A Christmas Story

10: sugarplum fairy

Emma Dally was persistent. Since little, she always achieved what she wanted. No exception. She liked challenges and loved the impossible ones. Calvin's case could be considered one, so she made a plan. The 26th, she let him settle down his room. She didn't bother him in any kind of way, she was like a silent lion looking over his prey. She studied him, and the way he acted. So far, she could tell he was really polite and appreciated the things her family made for him. He could be silent, then almost playful, but suddenly he would shut up. He needed to know them better in order to... establish a nice conversation. So she just looked, and decided that the afternoon of the 27th of November, she was going to begin her plan.

***

"Hey, Calvin."

"Emma."

"So..."

"So?"

"What are you doing today?"

"Nothing, I'm just planning to make some phone calls, why do you ask?"

"I was wondering if tomorrow you could go with me to the bakery, I need to get some cakes."

"..."

"Please?"

"Okay."

"Yay!"

"..."

"..."

"Something else?"

"Yes, something like that..."

"Shoot."

"Rodrigo told me you used to babysit and you were pretty good at it."

"That was a long time ago."

"Could you help me to babysit my nephews?"

"Your nephews? Rodrigo has kids?"

"Hahahaha, you're so hilarious. My sister Adrianna has two sons: Peter and Liam. She's also coming to stay Christmas here, but her luggage hasn't appeared yet."

"So, she wants you to stay with her kids."

"Yup."

"Why don't you want?"

"I'm not so good with kids..."

"Wait. Your nephews were the ones who did the horrendous crafts?"

"THEY WERE CUTE."

"Chill woman. Okay, I will."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want them to acquire a trauma at that young age."

"You-"

"I?"

"You are... rude."

"You don't know how to insult someone?"

"Fudge you."

"Just what I thought."

***

"The sugarplum fairy herself could have made no grander gesture."

-Shana Alexander