Tungsten Carbide

Two

"Merry Christmas, my friends."

Honey smiled. Fred balanced four boxes in his arms, and the top one was wobbling threateningly.

"Uh-oh. I sense disaster," Fred announced, shifting back and forth to keep the packages straight. Wasabi walked up and grabbed the box off the top.

"Here you are, Fred."

Fred took the offered box- and in the process, dropped the other three. They went flying across the floor. One hit Gogo in the leg.

"Watch where you throw your stuff, Fred, or you'll get it back in the face," she snarled, tossing the box towards Fred. He caught it mid-air.

"Ha! I can catch flies and Christmas gifts."

Gogo rolled her eyes.

"Where's Tadashi?" Wasabi asked Honey Lemon. She shrugged and reached for her cell phone.

"Whoa!" It slipped out of her fingers and crashed on the floor. "Oh, great." She swiped it up and inspected the damage. There was a dent on the corner, but it still worked.

"You really should buy a protective case for that thing," Wasabi suggested. Honey laughed. 

"I know, I know. I just keep forgetting."

"Here, Gogo Tomago, this mysteriously square-shaped package is for you," Fred said, offering Gogo the box. He bowed with flourish when she accepted it, grimacing.

"Thanks," she said dryly. She ripped open the box and pulled out a case of ballpoint pens. Fred clapped his hands. Gogo scowled.

"Are those Pilot ballpoint pens?" Wasabi asked eagerly.

"No," Gogo said, her voice dripping with disgust. "They're just the no-name brand. Thanks, Fred."

"You are welcome," Fred replied.

Honey frowned. Why wasn't Tadashi here? She gripped her phone and stepped outside in the hall.

"Honey? You okay?" Wasabi called.

"Yeah," she answered, leaning through the doorway. "I'm just gonna call Tadashi and see where he is."

The door clicked shut behind her and she dialed his number.

Riiing. Riiing.

She paced back and forth, waiting for him to pick up.

"Hey, you've reached Tadashi Hamada. I can't answer right now, but call me back in a bit or leave a message after the tone." Beeeeep.

Honey pressed her lips together in a tight line. She knew she shouldn't be worried because of one missed call, but she did anyway. Anything could have happened. What if he'd gotten in a wreck, or-

"Honey?"

She jumped. Fred was standing in the doorway.

"What?"

"Wanna open your gift?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure!" She bopped back into the room and untied the haphazard ribbons on the box Fred gave her. She pushed back the flaps of the box and smiled.

"Oh, Fred! Thank you!" she exclaimed, raising the beaded purse up so everyone could see it. Gogo continued to frown. Wasabi peered at the design on the purse curiously.

"Is that a... fish?" he asked, pointing to the purse. Honey turned it around so she could see it clearly. 

"I think it's a dolphin," she said.