“I’m starting to get blisters on my fingers from holding the walls together, and they still aren’t staying up.” I lean over to take a peek at Cassi’s house.
“Hey, hey!” She pushes me away with her forearm. “No copying others.”
“I’m not copying. I just didn’t know I needed a degree in engineering for this activity.” I fidget with a piece of gingerbread that isn’t stable. “I can’t get the load-bearing walls to hold my roof up.”
Lacee hunches over, placing a stick of Big Red gum on her chimney. “There’s an art form to creating a masterpiece, and clearly, I have the skill set.”
“I’m going to start calling you Big Red,” I say as she places another piece of gum around her chimney.
“I like it.” Bruce pops a candy into his mouth instead of using it to decorate his house.
My thumb and fingers try to place a red hot on the exterior of my house, but it twists and turns, staining my skin red. I had no idea how difficult tiny candies were to work with.
Three hours later, I set my finished project on the kitchen counter, lining it up next to everyone else’s.
Lacee tilts her head, studying the lopsided house. “That’s all you have to show for yourself?”
I shrug. “I was trying my best.”
“Well, your best sucks.” Erika folds her arms, standing next to us.
“Oh, come on.” I scoff. “It’s not that bad.”
“It’s not great either.” Lacee straightens my mailbox made out of gumdrops.
My house is only one story high. The candy that I stuck to it has slipped down from its original spots making everything look uneven. One side of my roof is cracked and caving in. And my chimney looks like the leaning tower of Pisa.
“Well, not everyone can be as good at making gingerbread houses as you.” My eyes shift to Lacee’s gingerbread masterpiece. It’s not even a house. It’s a street with two-story gingerbread condos.
“What can I say?” She shoves her hand into her pockets. “I’m a little competitive.”
“Okay, it’s time to choose a winner.” Gina leans forward, taking pictures of all the houses. She turns to me with a warm smile. “Park, this shouldn’t be a surprise, but you came in last.” She puts a candy necklace over my head with a paper medal hanging from it that says,Yours Sucked.
“Thank you for this.” I wiggle the necklace in the air. “I’ll treasure it forever.”
“Even my dad’s is better than yours.” Cassi offers me a smile.
“Yeah, thanks for coming, Park.” Bruce gives me one giant pat on my back. “It’s nice not to come in last this year.”
“Anytime.” I nod back at him.
“Bruce, you came in fourth place.” Gina puts his candy necklace around his neck. “Cassi, you’re in third place.”
Cassi rolls her eyes. “I never win. I don’t have the patience for this kind of stuff.”
Gina kisses her on the cheek as she puts the necklace around her daughter’s neck. Then she turns to Erika and Lacee. “And the runner-up is…” she pauses for dramatic effect, “Erika!”
“Oh, come on!” Erika throws her arms in the air. “You only chose Lacee because Park’s here.”
“Do you hear that?” Lacee holds her hand up to her ear, and a slow smile spreads across her lips. “That’s the sound of victory.”
She breaks into a dance that’s mostly swaying hips and in-and-out elbows, but it’s adorable. Especially the way she purses her pink lips together as she dances.
Her mom puts the homemade first-place medal over her neck that saysYou Sleighed It. Lacee picks it up and kisses it, and it’s moments like this that make me think all I want for Christmas is Lacee Warren.
* * *
Lacee rinsesthe last candy bowl and sits it on the counter to dry. Her family left thirty minutes ago to do some Christmas shopping, so we’re finally alone.
