Painted Indian Giver

Definition: A North American expression used to describe a person who gives something and later wants it back, or something equivalent in return.

I don't want it back. I just want to use his gift before he does. Does that still make me an Indian Giver? Blair is working until 6:00 am and I just want two things to get me through the night - a chocolate shake from Arby's and a few hours of painting with Blair's unopened paint set that I got him for his birthday. I've been sitting here for a few minutes looking at the naked canvases and the unopened paints, convincing myself that since I don't technically want it back or necessarily want something equivalent in return I'm not really an Indian giver....right?

But what if you use something before you give it to someone? What kind of a giver is that? I think I'm guilty of that one too. I was in seventh grade and it was the night of my best friend McCall's birthday party. I bought a bottle of silvery lavender nail polish for McCall that I planned on giving to her at the party that night. It just so happened that the nail polish perfectly matched my new lavender plastic jacket (don't ask) that I was planning on wearing to the party. Right before I slipped on my white platform shoes and made sure there wasn't any gum chunks stuck in my braces, I quickly painted my toes with that new bottle of lavender beauty. McCall wouldn't notice. Nobody would notice...right? Wrong. Later that night at the party, right after McCall looked at my gift her eyes unfortunately went straight to the evidence under her gaze. She started laughing and said, "This nail polish is so cute! It looks so good on your toes." Luckily best friends can laugh about stuff like that.

So don't be offended if I use something before I give it to you. Consider it a compliment that I'm getting you something that I like so much. Indian Giver or not...still a Giver.

Time to paint.