A Matter of System

"A Matter of System" is a short story about Jasper Hawkins, a rigidly systematic businessman who dismisses his wife's Christmas shopping struggles and vows to handle the last three gifts himself. Armed with a neat list and supreme confidence, he sets out to buy presents for a half-sick spinster, a lame boy, and a rich, temperamental uncle — only to find that department-store chaos, forgotten details, and sheer ignorance of the recipients lead him to choices that seem catastrophically wrong. The letters of thanks that arrive afterward leave him scrambling to save face.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ririro-com-short-stories--6577582/support.