Repose

[Santa brings Nilus a soft lined jacket, an electric blanket, and a gas generator to plug it into.]

[Wrapped in pretty paper is a professionally framed portrait of Manning's family drawn from the photograph. It is matted, the glass is sun-proof and the frame classic. The enclosed card is plain white and reads, 'Happy Christmas'.]

[$98.27 of honest money was scraped up and donated to the woman's shelter in Leena's name. A small bubble envelope, however, is also sent to her. Inside, not boxed or wrapped, is an old rusted key. Leena can rest easy, it wasn't stolen, but found. Written on a tag tied to the ring of the key is a single word: ESCAPE.]

[They come, as requested, wrapped up in silver and gold paper with a neat little curly-q of a ribbon wound around it. No card, no note, but the box is also readily filled with glitter. Shine on, Mao.]

[Gift shopping was strange. But they had a list, they checked it (and the measurements) twice, and made the order. It arrives, straight from the retailer, several neat boxes wrapped in pinstripe paper in reds and greens. The first stack, tied up together in twine, contain something grey in the measurements given. The next stack contains something blue. There's a little something extra tucked in with the blue.

A card accompanies it all, generic Christmas Greetings with a computer-printed message within:]

That was way more enjoyable than I imagined it.

Can I ask for a picture of you wearing one? If that's totally out of bounds, it's okay.

Merry Christmas!

~Santa

[Santa has no idea, but Sid seems like the type that would like a leather jacket. The card asks "Good choice/bad choice?" and has boxes at the bottom for her to check, yes, no and not sure.]

[Since their conversation came to no definite answer, Billy receives a Visa giftcard for $150 with the note: For yourself or those people you care about. Happy Holidays.]

[A red envelope containing a holiday card, which in turn contains a single ticket to see an acclaimed production of The Tempest in the Capital in mid-January. On the card is a neatly printed message:

You'll meet outside the theater an hour before showtime. Happy Christmas. - Santa]

[A series of large boxes direct from various online shops brings: a soft silk pillow and comforter.

A different larger, cedar box about a foot by two feet is lined with clean linen and contains: a gold box of assorted chocolates, a folded pink luxury in tissue paper, and a rose gold mug.

There is no card.]

[Steve, Atticus, Eames, Claire. Separately.]

I don't celebrate this holiday. In case you were looking for free stuff.

[Magic. It comes in a bottle. A fine, sparkling dust or a liquid potion. It's not always consistent. One pinch and it snows, light, almost warm flakes that land and sit on skin and in hair. A drop in a cup and it's full to frothing with eggnog, nutmeg, rum, or maybe hot cocoa and marshmallows. Once it runs out, however, it's gone, but holiday magic wouldn't be holiday magic if it lasted all year.]

[There are shirts!, four of them in sizes for the kids and for Iris and her boyfriend too. There's an oversized flannel for mom! There are doggy beds!, two of them. There's a gardening kit for mom! and one for the kids! Lastly, there's a gift certificate for one of those pizza places in the Capital where kids can make their own pizzas alongside their parents. The certificate covers three pies and drinks, along with all the funtime games they want to play after eating, and it's tucked inside a card.]

Do you have a credit card?

[Around noon.]

Ring! Ring!

Santa, baby.

[Santa knew what he was getting Louis the second he saw that it was assigned to him. The gift is in a box tightly wrapped with beautiful, festive paper and a gold bow. Inside is a white box filled with tissue wrapping paper. There's a puzzle inside made of metal and feels ancient. It has Egyptian symbols on it and is always cool to the touch. Next to it is a picture of a little boy in a newsie hat. He has a big, toothy smile and is holding the hand of a tall man that's out of view. There's a card that says:

This was my dad's favorite thinking cube. I think you should have it. From my family to my family. Also a picture of me when I wasn't being a complete asshole all the time.

-LB]