There were several things I wanted to accomplish in this Dirty Santa party scene. I wanted to generate some fun bickering between Amber and Austin as the siblings stole from each other. I wanted Sofie to end up with the hat in a way that wasn’t obvious she wanted the hat. And I wanted Sofie or Austin to steal from the other to give them a little moment. Trying to do all these things and keep track of who had which present at any given time kind of made my head hurt.
From the book:
“Who’s going to start us off?” Ken Ennemoser asked as he welcomed his wife onto the sofa next to him.
Charlene Waits stood and waved her slip of paper. “Looks like I have that honor.” She examined the presents under the tree and then winked at Austin as she selected an oddly shaped and badly wrapped package.
“You know she’s only picking yours out of pity, right?” Amber was looking sadly at her brother.
He shrugged innocently. “What makes you think that one’s mine?”
She just rolled her eyes in response.
Mrs. Waits returned to her seat. She opened the present and laughed. “I love it,” she said. And she may have been serious. She put the hat on her head and used her hand to fluff up the blue yarn on top. She grinned with satisfaction and said, “Who’s next?”
Amber jumped up and went to the tree. Her hands closed around a box covered with fancy warnings. Scripty letters spelled out things like “This end up,” “Do not shake” and “Fragile.”
Amber said, “I’m so curious about this one I can’t stand it.” She took it carefully back to her spot on the carpet and began to peel off the paper.
Sofie’s eagerness grew as Amber delicately unwrapped the box because she knew Amber was going to like it. She’d caught a glimpse of her mom working on them.
Amber slowly lifted the lid to reveal four cupcakes. Each one was decorated with a nativity silhouette surrounded by icing scrollwork. Amber – and several other people – exclaimed at the beauty of the treats. Then Amber sucked in a surprised breath, tilted her head to see the cupcakes from the side, and lifted her eyes to question Mrs. Ennemoser. “These are carrot cake, aren’t they?” Her tone was awed.
Sofie’s mom smiled and nodded.
Amber slowly closed the lid on the box and slid it protectively behind her, which made laughter fill the room.
After it died down, Austin said, “I hate to be the bearer of bad news but…”
Amber’s mouth dropped open.
“… I have number three,” he finished, staring pointedly behind Amber.
“You wouldn’t!” she said.
He pretended to think about it before he said “Hand them over.”
Amber sort of crumpled on the floor before she got up and grudgingly placed the box of cupcakes in Austin’s hands. He lifted the lid for a peek and nodded approvingly.
An idea came out of nowhere and slapped a mischievous grin onto Amber’s face. “In that case,” she said, “I’m going to take your dumb hat just so Mom will steal the cupcakes from you.” She snatched the hat from her mom’s head and returned to her seat wearing the hat and a satisfied expression.
Everyone in the room – except for Sofie – turned to Mrs. Waits to see what she would do. Sofie sort of looked at Mrs. Waits and sort of looked at the floppy hat that was now next to her. She was glad Amber had taken it. Sofie wanted the hat, but she didn’t want anyone to guess why she wanted the hat. Maybe if Amber ended up with it, she’d give it to Sofie.
Mrs. Waits sighed and cast a longing look at the box Austin was holding.
“You would steal from your own child,” he deadpanned. “On Christmas.”
“It’s Christmas Eve,” Amber corrected. “Don’t let him guilt you, Mom.”
“I’ll bet there are a lot of good presents.” Mrs. Waits sent Amber an apologetic glance as she reached under the tree. She ripped off the shiny red paper to reveal a container of chocolate covered almonds. “I was right,” she said.
“Those look delicious,” Mr. Turner said. He leaned from his chair to take the almonds without getting up. “And I think someone here knows they are my favorite.” He winked at Sofie. “Thank you, my dear.”
She accepted his gratitude with a demure smile. They all knew who had brought which present, but she knew she wasn’t supposed to acknowledge it.
“I think I’m going to have to take those cupcakes now.”
Amber cheered as her mom relieved Austin of the precious package.
“That’s okay,” he said as he went to claim a new present. “Mom’s going to share with me anyway.”
Amber opened her mouth in what was surely going to be a protest. Then her face shifted hopefully and she said, “There are four of them.”
Mrs. Waits closed the box she’d been examining. “You kids will have to get your own cupcakes. These look almost too good to eat.”
Austin, meanwhile, had unwrapped a book of pocket proverbs. He flipped through the pages and said, “I like the one about the dog eating his own vomit.”
“You would,” Amber said, while a few others laughed.
His mom sighed.
Mr. Turner said, “Something for everyone in there I think.”
Sofie’s mom looked around the room and asked what number they were on. Mr. Turner pointed out that he was the last to choose and his number was four.
