It was Christmas Eve. A beautiful Christmas Eve as well. The snow began to fall late afternoon and everything was just now being completely covered in whiteness. After helping Hannah this morning prep for dinner later that night, Janet stopped home to shower and freshen up for dinner later. And for him too. The plan was to go grab some coffee and chat for a bit before Janet had to be back at Hannah's for dinner, then exchange gifts later. So Eddie and Janet went back to his truck that was parked in town on October Rd to talk. He wanted to tell her about what has been happening back at his place between Phil, his parents and Pizza Girl, and she wanted to tell him how Hannah was nervous about dinner and freaking out over purchasing salted butter instead of unsalted. However, Janet being her impatient self could not wait till later to give Eddie 'the best Christmas gift ever,' so she surprised him with his gift now.

"Okay, ready? Open it!"

"I, I didn't know we were doing this now! I don't even have your present with me!" If he had to be real with himself, Eddie was excited she brought his gift now. He loved getting presents because in his family, presents only came twice a year: on birthdays and Christmas. No in betweens, no little surprises, no "congrats with school this year" money or gifts, just birthdays and Christmas'. The upside to that, giving gifts to people was that much more satisfying. So yes, Eddie was elated to see the big, perfectly wrapped red box with gold ribbon on the sides and a red metallic bow on top, sitting in between them in his truck. Surprised? Yes, and no. Janet is a very anxious person and hates keeping secrets, so knowing her she's been biting her lip about whatever is in this box for far too long to her liking. So no surprise when she replied with "It's ok!" and an enormous grin and giggles. She was soo ready for him to open that big red box that had peepholes on it. Wait. What? Peepholes- air holes? In a box? He looked at her, she was still smiley and encouraging him to open it. Well, alright… he lifted the lid, looked inside, and saw fur.

"Remember how you told me how when Rocket died, the hardest part for you was plowing? Cuz he was always by your side, middle of the night, you two in the snow…"

The entire time Janet was explaining this lil puff of fur that was just sitting there in the box, he watched her pet it lovingly as it loved her back.

"You got me a dog?" She nodded, still smiley. "You got me a dog…" Now he was looking at it but with disbelief, shock, confusion, and anger.

"You don't- its not. Uhh…"

"A dog is a tremendous amount of responsibility Janet! You can't just give someone a dog." He wasn't really mad per-say, he couldn't be mad at her. It was a clever gift, he could give her that much. She meant well with the whole Rocket thing. But a dog… was she for real? Eddie was so flabbergasted at what just happened he did not even notice the pure look of disappointment that was allll over her face.

"I figured because you had a dog, and you know-"

"I didn't have a dog! I, I had Rocket. And there's a reason that I didn't replace Rocket is because he couldn't be replaced. At least not until I'm ready, and I'm not ready!!"

Ohhh crap. She definitely touched a sensitive spot. Well shoot, now she could barely look at him! What do you say to that? Do people really take back Christmas gifts like this? Can you even take back a dog? How the hell would she know?! She's only had 1 dog her entire life and as far as she knew, he was still kickin back in her laundry room!

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it as a… I can take him back!"

But as she said that, Eddie really looked at the puppy that was in front of him for the first time. His ears… were pointy. His muzzle… was long. His teeth… were huge! HA! Puppy his ass!

"Where did you get this dog?"

What kind of question is that? "Monk MaGuilicuty came into the bar last week with a litter of puppies."

"Monk MaGuilicuty?! Who set fire to the church our senior year of high school?"

She shrugged her shoulders, rolled her eyes, and for a split second remembered how chaotic the town got that night the church was on fire… good times. "Umm I guess, why?"

"No reason except uh, this is not a puppy."

"What do you mean it's not a puppy?!"

"It's a wolf."

"What do you mean it's a wolf?!"

"I mean… it's a wolf!"

Is he insane. Janet would know a wolf when she's seen one! How could she forget her Brownies summer camping trip of '92? A whole pack of wolves ate the entire Brownie troupes dinner. And dessert for that matter. Then again, this lil guy did have big ears… "I got you a wolf?"

Naaaw! He was just playing an early April Fools joke on her. Not. "Chea! You got me a wolf…"

In that moment, Janet wished she had a secret power to turn herself invisible.

Ohhhhhh. Myyyyyy. God.