It takes Moody surprisingly little time to set the whole shoot up. Then again he would have to be quick about it as the idea is to release it for sale in time for the Christmas rush and it was already October. No surprise then that the photographer turned out to be Moody's cousin's son. The boy did turn out to have a pretty decent reputation though so even though there were a few whispers no one complained too much.
The venues were more impressive than the photographer when they were released a week before the shoot. Robbie wasn't sure whether to be thrilled or terrified when it turned out that he would be waltzing through Divinity Hall a week later. He's the last person to be photographed on the first day of the shoot.
James is the last but one the next day, in South Park which is conveniently central. That means at least they should be able to get some work done before they get to their shoots, even though they have been ordered to be there an hour before the time if dressed and an hour and a half if they need to change.
It doesn't say on the plan which hobby each person will be showing and Robbie silently wonders at some of them. Peterson is being shot at home in the morning which makes Robbie very curious. Moody too is being shot at home and if it wasn't for the fact that he had the shoot before Robbie's own he would have been tempted to just turn up and spy. As it were he needed to be getting ready for his own shoot, maybe he could send James on a recon mission.
After having agreed to do the shoots they don't talk about it, him and James. There is a lot of gossip in the office about who is doing what and who will get which month. Those in the office who have had the assignment foisted on them are hoping for October or maybe May. Months where there are not a lot of holidays, which seem somehow less interesting. Among the more eager January is high on the list, it is the first month after all, the one everyone will see first. In the end though it is December that has a poll on it as to who will get the honour. Everyone agrees that most calendars will keep the best picture for last, the one with the most atmosphere, the most attractive one. Yes December is the prize alright and the betting is rife, with Moody and Peterson running a tight race as number one with their mysterious home shoots.
Three days before the shoots start Peterson suddenly pulls ahead in the stakes for December. Someone has leaked that him and his fiancé raise Ragdoll kittens. When they hear this James and Robbie both burst out laughing. They can just imagine him. Action man, in a leather jacket, or maybe a knitted sweater with a pile of fluffy white kittens climbing all over him.
The day before the whole circus is about to begin Robbie and James finally talk about it, but only to agree that they will try to get as much work done as possible, that they will attend each other's shoots to offer moral support and ward off unwanted audiences, of course with a promise that they will not laugh even if the other person does look like a prat.