“That makes it my turn,” Ken Ennemoser said. He smiled at Amber’s dad. “Clearly Doug and I were thinking alike so I’ll take his present.”
Under the tree were two similarly shaped gifts that, though wrapped, were still identifiable as six-packs of beer. Mr. Ennemoser picked up one of those and tore off the paper before he held it on his lap.
His wife tsked in the seat next to him. “I can’t believe you brought alcohol to an exchange that includes minors.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” he asked. “It only increases the odds I’ll end up with it.”
She shook her head at him.
“Let me help.” Doug Waits grabbed two cookies from the center of the room on his way to retrieve the beer that had just been unwrapped. “I wouldn’t want you to be in trouble with the wife or anything. I’ll just take this off your hands.”
“Thanks.” Sofie’s dad stressed the word with sarcasm and then eyed his wife as though he was actually afraid of her. “I guess I can’t just grab that other one then?”
“Do what you like.” She tried to make her voice disapproving but ruined it with a smile. They both knew she wasn’t really mad.
Mr. Ennemoser played along by picking out a different gift. He opened a vanilla scented candle on a glass stand. There wasn’t time to read his reaction before his wife seized it.
“I like this,” she said. “And it’s my turn.”
He grinned and took the beer back from his friend.
Mr. Waits took the cupcakes from his wife, who looked shocked only for a moment before she reclaimed the hat from Amber. Amber jumped up to get the cupcakes from her dad. He took the beer again.
Mr. Ennemoser sighed and took the last present that wasn’t beer. He opened a box that contained many small spools of Christmas ribbon.
“I thought—” Amber cut herself off. “I mean, someone probably thought at least one person here would still have presents to wrap.” Her eyes pointed at Austin with a suggestion that he try to deny it.
“Was that person under the impression that I got you something?” he asked.
Amber narrowed her eyes at her brother, clearly thinking of a comeback.
Their mom looked at Sofie’s mom. “It must be so peaceful at your house when we’re not here.”
Sofie decided to take her turn. Peaceful was nice, but she liked having the Waitses around, too. All of them. “My presents are wrapped,” she said, “but I think this ribbon will come in handy next year.” Sofie sent an appreciative glance at Amber as she took the box from her dad.
He stepped across the room with a triumphant laugh as he claimed the beer yet again, which set off a massive flurry of gift-grabbing. Mr. Waits took the chocolate almonds from Mr. Turner, who apologized profusely to Amber as he took the cupcakes from her. Then Amber took the ribbon from Sofie and she took the cupcakes from Mr. Turner so he could get the almonds back from Amber’s dad. Mr. Waits shook his head as though he was at a loss for what to do. Then he took the hat from his wife’s head. She announced that Amber could not keep her own gift as she took the ribbon from her. Amber happily reclaimed the cupcakes from Sofie, who grabbed the candle from her mom. Mrs. Ennemoser said that if taking your own gift wasn’t against the rules, she might as well enjoy her handiwork.
Amber pouted as the cupcakes left her possession again. Then she turned and took the candle from Sofie. Sofie took the ribbon back from Amber’s mom, who took the hat back from her husband. He took the chance to take the beer again, which caused Mr. Ennemoser to gently remove the cupcakes from his wife’s hands with a promise that they could share them.
She laughed and took the hat as though it didn’t matter what she had as long as she didn’t open the last present. Mrs. Waits took the ribbon from Sofie, who took the cupcakes from her dad with a conspiratorial nod to Amber. Mr. Ennemoser moved the hat from his wife’s head to his. She looked around the room with a sly grin and made a move towards Austin.
Sofie had been watching him. One side of his mouth was lifted in a smile that said he was very aware of the happy chaos going on around him. The other side appeared more studious, as he was reading the proverbs at the same time.
His eyes came up laughing as Sofie’s mom yanked the book out from under them. He smiled as he pointed thoughtfully to the various gifts around the room. Sofie could hear the words he teased her with when he wasn’t even saying them. She also knew the decision he’d made before his dark blue eyes found her and the cupcakes in front of her. Heaven have mercy if he ever looked at her the way he looked at those cupcakes.
He said nothing as he walked closer to retrieve them. Sofie caught the familiar scent of him as he bent to pick up the box. When he said, “Thank you,” it sounded like provocation for revenge. She didn’t care. She could get exactly what she wanted.
“I know how to end this,” she said, “because I know who really wants that last gift.” She pulled the hat from her dad’s head.
He stood. “If you insist,” he said as he grabbed the last present from under the tree.
