded playing  fetch.

After the holiday, I rushed off to buy hearing aids. This time I mistook, yellow sweater for Irish Setter.  What would be my next hilarious, but maybe not so funny, hearing error?