Jingle Bells and Parallels

3. Alan

Chapter 3

~Alan~

       I wanted to quit so bad. I thought working at the North Pole would have been a relaxing job. Some easy money for the holidays. My training day and my very first shift, it was that way. I actually looked forward to coming here.

       Until Brandon and Janelle both started being put on the same shifts as me. There were some other people here as well so I was trying my best to avoid those two and talk to my other coworkers but it was very difficult.

       Especially when they seemed to have teamed up together to try to make my life as miserable as they could.

       Janelle, I understood why she didn't like me. That was just the kind of person she was. She hated people who were better than which, which my family clearly was.

       But Brandon?

       He was cool at first. He got along great with my family while he was dating Jerome since Jerome was our neighbour and our friend. Nolan's best friend, but our friend. Brandon was such a nice guy. He and Jerome just didn't work out.

       And now that Nolan was dating Jerome, Brandon decided that he hated the Prince family.

       A lot of people hated us because they couldn't handle our awesomeness.

       I was on present duty today, thank goodness. Brandon and Janelle were on kid duty today. I was hoping one of the kids would throw up so Brandon and Janelle would have to clean it up.

       The best part about present duty was that there were times where there weren't any presents to be wrapped up, so I just got to stand there and do nothing while waiting for someone to drop off a present to be wrapped.

       Unfortunately, my present duty mood was ruined when Jerome and Nolan walked over. I was really hoping Nolan just wouldn't come here because he only wanted to make fun of my costume.

       "What are you doing here?" I asked.

       Nolan handed over a box. "You're the present wrapper. I need this present wrapped."

       "But you love wrapping presents," I said. "Why aren't you doing it yourself at home?"

       "Because there are a bunch of snoopers in the family," Nolan said. "I'd rather not take the risk of bringing it home to wrap, even if that is Mom's present and she's not one of the snoopers."

       "Okay, but as you see on the sign, it costs money," I said. "And money is this thing where you give--"

       "I know what money is," Nolan said, handing me the amount of money it costed for me to wrap a present. I immediately put it in the money box before getting to work. "I also came here because I wanted to see you at work. You look so adorable as an elf."

       I glared at him. "Stop making fun of my height before I make fun of your age."

       "But we're the same age," Nolan pointed out.

       "I've been alive five minutes longer than you, child," I said. "You do know that you don't have to stand here and wait for me to finish wrapping, right? I put it aside and you can pick it up later."

       "I know," Nolan said. "Again, I just wanted to see you in your adorable elf costume."

       "Aright, Nolan, you can stop picking on Alan," Jerome said. "But you're right. Alan does look adorable."