Hacker Academy

Greatest Gift

The afternoon light from the dome streaks into the stadium, lighting the place aglow. Students flood the stadium, hollering and waving to friends.

Thank goodness Unix woke us up early to get the front seats.

In the morning, when we entered the stadium there were two people dressed as elves in the ring, arranging wrapped presents. They stopped what they were doing and looked at me and Unix.

"Are you here for Secret Santa?" The elf lady said.

"Yes," said Unix.

"Great, leave it here and we'll take care of it."

Now hundreds of students are in the stadium. More than half of Hacker Academy is here. This is crazy. The ring is piling with presents.

"So how does this work exactly?" I ask Unix.

"Hmm?" Her mouth is full of cafeteria crêpe. "Oh, those two will call out names. You'll go down there to get your present. It's easy."

After a few more minutes, the hosts tap on a microphone.

"Hello," the elf lady speaks.

"Let's try that again." The stadium hushes down.

"Merry Christmas Hacker Academy!"

The stadium erupts in cheers and ripples of applause.

"That's more like it! This is how the Secret Santa exchange will go. We will call up your names. When we do, come down to the ring to collect your present. After that, please go directly back to your seat. Let's do this Hacker Academy!"

The lady looks at her phone. "First one up. Cyber!"

Applause erupts throughout the stadium.

From the corner of my eye, a figure walks down the stairs and approaches the ring. The elf man passes a pack to the lady.

"This is the exclusive beer pack!" The elf man says. "Jack Daniels, Corona, Budweiser, Heineken, Bailey, Coors. You'll have lots of celebrating this Christmas."

"Thanks." Cyber grabs his beers and walks back to his seat.

One by one, the students are called up. The hosts make a little joke about each present, and students take their presents and walk back to their seat. I'm almost sliding out of my seat in boredom when,

"Ada Ingres!"

I look at Unix, and she looks like as if she was the one being called up. I get up and make my way towards the ring. The elf lady holds a small box up. I squint. It's the exact same box Unix brought to the ring.

"A small gift, I wonder what's in it?" She says.

The man inspects the box. "A ring?"

"Not in Secret Santa, stupid."

"Right. Well, Merry Christmas!"

I take the box up and walk up to Unix. She's almost jumping out of her seat. I try to put on a smile.

"Open it, open it!" She says.

I slowly take off the pink lid and find a necklace.

The chain is shining silver, and at the end of the chain is a metallic charm in the shape of an open laptop. The inside of the laptop is glowing neon green.