The Week Before Christmas (#JustWriteIt)

The Struggle of Gifts

The last week of school before Christmas break is usually when the teachers decide to throw every test possible straight at you.  Midterms, study guides, homework, everywhere.  On top of that you have to worry about if you're going to ever have enough time and money to get Christmas presents for your loved ones.   Study for Biology, Geometry, World History, and English.  No time for breaks, go to your part-time job and every penny that you earn has to go to either your phone bill, car payment, rent or gifts.  Then maybe after that you will have a dollar for yourself.  Somehow you work it all out.  Pass all of your classes, get enough gifts to make all of your friends happy and afford your payments.  Everything is going great, sit back and relax in the warmth of the fire place with a nice cup of hot cocoa, until, Christmas break.

Traffic is horrible, everyone running in and out of stores and you're glad you've already bought all of the gifts you need.  As you walk the street watching people trample each other for the best deals your phone rings. *Do you wanna build a Snowman?*  You answer your phone telling yourself to change the ringtone later.  You didn't realize that your little sister got hold of it somehow.  "Hello?"  "Hey honey, how are you doing?"  You realize, it's your gf/bf and think to yourself, *Crap, I forgot to get her/him a gift!*  You talk on the phone for about fifteen minutes, the whole time you're thinking of what to get them.  As soon as you say your goodbyes and hang up you run as fast as you can to the nearest store.  Look in the window and see something you know they would absolutely love.  Walk through the front door and look at the price-tag.  $56 *I only have $32*  You walk up the cashier and ask if there is a sale on the item.  "Yes, 10% off."  You quickly do the math in your head.  "$50.40?"  The cashier checks on a calculator on his desk. "Yes."  He gives a cheery smile as you turn around to look at the item you want to purchase.  *How am I going to afford this?  Maybe if I sold something I own? No, I don't want a remake of "The Gift of The Magi".  What can I do?*  You take the item up to the cashier.  "Could you put this on layaway for me?"  The cashier takes the merchandise and checks the tags.  "Yes, but for only two days.  It being so close to Christmas.  Would you still like for me to hold it for you?"  You nod and he takes it to the back.  *Now I have two days to somehow earn $20.*  "Thank you and Merry Christmas!"  You say as you walk out the door.  You walk to where you parked your car, get in and drive home.  The whole time, thinking about how you're going to earn $20.