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Though not all our staff is here, there’s a good group of ten of us. Vega, Alitha, Malik, Aura, Adeib, Feather, Dr. Lothial, Chak, Dean Bariel, and myself. Each one brought a different, uniquely wrapped gift.
Vega’s golden eyes are wide as she looks over towards the pile in the center. “Indigo,” she whispers in my ear. “What is going on?”
“Dirty Santa,” I explain. “Didn’t you read the email?”
“I did not.”
“Oh, well. What was the gift for?”
“For you,” she says, her tone stern. I don’t know what she’s so riled up about, but she’s got to let loose.
I shrug. “Guess you’ll have to win it back.”
She goes to say something else, but I shoo her away, ready to start the game. “Alright everyone. Is anyone confused about the rules for Dirty Santa?”
“Same rules as White Elephant?” Chak asks.
“Same rules.” I nod, and he gives me a thumbs up. When nobody else says anything, I continue. “Alright. Alitha, how about you open the first gift?”
Alitha walks over and grabs a small blue box, the one Aura had brought.
“Go ahead and open it,” I say.
Alitha unwraps the gift to reveal a small golden ornament. It’s Augury University, or at least the six camphor trees.
“Wow, someone outdid themselves,” I say.
One by one, everyone goes about selecting and opening gifts. There’s a small violin that plays music, a mini waffle maker, and other fun items.
As each person makes their selection, Vega’s leg shakes faster and faster, the stress emanating off of her.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“Not in the slightest,” she confesses. I’m really worried about her. Maybe the gift she got me was expensive, and she’s worried she won’t have anything to give me now? I mean, that’s silly, but I chose myself to go last for a reason. I’ll just steal it from whoever opens it.
Dean Bariel does a little dance as he shimmies his way over to the pile and grabs the purple box that Vega had brought. Sitting down, he slowly starts to unwrap the gift.
“Wait,” Vega shouts, standing up. This is so unlike her. “I’m afraid I might have accidentally switched that gift with a different one; can I open it privately first?”
“Absolutely not, that would ruin all the fun,” Dean Bariel teases. God, he’s insufferable. He continues to slowly take off the wrapping, purposefully taking his time to torture Vega.
“It’s nothing bad,” Aura says to Vega, but the tension doesn’t leave her body until he opens the box to reveal a much smaller velvet box.
“Another box. This better not be the gift, Vega.”
“Open it,” I say, now curious.
Dean Bariel opens the jewelry box to reveal a pair of earrings. They’re little white rabbits, with purple gems for eyes. That’s so cute.
Vega lets out a deep sigh of relief. Just a few more turns.
Malik stands up and walks over to the pile, carefully making his pick. He grabs a small yellow box and carries it back to his seat. Opening it, he reveals a hundred dabloon gift card to a local eatery.
“Vega, it’s your turn.”
“She’s definitely going to take my gift card,” Malik says, holding it up to her, but Vega moves past him and right towards Dean Bariel.
“Earrings, please,” she says with a smirk.
