The knick-knack, second hand shop was filled with curiosities. Seren drifted along the shelves with Mrs. Houper and their dad in front of them. Looking at everything while the adults spoke under their breath.

Seren didn’t know exactly what they were looking for, Yule decorations could be anything but also had a certain look to them.

“Oh, Seren, look at these!” Mrs. Houper said, redirecting them to a long spool of golden pearls.

“Those look nice,” their dad said. Seren picked them up and grinned at how the light kissed them.

“Let’s get them,” they said and the pearls ended up in the shopping bag.

“Look at this,” their dad laughed at a funny little countertop decoration. Seren giggled before Mrs. Houper called them off to look at another bauble. Seren didn’t quite hear her, instead their attention was claimed by the toy section. Where toys and pieces were thrown about on the floor and shelves. The adults had already taken the cart and wandered off to look at more Yuletide decorations, leaving Seren unattended. Free to drift into the toy section. Touching the toys with a possessed air.

“What are you looking for?” Asked a girl who was already inspecting the puzzles. “I’m looking for a puzzle with all its pieces.”

“I’m not looking for anything.” Seren said sheepishly. “I don’t have any toys and I’m probably too big for them anyway.”

“Says who?” The girl asked, picking up and looking into a box with a picture of a bouquet on the front.

“Everybody I know, whenever I look at toys. It’s always ‘you’re too big for those’ or ‘we can’t afford that’ and well…. I guess I don’t really need them.” Seren said, but their eyes were still trailing around the shelf until they fell on a well loved shark plush.

“He’s pretty,” Seren said idly. Picking up the shark. “He’s so soft.”

“He’s funny. It’s different.” The girl said, looking over to see what Seren picked up.

“Seren? What did you find?” Their dad asked, finding them again.

“Nothing,” Seren said, sighing as they put the plush back.

“I’m sure we could get you something to play with if you wanted?” He said, Seren stared again at the shark plush but shook their head.

“No, I’m too big for toys. Aren’t I?” Seren said, looking up at their dad who’s face showed the realization of his words coming back to bite him.

“Wait, no. I-” He tried to explain but just tripped over his words that still tried to gnaw at him. He sighed. “Why don’t you go find Mrs. Houper? She’s thinking about checking out.” Seren nodded and skipped off. Repeating to themself over and over that they were too big for toys. And even if they weren’t, the last thing they would want was a stuffed animal.

Seren found Mrs. Houper at the books. Browsing the dusty old tomes.

“Oh, there you are. Find anything good?” She asked.

“No, not really.” Seren said disappointedly.

“Oh. Well what about you?” She said looking up at Seren’s dad behind them.

“Uh. Nope. Guess we should get out of here,” he said.

“Guess we should.” Mrs. Houper said, after a moment of looking at their dad, her face lit up. “Oh Seren! I need you to do something very important.”

“Like what?” They asked.

Stolen novel; please report.

“I need you to go to the store and start gathering up the ingredients for the Yule log.” Mrs. Houper said and then knelt closer to them. “I don’t want anyone snatching the last of the necessary items.”

“Can we make the cider we make every year too?” Seren asked, clasping their hands together and bouncing.

“Of course. But only if you get us a head start, okay?” Mrs. Houper asked. Seren nodded and bolted out of the store. They ran across the block to the grocery store. Grabbing a basket and rushing into the produce section. It was looking sparse as most of the best produce of the season had already been sold and all that was left were the scraps. Which suited Seren just fine. They picked through the scraps and tossed into their basket what could be used, making guesses as to what was substitutable to the missing parts.

Seren moved quick. Racing down the sections and grabbing what they needed. They stopped at the counter where the attendant was waiting for them. Seren waved and looked around for the adults. But they were nowhere in sight. They tapped their foot for a second then they took off again and did another lap around the store.

Only when they doubled back to the entrance again did they find their dad and Mrs. Houper entering.

“There you guys are!” Seren yelled accusingly. “I got everything already.”

“Oh, sorry. We took a bit longer in the line than we expected.” Mrs. Houper smiled knowingly at Clark. Seren looked at the two adults and rolled their eyes so hard it rolled their whole head.

“Come on! I want to make cider and cake!” Seren bounced up and down, nearly yelling.

“All right, all right.” Mrs. Houper moved one of the bags on her hand to the other side and helped Seren with the basket back to the checkouts. Seren spied two bags, one in Mrs. Houper’s hand and the other in their dad’s.

“What’d you get?” Seren asked, trying to peek into the bag.

“Oh, nothing. I just offered to help Mrs. Houper with her things.” Their dad said awkwardly, moving the bag to the other hand so Seren couldn’t see what was in it.

“Yes, my wrists are acting up from my winter knitting.” Mrs. Houper said quickly. “In fact, why don’t you hold the basket?” Seren skipped back over and took the basket while Mrs. Houper checked out. Together, with their purchases, they headed back home as the sun was setting over the buildings.

“It’s been a weird day,” Seren remarked.

“I bet it has,” their dad sighed. Seren looked up at him and stared hard. “What?”

“You said that in a funny way,” Seren said suspiciously.

“Well, I heard about the run in you had with that boy,” he said. Seren felt a rock plummet down into their stomach.

“I forgot about that,” Seren said quietly.

“It was in self-defense, he hit them first.” Mrs. Houper jumped quickly. “And that is the last we will talk about this, understand?”

“If you say so,” Clark said and looked at Seren. Telling them this was not the last they would be talking about this. Seren looked down at the snow. The powder that had been trodden and covered with gravel until it was a muddy flat mess.

“If the saints were real, they wouldn’t bring me anything. Would they?” Seren asked, still staring at the ground.

“Of course they would,” Mrs. Houper said sympathetically.

“And I’m sure you’ll still get something for Yule.” Their dad said, placing his hand on their shoulder and pulling them into his side. “You always do,”

“That’s true, but what if I didn’t deserve it?” Seren asked.

“That doesn’t matter. It’s Yuletide.” Their dad scoffed, “What the hell has Eric been teaching you?”

“Oh, no.” Mrs. Houper said bashfully. “That was me, and it wasn’t intentional! I didn’t know you guys didn’t observe the tradition.” Seren caught the side eye their dad gave her.

“It’s nonsensical!” Their dad huffed, changing the side he carried the bag on. “It’s guilting and shaming kids into behaving all in the name of some fantasy dead guy.” Mrs. Houper laughed.

“You sound like Eric.” she said with tears in her eyes.

“I do not!” Clark gasped. Only making Mrs. Houper laugh harder, even Seren couldn’t help but giggle. Hopping up the stairs to the front door, noticing the lights in the Summer’s manor next door were dimming with the sun. They paused before opening to door to watch the windows. Trying to tell if the party was over.

“Don’t leer in windows,” their dad whispered and lightly shoved Seren into the front door. They hopped through the door and jumped so the snow would fall off their boots.

“Help bring things into the kitchen,” Mrs. Houper said. Putting the bags down so she could remove her own boots and coat. Seren put their boots to the side and hung up their coat and took one of the bags into the kitchen. They put the bag on the counter and their dad came in and placed a bag next to theirs on the counter.

“Where’s Mrs. Houper?” Seren asked as they sat on the barstool.

“She went to put something away,” their dad said. Taking the groceries out of the bag and placing them on the counter. “Now let’s get started on the cider. Think you can show me where everything is?”

“Nope!” Seren said with confidence.