The Moon, The Sun, and Everything Else

If It's Monday, This Must Be Christmas

Hi, Mariela! Hi, Makenna! Hi, Ashley! Hi, Madi!

The tune of Jingle Bells played throughout Harrigan's as children waited anxiously in line to meet Santa Claus, and parents were doing last minute Christmas shopping.

"Alright, and your total comes to...$22.95." Kirstie said, smiling her bright smile. "Merry Christmas!" She called as the woman, who just had a present gift wrapped, exited the store.

Kirstie sighed, shifts were getting longer, considering it was Christmas Eve, and between impolite customers and screaming children, she was ready for the Christmas season to just be over.

"Harrigan's going to kill me!" Avi exclaimed, running into the Services department, where Kirstie was. He jumped behind the counter with Kirstie.

"What did you do?" Kirstie asked.

"The green package! Where is it?" Avi yelped, ducking down and rifling through the pre-wrapped boxes. No green package.

"Green? We ran out of green wrapping paper days ago!" Kirste told him. "Why are you so wrapped up with this box, and why is Harrigan going to kill you?"

"That box had the payroll in it, Kirstie!" Avi stood up. "And-And I was supposed to keep it behind the jewelry desk, and it was gone when I got here this morning!"

"Well, what'd you do with it?" Kirstie asked.

"Nothing!" Avi yelled. "It was just gone!"

Kirstie sighed. "Well, okay, you have to get back to your shift, but I'll keep an eye out for it, okay?"

"Okay, thanks, Kirst." Avi said as he started back to where his shift was.

"Of course."

~~~~~

Kirstie took a deep breath as she stepped into her apartment. She kicked her heels off and slouched onto the couch. Her shift was finally over, and she could finally rest. Kirstie put on some pajamas and laid down on her bed. She was about to go to sleep when she remembered the problem at hand from earlier that day. It didn't take long for the thought of not being paid this month to run through her head. This prompted her to sit straight up in her bed. Her heart began to race.

If she didn't get paid this month, she didn't have any money. She was screwed if they couldn't find this green box.

A tear or two began to hit her cheek as she texted Avi.

Kirstie: I need you.

It didn't take more than fifteen minutes for Avi to show up, and by then, Kirstie was full on freaking out.

"Woah, woah, Love, breathe, breathe. What's going on?" Avi asked, quickly going to envelope the short girl into a hug.

"If-If I don't get paid, I won't get rental paid for, then I'll get evicted, and I can't go back to living with my parents, I just can't!" Kirstie shouted through sobs against Avi's chest.

"Hey, hey," Avi tilted Kirstie's chin up and rubbed her cheek comfortingly. "If this is about the green box, then we're going to be okay. Harrigan called a private eye on the case when he found out the box was missing, and he said that the eye is already suspecting who took the money. We're going to be okay." Avi coaxed.

"Are you sure?"

Avi drew in a breath. "Kirst, I can't be one hundred percent sure on something like this, but all we can do is hope for the best." Kirstie simply nodded. "What if I stay here tonight?" Avi suggested. "We both have no shifts tomorrow, and my Christmas festivities don't start until the nighttime. I don't want you worrying yourself sick tonight."

"I'd love that." Kirstie whispered, tears still hitting her pale skin.

"And listen, just don't tell Harrigan, you know how he feels about workplace relationships." Avi winked a playful wink.

"Promise." Kirstie said, starting to feel a little bit better."

~~~~~

This is a spin off of an original Pat Cook show that my school put on this weekend. The plot line and conflict all belong to Mr. Cook, not myself.