Oh Tannenbomb

in which things go wrong

 The Christmas tree was on its side, ornaments rolling away to be crushed under the feet of oblivious scientists. Carson, a thin man who might have been Latino or Hispanic, sipped at his coffee and wondered if the two other people in the break room would take the time to put it back up.

It didn't seem like it. Seymour Atkinson, who was anything but small, towered over Dani Smith, who was anything but big. Carson wasn't paying attention to their argument, but if he was, he would have heard this:

"I put up all the lights! You call that 'grinch-y'?" Seymour crossed his arms. Dani sneered.

"So? You can put up all the lights you want and that still doesn't mean you're festive."

If Carson had been listening, this is where he would question why the two were arguing about being festive.

"I'm festive! Just look at these antlers!"

"Yeah, and you look like a discount Rudolph."

"Discount Rudolph? Excuse you, I am a quality reindeer."

"So, Vixen?"

"Shut it, Grinch."

Carson flipped them the bird to see if they'd notice. They didn't, and the two argued for a few more minutes before Carson heard something he actually cared about.

"I bet you fifty bucks that I can prove I'm more festive." Dani said, her yellowish eyes narrowed. Seymour grinned.

"Those fifty bucks will say I'm more festive."

"Bring it on."

They left, and Carson wondered if anyone was going to come and pick up the tree. No one came, so he set down his coffee and did it himself.

Carson had just finished putting the ornaments back on the tree when a menorah fell. He picked it up and set it back on the shelf. The candles were smoking. He wasn't sure why they had been lit, or why the menorah was here in the first place. Hanukkah had ended two weeks ago.

Still, he found a lighter and lit the candles, paying absolutely no attention to man who had knocked it over. Well, besides not tripping over him.

"What are you looking for?" Carson asked. The man stared up at him. Carson raised an eyebrow.

"Seymour said he'd dropped his keys in here. He was busy so I-"

"Check the tree."

The man, Neil Gibson, gave Carson an odd look. He checked the tree anyway.

"Oh, there they are. What were they doing here?" Neil turned back to Carson. "You know, I thought you'd jump ship as soon as we got time off."

Carson took a sip of his coffee. Neil frowned.

"What's going to explode and should I leave town?"

"Dani and Seymour made a bet."

"I'll get packing, then. You have fun, Carson."

Neil was almost out the door when the way was blocked.

"Oh, Seymour, I've got your keys."

Neil, who was average in build and weight, looked small compared to Seymour. Seymour grinned.

"Thanks Neil. Hey, you want to help me with a project? I've got blueprints but the coding is giving me trouble."

Neil looked to Carson for help. Carson turned away, out of coffee.