Christmas and Eve

and then she had veal for dinner

countdown: five days

A day later, the fairy lights were still up. Marmie couldn't do anything about it, she was too busy with her research paper and focusing on the Hanukkah party she was organizing. She wanted to have it rival the campus Christmas spectacular, but so far, everyone preferred that over her party.

"Just have it some other day," suggested Eve, popping the candy cane she was eating out of her mouth.

"Evie, your opinion is irrelevant. You'd rather Christmas over Haukkah any day."

"That's not true!" protested Eve, just as jingle bells began to play on her phone. As slowly turned to look at the phone, and Marmie let out a small chuckle as she turned back to her work. "That- that could have been timed better."

"Real impressive, Eve." Marmie turned around in her chair. "Look, I get it. You like the lights, you like the feel. This whole conversations getting a bit redundant, okay? Let's just drop it." She went back to her work, and Eve slumped down on her bed dejectedly, glancing over at the clock. It was around time for dinner, she noticed.

Marmie's stomach let out a loud growl, and both girls looked at each other with surprised faces.

"When was the last time you ate, Marmie?" asked Eve.

"God, I've been so busy, I probably haven't had anything since breakfast."

"Don't you have breakfast at six in the morning?" Marmie nodded, and her stomach growled again.

"I guess I'm a bit hungry," she admitted. Eve hopped off her bed, and grabbed her purse.

"Come on, I'll take you out to dinner. My treat," she said, pulling Marmie out of her chair.

"Oh, you really don't need to-"

"C'mon Marmie!" yelled Eve as she ran out the dormitory, smiling wide. Marmie couldn't resist that giddy smile, and sighed, pulling on her parka and following her roommate. The pair climbed on the bus to downtown, sitting together near the back.

"You know I hate going out, Evie," complained Marmie. Eve grinned wider.

"It'll be fun!" she responded, taking her fingers through her hair. "So, where do you want to eat? Sushi? Pizza? Mexican?"

"You like Mexican. I hate it."

"Or would you rather a little cafe? Oh! How about the cat cafe, with all the cats running around?"

"I hate cat hair on my clothes, Evie."

"You are so difficult!" Eve yelled, playfully hitting her friend in the arm. "How about we go to the Indian food place on the plaza? The one with the big Christmas tree?"

"No way, Indian food is always too spicy for you."

"But you like it!"

"That's sweet of you to offer," said Marmie, "but how about we just go to the lucky star cafe?"

"Really? But that place is so boring! And plain-"

"-and I like it," interrupted Marmie. Eve smiled again.

"Well, if you like it, then that's where we'll go." They got off the bus in the center plaza, and walked over together, through the cold December wind. Eve grabbed Marmie's hand, and for once, her roommate didn't pull away. They swung their intertwined hands between them as they walked down to the little cafe at the end of the block. The pair sat at a table next to the window, and ordered their usual things.

"It's so pretty out, with the lights and all," Eve gushed, staring dreamily out the window.

"Yes, you may have mentioned that once or twice," responded Marmie. The restaurant was softly playing classic Christmas tunes, which weren't on Marmie's nerves as much as usual.

"But you've got to agree, it is very pretty. The whole winter wonderland setting." Marmie wasn't paying attention, she was craning her neck to see the dish being delivered to another couple sitting several tables away.

"Oh, I should've gotten that. It looks good," she said.

"What is it?"

"Looks like veal."

"Veal? I swear, you are more obsessed with Christmas than I am."

"What- oh, reindeers." Marmie let out a small laugh. "Yes Evie, I'm going to kill Santa and eat his reindeers for dinner."

"You are ruining every five-year-old's dreams right now," said Eve.

"So be it. That just so happens to be my specialty."

"What, ruining little kids dreams?" asked Eve incredulously. Marmie nodded, a lopsided smile spreading on her face. "Great, I'm rooming with a psychopath."

"An anti-Christmas psychopath," added Marmie.

"Of course. 'Marmie the anti-Christmas, Jewish, dream ruining psychopath'," repeated Eve.

"That's quite a title to put on your resume." Marmie laughed. "But I'll stick with the dinner I ordered, for your sake."

"For my wallets sake," said Eve, looking over Marmie's shoulder at the veal dish, "I don't think I could pay for such an extravagant dinner."

"Then aren't you a lucky one today."

"Alright miss psychopathic Santa-killing Jew, our non-veal food is here," said Eve, as the waitress arrived with their plates.

"Perhaps we should suspend this conversation until after we eat," suggested Marmie.

"I think that's a lovely idea," replied Eve, digging in. "It's hard for me to focus on my food when I'm thinking about Prancer and Dixon being turned into an expensive entrée."

***

these chapters are getting worse sorry. the hanukkah party will be next, then winter break starts, and then we'll have arrived at Christmas Eve.

sorry, I'm not good at this.

anyway, enjoyyyyy