"Ho, ho, ho, and Jingle Jingle, Grandma sends a baby truck. We hang candy on the tree, and wait for Santa to turn up. Hhmm, that's not quite right." David Seville sucked the end of his pencil thoughtfully.

"Dave?" Simon stood in the doorway somewhat nervously. Dave's first thought was, What has Alvin done now? before he remembered Alvin and Theodore had gone out for the afternoon.

"Yes, Simon?" Has one of his experiments gone wrong again? Will we need to evacuate?

"Can you take me shopping?" Dave stopped. That wasn't what he'd expected. He looked at his son and sensed this wasn't about a new book or microscope.

"Sure, I'll just get my coat."

Dave didn't ask anything on the way to the mall, just made general conversation about school, the traffic, new songs… He knew Simon was not as adept at expressing himself as Alvin, or as open with his feelings as Theodore, but he sensed there was something on his mind.

They stood for a moment inside watching the crowds.

"Do you need a present for Alvin?" Dave gestured at a sportsware shop and Simon nodded. They looked around a bit before he decided to buy Alvin some knee pads for, as he put it, 'his reckless skateboarding'.

As they headed out again, Dave prompted,

"What about Theodore?"

"I thought maybe some new cookie cutters?" Dave nodded and they walked together until they came to a cookware store. It didn't take long to find a set of cookie shapes and they were soon standing in the main thoroughfare again. Dave had a sneaking suspicion why they'd come, especially without Alvin, but he wasn't about to put Simon on the spot.

"What about the girls?"

"Yeah…"

"Maybe some nice bath products?" He led Simon into a fragrant store lined with bubble baths, bath bombs, soaps, crystals, powders, and hundreds of other unnecessary things. Simon was a little bemused but Dave picked out some nice gift sets for him to choose between. After a lot of discussion, he chose a nail manicure set for Britany and a luxury bath set for Eleanor. He had not considered any of them for Jeanette. Dave didn't mention this as they paid but once outside he couldn't not mention this final present.

"What about Jeanette?" Simon didn't immediately respond but Dave saw his eyes glance at a jewellery shop across the way. "How about a nice piece of jewellery?" Dave asked. Simon seemed incredibly relieved and nodded. They wandered over and began scanning the displays.

"Not a ring," Dave tried to sound knowledgeable but he was relieved when a sales lady came over.

"Can I help?"

"Ah, yes. My son's looking for a gift for a friend." She smiled down at Simon.

"A girl?" She queried. He nodded shyly. "What's she like?" He looked puzzled. The lady gestured at the rows of displays.

"In order to find the perfect gift, I need to know what sort of jewellery she wears, what skin tone she has, hair and eye colour…" Dave remembered the first time he'd bought jewellery for a girl. He'd known her hair colour, guessed her eye colour and made up her skin tone. He'd ended up buying something expensive that she'd never worn.

"Well, she has medium brown hair, which she mostly wears tied back."

"Earrings then. Or a necklace."

"Her eyes are actually green but in some light they look blue." Dave looked surprised. He would have said she had blue eyes.

"Silver?" The lady murmured.

"And she has a light complexion." Dave wondered how much Simon really felt for Jeanette. He never really spoke about her at home. Probably because Alvin always teased him.

"Silver or white gold."

"I've only ever really seen her wear her glasses. They're like mine."

"Something simple then." The lady led them across the shop, "And practical." She gestured to a display of lockets. "These on the left are silver. The ones to your right are white gold. It doesn't tarnish but it is more expensive." Simon's eyes were immediately drawn to a medium sized locket with two inter-linked musical notes on the front.

"May I look at that one, please?" The lady smiled as she unlocked the case.

"It is beautiful isn't it? It may seem expensive but take a look at the chain." The delicate chain was made of tiny linking musical notes. Dave glanced at the price and knew Simon couldn't afford it. He crouched down next to him. Simon was marvelling at the craftsmanship.

"You know, if you promise not to tell Theodore or Alvin, I think I could let you have a Christmas bonus."

"A bonus?" Simon looked up at his father.

"For being my reliable boy all year," Dave hugged him. "You deserve a reward." The lady had watched this and now asked,

"This friend, she is very special to you?" Simon blushed but nodded. "Well, we do special reductions this time of year. I think we can take 15% off."

"Really?" Dave asked. She nodded and shrugged.

"I remember getting my first gift of jewellery from a boy at Christmas." She smiled kindly at Simon. "She's a very lucky girl."

No more was said as they paid for it, and the lady took special care wrapping it for him. All the way home he held it close to him and it was only when Dave had to hide it away he finally let go. As he was heading back up to his room Dave stopped him.

"Don't worry Simon, I won't tell Alvin." Simon smiled.