You gave a gift they didn't like. They were rude about it. And then instead of accepting the poor apology of a child, and letting the parents deal with it, you critiqued the child's performance, which also was a refusal to accept the parent's attempt to take a step in the right direction. And you did it twice. And you hold enough of a grudge over it to share this story with the world.
I'm not sure that the child's apology was the only one missing from this story.
Interesting criticism. Perhaps more context would help.
They were rude about it. And it was appropriate to criticise the child and the parent. The parent was criticised as that child also did it to others up to that point. Other behaviours like bullying were also creeping in. They hadn't properly addressed it until I actually refused the fake apology. The child had behavioural issues that have now been positively improved through their deliberate effort in subsequent months. Evidence of this is has been seen by teachers at his school apparently. Definitely in his behaviour I've seen as well as his sister.
And he's on the school basketball team now. What a terrible present! Children dislike things for non obvious reasons. Just like adults.
The anecdote shows how an apology has impact. Perhaps you can't handle someone holding a boundary line on acceptable behaviour and this hit a raw nerve for you? I don't know.
The coal was a reference to Christmas, not a grudge.
I'm not sure that the child's apology was the only one missing from this story.