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the stockings were already hung across the mantel, neat as a magazine spread—ryan's, then seth's, then savannah's wedged awkwardly between them, followed by kirsten's and sandy's. seth had insisted hers go in the middle "for symmetry," which savannah suspected was really his way of pretending things weren't still tense between her and kirsten. the menorah sat a little crooked at the edge, wax hardened into stubborn drips from last year.
"mother," seth announced, plucking it down and squinting at it, "did you not clean out the menorah from last year this shamans? lookin' a little bit waxy."
savannah snorted under her breath as she and ryan wrestled the christmas tree through the doorway with kirsten at their side. her arms ached from the weight but she didn't complain; keeping busy was easier than letting her brain spiral.
"seth, sorry, i'll get right on that," kirsten said quickly, trying to maneuver the trunk.
"uh, seth, little help here please," ryan grunted.
"thanks, mom," seth said, ignoring him, "'cause we can't afford to cut corners. now if my sense of the culturalists? guide's as accurate."
savannah rolled her eyes, breathless. "he's allergic to manual labor, didn't you know?"
they got the tree upright by the fireplace, branches shedding needles all over the rug.
"and," seth announced dramatically, "i do believe this is the year chrismukkah sweeps the nation. okay, people."
"it's so nice to have someone to help around the house," kirsten said, a pointed sweetness in her voice directed at ryan and savannah.
"you're absolutely right," seth replied, ducking out of the room. "which is why this year i've created..." he reappeared seconds later with a paper plate divided into messy wedges and pasted-on faces. "the chrismukkah work wheel!"
ryan leaned over the couch arm, squinting. kirsten pressed her lips together. savannah just rolled her eyes.
"so that everybody understands his and her duties this holiday season," seth continued proudly, "wha-la."
the wheel spun under his finger, a bright orange arrow squeaking to a stop between sections labeled interior decor,exterior decor,holiday spirit,food design, and security. each had a face taped beside it—seth, then ryan, then savannah, then kirsten, and finally sandy.
"you're kidding me," kirsten said flatly.
"does it look like i'm kidding?" seth circled the plate dramatically.