Sofie pulled the silly hat onto her head and faced Amber, who cracked up at the sight of her. Perfect. Sofie could wear the hat all winter just to make her friend laugh. Well, maybe not just to make Amber laugh. And perhaps wearing a reminder on her head was not going to be the best way to forget Amber had a brother. Even so… the hat felt like a perfect fit.
Charlene Waits stood and waved her slip of paper. “Looks like I have that honor.” She examined the presents under the tree and then winked at Austin as she selected an oddly shaped and badly wrapped package.
“You know she’s only picking yours out of pity, right?” Amber was looking sadly at her brother.
He shrugged innocently. “What makes you think that one’s mine?”
She just rolled her eyes in response.
Mrs. Waits returned to her seat. She opened the present and laughed. “I love it,” she said. And she may have been serious. She put the hat on her head and used her hand to fluff up the blue yarn on top. She grinned with satisfaction and said, “Who’s next?”
Amber jumped up and went to the tree. Her hands closed around a box covered with fancy warnings. Scripty letters spelled out things like “This end up,” “Do not shake” and “Fragile.”
Amber said, “I’m so curious about this one I can’t stand it.” She took it carefully back to her spot on the carpet and began to peel off the paper.
Sofie’s eagerness grew as Amber delicately unwrapped the box because she knew Amber was going to like it. She’d caught a glimpse of her mom working on them.
Amber slowly lifted the lid to reveal four cupcakes. Each one was decorated with a nativity silhouette surrounded by icing scrollwork. Amber – and several other people – exclaimed at the beauty of the treats. Then Amber sucked in a surprised breath, tilted her head to see the cupcakes from the side, and lifted her eyes to question Mrs. Ennemoser. “These are carrot cake, aren’t they?” Her tone was awed.
Sofie’s mom smiled and nodded.
Amber slowly closed the lid on the box and slid it protectively behind her, which made laughter fill the room.
After it died down, Austin said, “I hate to be the bearer of bad news but…”
Amber’s mouth dropped open.
“… I have number three,” he finished, staring pointedly behind Amber.
“You wouldn’t!” she said.
He pretended to think about it before he said “Hand them over.”
Amber sort of crumpled on the floor before she got up and grudgingly placed the box of cupcakes in Austin’s hands. He lifted the lid for a peek and nodded approvingly.
An idea came out of nowhere and slapped a mischievous grin onto Amber’s face. “In that case,” she said, “I’m going to take your dumb hat just so Mom will steal the cupcakes from you.” She snatched the hat from her mom’s head and returned to her seat wearing the hat and a satisfied expression.
Everyone in the room – except for Sofie – turned to Mrs. Waits to see what she would do. Sofie sort of looked at Mrs. Waits and sort of looked at the floppy hat that was now next to her. She was glad Amber had taken it. Sofie wanted the hat, but she didn’t want anyone to guess why she wanted the hat. Maybe if Amber ended up with it, she’d give it to Sofie.
Mrs. Waits sighed and cast a longing look at the box Austin was holding.
“You would steal from your own child,” he deadpanned. “On Christmas.”
“It’s Christmas Eve,” Amber corrected. “Don’t let him guilt you, Mom.”
“I’ll bet there are a lot of good presents.” Mrs. Waits sent Amber an apologetic glance as she reached under the tree. She ripped off the shiny red paper to reveal a container of chocolate covered almonds. “I was right,” she said.
“Those look delicious,” Mr. Turner said. He leaned from his chair to take the almonds without getting up. “And I think someone here knows they are my favorite.” He winked at Sofie. “Thank you, my dear.”
She accepted his gratitude with a demure smile. They all knew who had brought which present, but she knew she wasn’t supposed to acknowledge it.
“I think I’m going to have to take those cupcakes now.”
Amber cheered as her mom relieved Austin of the precious package.
“That’s okay,” he said as he went to claim a new present. “Mom’s going to share with me anyway.”
Amber opened her mouth in what was surely going to be a protest. Then her face shifted hopefully and she said, “There are four of them.”
Mrs. Waits closed the box she’d been examining. “You kids will have to get your own cupcakes. These look almost too good to eat.”
Austin, meanwhile, had unwrapped a book of pocket proverbs. He flipped through the pages and said, “I like the one about the dog eating his own vomit.”
“You would,” Amber said, while a few others laughed.
His mom sighed.
Mr. Turner said, “Something for everyone in there I think.”
Sofie’s mom looked around the room and asked what number they were on. Mr. Turner pointed out that he was the last to choose and his number was four.
“That makes it my turn,” Ken Ennemoser said. He smiled at Amber’s dad. “Clearly Doug and I were thinking alike so I’ll take his present.”
