The Christmas Party

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I walked into the office and pulled out my headphones, shocked. It was December first and the entire office transformed over night; it looked like someone let Buddy the Elf loose in the office: Christmas lights were strung around the room and on our desks; a Christmas tree, fully decorated, was in the corner; there were stockings pinned to the wall with all of our names sewn into the fabric; and there were hand-crafted snowflakes hanging from the ceiling.

"What the fuck?" I muttered under my breath.

"Do you like it?"

"Shit!" I exclaimed, almost dropping my coffee when Soojoo appeared behind me. "Jesus Christ, Soojoo."

Soojoo beamed. "I stayed late last night to decorate."

"Wonderful."

"I hope Yang likes it."

As if on queue, Yang, our boss, walked through the office doors.

"Wow!" He exclaimed. "It looks amazing in here!" Soojoo grinned. "Great job, Party Planning Committee!"

"Thank you," Soojoo said loudly.

"Kiss ass," I muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You're such a Grinch," Soojoo frowned. "It's Christmas time! Be happy and merry."

"And the busiest time of the year," I said, collapsing in my seat.

Soojoo turned to fawn over the decorations with Yang. I rolled my eyes and turned on my computer, pulling off my gloves and wrapping my chilled fingers around the coffee cup while I read through my emails.

It felt like it hadn't been long enough since my last interaction with Soojoo, but suddenly she was at my desk again. I looked up and reluctantly pulled out my headphones, trying to convey just how much of an inconvenience it was that Soojoo was forcing me to pause my music.

"Yes?" I asked.

"I talked with Yang," Soojoo said, leaning against my desk. Why did she always have to lean against it? I contemplated sharpening the candy canes she hung all over the office and creating palisades around the perimeter of my desk. Surely that was legal. I'd have to ask Jennie.

I waited for Soojoo to elaborate. She didn't. "And?" I asked impatiently.

"We talked about the Christmas party this year."

"I imagine he would talk to the head of the Party Planning Committee about parties."

Soojoo wasn't deterred by my obvious sarcasm.

"Yang also told me that the Master's project is going to be announced at the holiday party."

"Fantastic," I said, in what could have only been described as the type of affirmation you give to a child when they ask you to watch how fast they can run in their new shoes. Soojoo's gleeful smirk turned into a frown, puzzled as to why I wasn't begging her for more information.

"You have to be at the Christmas party for the announcement."

"I have to be, huh?"

"Yes, Yang said consideration for the Master's project will be effected for whoever doesn't go."

I eyed Soojoo, sure she was lying. She had to be; they couldn't force a person to go to the holiday party, could they? What if I didn't celebrate Christmas? Was it too late to fake a religion? Probably.

Yang came out of his office and when he did, Soojoo looked at me with a devious grin on her face.

"The details of the annual Christmas party are finalized. Soojoo has the details and will be printing official invitations, but please make sure you are there this year. The company executives from New York will be at the party this year and we need to make a good impression, so this year I will be handing out your Christmas bonuses at the party and announcing who will be working on the Master's project the next quarter. I will tell you now that if you are not at the party you will not receive the project; it's very important that you are all there."