ℙ𝔸𝕀ℕ ⇒ 𝕁𝕆ℍℕ 𝕃𝔼ℕℕ𝕆ℕ

⋄ ⅩⅩⅩⅣ ⋄

❝𝕺𝖚𝖗 𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖙𝖘 𝖌𝖗𝖔𝖜 𝖙𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖗 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝖈𝖍𝖎𝖑𝖉𝖍𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝖒𝖊𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖘 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖑𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖐𝖎𝖓𝖉𝖗𝖊𝖉, 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖜𝖊 𝖆𝖗𝖊 𝖇𝖊𝖙𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖍𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖌𝖍𝖔𝖚𝖙 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖞𝖊𝖆𝖗 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖎𝖓𝖌, 𝖎𝖓 𝖘𝖕𝖎𝖗𝖎𝖙, 𝖇𝖊𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖊 𝖆 𝖈𝖍𝖎𝖑𝖉 𝖆𝖌𝖆𝖎𝖓 𝖆𝖙 𝕮𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊,❞

...

| December 3rd, 1964 |

"I'll get some of this, and this, and this," Charlotte swiped her hand onto the shelf and dragged it across, knocking everything off and into her shopping cart.

Ringo stared in amazement at all the items and things she piles into the metal cart.

"Now, Carlotta, we don't need two rolls of the same garland," Ringo attempted to convince her to put the stuff back on the shelf, but it was futile.

She stopped moving and slowly (and creepily) turned her head towards the man. As she stared back into his blue eyes, she picked up a duplicate roll of garland and harshly slammed it back onto the shelf.

"You're not my dad," Charlotte rolled her eyes and pushed the cart, still plucking things off of the display and dropping them into her large collection.

"Well, I'm just sayin', having two things of the same type isn't all that necessary," He lifted two crystal bowls decorated with small mistletoe painted onto its surface. "Like this, ya don't need two crystal candy bowls,"

"Well— I— one of them is for Isabel!" Charlotte tried to rationalize her decision, lightly taking them away from him and returning them to the collection.

Ringo dragged his hands down his face, tired and stressed. He wanted to help by opening Charlotte's eyes to the money she's throwing down the drain. Ringo knew she would regret buying all this stuff, if he let her. So grabbed hold of the cart, turned it around, and began putting things back onto the shelves, ignoring Charlotte who was arguing with him.

"Ya don't need all this stuff, Lotti! If I let ya walk outta this store with a shoppin' cart full of useless duplicates, next year you'll ask me why I let ya waste all yer money! Y'know what? How about you give me the money, and I'll do the shoppin'," Ringo held out his hand, and Charlotte reluctantly handed him the worn paper envelope.

He nodded approvingly and stuffed it into his pocket, zipping it shut. She knew he was right, she also knew what an impulsive shopper she can be, especially when she's got a great idea in her mind.

"Now, let's think about this reasonably," Ringo gazed up at the multitude of decorations and other fashionable items. "Let's get stuff like lights, garland, wreaths, ornaments, etc. and if we have money left over afterwards, I'd be willin' to possibly get some extra things ya want, alright? I want us all to be happy this Christmas, and tossing valuable money and expenses down the drain is not gonna do it. You understand me right, love?"

Charlotte nodded, thankful he was there to set her mind straight. The two childhood friends surveyed the store, they ended up buying a lot of decorations for John's house including a Christmas tree and an inflatable pool (they had the great idea of filling it with hot water instead of cold). They walked out of the store with three shopping carts full of items, proud of themselves for finding things for their party.

"Hey—yeah—we need a limo—alright, see ya soon," Ringo laughed, hanging up and stepping out of the booth.

"We need a big car to fit all our stuff inside?" Charlotte looked at the fruits of their labor.