The worst ever that I received wasn't recent.
4th or 5th grade gift exchange in school, 1970 or 1971.
The price limit was low, maybe a couple dollars. But back then you could get a lot for $2.00!
My Dad had bought a box at an auction that had about 50 Newton's Cradle's in it.
I had THE most rockin' gift for the exchange that year!!!!!! EVERYONE wanted to draw my number.
Other kids had also came up with pretty cool gifts..... Softballs, softball bats, roller skates (used but still good), etc.
The names/numbers combinations were kept secret until everyone had drawn to keep the suspense up as to who was getting what from whom and then names were drawn randomly to receive your gift as well so no one knew who was going up next.........
I drew #13.
My deskmate looked at it and just said "bummer about the unlucky 13".
My name was the very last drawn to receive my gift.
I got an Emmett Kelly coloring book and a box of 4 crayons. I hated clowns.
Half of the pictures had already been colored or scribbled over. Seriously, a used coloring book? I hated clowns!
The crayons were the junk wax crayons that barely made a mark at all on paper. Did i mention my dislike of clowns?
I got a sucky gift, I got to listen to the mean spirited taunts the rest of the day about said sucky gift, and I had to sit staring at a frowning depressed freaking clown all day!!!!!!!!!
I was sadder than Emmett Kelly looked.
Can I get an amen for F@%&*$ a bunch of clowns?
I was traumatized by that Christmas gift exchange, but I hardly EVER think about it now...... except around Christmas!
Dunno if they were so poor that they couldn't afford anything of if Mom and Dad thought it would be a HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!! GREAT GAG GIFT for junior to take to school.
I'm not crying.... some smoke got in my eyes.