Under the tree were two similarly shaped gifts that, though wrapped, were still identifiable as six-packs of beer. Mr. Ennemoser picked up one of those and tore off the paper before he held it on his lap.
His wife tsked in the seat next to him. “I can’t believe you brought alcohol to an exchange that includes minors.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” he asked. “It only increases the odds I’ll end up with it.”
She shook her head at him.
“Let me help.” Doug Waits grabbed two cookies from the center of the room on his way to retrieve the beer that had just been unwrapped. “I wouldn’t want you to be in trouble with the wife or anything. I’ll just take this off your hands.”
“Thanks.” Sofie’s dad stressed the word with sarcasm and then eyed his wife as though he was actually afraid of her. “I guess I can’t just grab that other one then?”
“Do what you like.” She tried to make her voice disapproving but ruined it with a smile. They both knew she wasn’t really mad.
Mr. Ennemoser played along by picking out a different gift. He opened a vanilla scented candle on a glass stand. There wasn’t time to read his reaction before his wife seized it.
“I like this,” she said. “And it’s my turn.”
He grinned and took the beer back from his friend.
Mr. Waits took the cupcakes from his wife, who looked shocked only for a moment before she reclaimed the hat from Amber. Amber jumped up to get the cupcakes from her dad. He took the beer again.
Mr. Ennemoser sighed and took the last present that wasn’t beer. He opened a box that contained many small spools of Christmas ribbon.
“I thought—” Amber cut herself off. “I mean, someone probably thought at least one person here would still have presents to wrap.” Her eyes pointed at Austin with a suggestion that he try to deny it.
“Was that person under the impression that I got you something?” he asked.
Amber narrowed her eyes at her brother, clearly thinking of a comeback.
Their mom looked at Sofie’s mom. “It must be so peaceful at your house when we’re not here.”
Sofie decided to take her turn. Peaceful was nice, but she liked having the Waitses around, too. All of them. “My presents are wrapped,” she said, “but I think this ribbon will come in handy next year.” Sofie sent an appreciative glance at Amber as she took the box from her dad.
He stepped across the room with a triumphant laugh as he claimed the beer yet again, which set off a massive flurry of gift-grabbing. Mr. Waits took the chocolate almonds from Mr. Turner, who apologized profusely to Amber as he took the cupcakes from her. Then Amber took the ribbon from Sofie and she took the cupcakes from Mr. Turner so he could get the almonds back from Amber’s dad. Mr. Waits shook his head as though he was at a loss for what to do. Then he took the hat from his wife’s head. She announced that Amber could not keep her own gift as she took the ribbon from her. Amber happily reclaimed the cupcakes from Sofie, who grabbed the candle from her mom. Mrs. Ennemoser said that if taking your own gift wasn’t against the rules, she might as well enjoy her handiwork.
Amber pouted as the cupcakes left her possession again. Then she turned and took the candle from Sofie. Sofie took the ribbon back from Amber’s mom, who took the hat back from her husband. He took the chance to take the beer again, which caused Mr. Ennemoser to gently remove the cupcakes from his wife’s hands with a promise that they could share them.
She laughed and took the hat as though it didn’t matter what she had as long as she didn’t open the last present. Mrs. Waits took the ribbon from Sofie, who took the cupcakes from her dad with a conspiratorial nod to Amber. Mr. Ennemoser moved the hat from his wife’s head to his. She looked around the room with a sly grin and made a move towards Austin.
Sofie had been watching him. One side of his mouth was lifted in a smile that said he was very aware of the happy chaos going on around him. The other side appeared more studious, as he was reading the proverbs at the same time.
His eyes came up laughing as Sofie’s mom yanked the book out from under them. He smiled as he pointed thoughtfully to the various gifts around the room. Sofie could hear the words he teased her with when he wasn’t even saying them. She also knew the decision he’d made before his dark blue eyes found her and the cupcakes in front of her. Heaven have mercy if he ever looked at her the way he looked at those cupcakes.
He said nothing as he walked closer to retrieve them. Sofie caught the familiar scent of him as he bent to pick up the box. When he said, “Thank you,” it sounded like provocation for revenge. She didn’t care. She could get exactly what she wanted.
“I know how to end this,” she said, “because I know who really wants that last gift.” She pulled the hat from her dad’s head.
He stood. “If you insist,” he said as he grabbed the last present from under the tree.
Sofie pulled the silly hat onto her head and faced Amber, who cracked up at the sight of her. Perfect. Sofie could wear the hat all winter just to make her friend laugh. Well, maybe not just to make Amber laugh. And perhaps wearing a reminder on her head was not going to be the best way to forget Amber had a brother. Even so… the hat felt like a perfect fit.
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