Linda's Story

Gingerbread Houses

"Brie and I are goin' shopping, babe," Linda informed her fiancé as she tugged on her hat.

"We're going to Target to get some Christmas cookies and stuff that'll rot our teeth," Brie added, grabbing her keys. "You should come!"

"Shopping with you two?" Danny shook his head, "No thanks."

"Why not?"

"I've been shopping with the two of you individually. I can't imagine what it's like when you're together. I having a feeling it could get pretty grim."

"Not grim. Fun!"

"I'll stay here, thanks."

Linda shrugged, "suit yourself. We'll be back in an hour."

"Okay, see ya." Once they were out the door, he mumbled, "won't be back til dinner."

*********

Linda and Brie appeared within his line of sight with two bags each. He looked at them warily.

"Oh, Danny," Linda sang. "Guess what we got?"

"No, whatever it is. No."

"Pwease?" Brie asked like a little kid. "It'll be fun!"

"No."

*********

"How do I do this?" Linda glanced over at Danny and Brie setting out the pieces of their houses.

"You never made one-a these before?" Brie questioned, grabbing her icing.

"I had a depressing childhood apparently," she half joked. She set her pieces out like her friends had. "Danny?"

"Do it like this," he showed her how to apply the icing to the sides of the house in order to connect them with the front and back.

"Oh. I'm not very creative, I guess."

"You're very creative," Danny reassured her.

Brie added, "Just not architecturally."

They worked in silence for a few minutes more before there was a dramatic huff.

"Why is this so hard?" Linda tilted her head as she held up her ginger walls.

"That's what she said," Brie cackled.

Danny gave her the side eye, "how old are you?"

"Twenty." She responded matter of factly.

*********

"No, don't feed me," Linda shook her head, trying to evade the red gum drop danny was holding out for her. "Don't feed the enemy. No!"

Danny touched it to her lips; he dropped it in her mouth once her lips parted.

"Shit," Brie cursed, "my house is caving in! Danny, what do I do?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"You were in construction."

"For six months."

"That's enough time to know something."

"It'll be fine," he scoffed, putting icing scallops on his roof.

"I can see why you only lasted six months at that job," Linda mused, focused on color coordinating the M'n'M wreath.

"You're lucky I've got icing on my hands."

"Or what? You'd spank me?"

Brie fanned herself, "I don't think I should be hearing this!"

"Shut up."