TO: Pasithea – FROM: Lottie
Philotes looked at the box and decided it wasn't enough. Oh, it was a nice present, but it just wasn't... enough. She'd thought, when she found it, that it was perfect. But she was starting to suspect that it had been shoppers fatigue that made the find seem so wonderful at the time.
It happened to a lot of shoppers this time of year. Going from store to store, dealing with the overwhelming crowds, the relentless holiday music, the hastily grabbed fast food that provided no real nourishment, occasionally dragging several screaming and/or sullen children and/or an unenthusiastic spouse in tow could take a toll. Normally, Philotes loved crowds and truly enjoyed shopping; but there was an intensity and an edge to it in this final calendar month that could even manage to set her teeth on edge. So it was very possible that she had finally and for the first time succumbed to the affliction of shopper's fatigue, which manage to make any gift that was even remotely reasonable appear to be the best thing since sliced bread.
It was the only reason she could think of why she'd imagine a vibrating pillow would be enough for her sister-in-law. At least for the Secret Santa gift anyway. Lottie had mounds of gifts piled up in her home to give to all of her very, very, very large family. But those were all little things, and this was a Secret Santa gift which was totally different. And it was a nice gift, really it was. It was large with a navy fleece cover that was dotted with stars and crescent moons. And best of all, it didn't just switch on to vibrate, you had to hug it to activate it. That had tickled Lottie to no end, so she'd snatched it up.
But looking at it sitting on her kitchen table, wrapped up and topped with a bow, it no longer seemed like enough. But that was okay! She had a solution! One that was very easy to implement since she already had everything at hand. She'd just finished making up several batches of cookies and some mini-muffins yesterday. And they were already packaged in decorative tins and patterned cellophane bags because she'd intended to pass them out to friends. No matter. She could make more tonight!
After stacking a few tins and bags on top of the wrapped box, Philotes went home. Not the home she kept on the mortal plane, but the one she'd been born to. The Underworld held no fears for her, and many fond memories. Three doggie biscuits were proved to her favorite guard dog, as they always were. A unique coin she'd found in an antique shop was passed to Charon, though she wasn't really required to pay. And it was only a short time later that she found herself at her brother's doorstep.
Even though Hypnos still didn't have any doors.
Uncertain if her sister-in-law was home or not, and unwilling to disturb one of her brother's naps, Lottie set the packages along with a card just inside the doorway. Then, just in case Pasithea was there, she called softly, “Happy Holidays.”