Twas the week before Christmas when in Lily's room, brother and sister were making a bet.
Lily had set up a game for James to play called Shell Game.
"So," explained Lily to James, "You are going to play a game called Shell Game. Look around my room and you will see the game set up."
James looked around and saw that four brown shells had been set out on a table and that four red chips were set off to the side on the table. Another table with four small items accompanied by touchscreens that said Shell Game was also present.
"So, " said Lily matter of factly, "James, you are going to play a game called Shell Game. The object of the game is to pick which shell has a ball under it. You can win up to four chips and each time you win a chip, you place that chip by shell. At the end of the game, if you've put a chip by the shell with the ball under it you win. If not, you lose. I'd like to offer you a bet on the outcome. If you win, I'll get you an extra Christmas present, but if you lose, you own me an extra Christmas present."
"I accept, " said James calmly. Lily offered James her right hand and James shook it with her left hand.
"So, " the way you win chips is this: I'm going to show you four small items one at a time each with a fake price on them. Your job is to guess whether the actual retail price is higher or lower. But here's your challenge: The prices are in muggle dollars and not wizarding galleon, " revealed.
"Ah, a challenge," smiled James.
"So, " explained Lily, "The first you will be pricing is a coffee brewer. The coffee maker can make to five cups of coffee with four different brew settings.
Lily walked up to the touchscreen just below the coffee brewer, which was positioned in the upper left quadrant on the small prize table and pressed a finger to it. A false price of $100 appeared.
"So?" Lily asked James, "Is the actual retail price of the coffee brewer more or less than $100?"
"More," guessed James, "Coffee Brewers are expensive. "
Lily pressed her finger to the touchscreen now showing the fake price of $100 to reveal a screen that said higher $119.
"Correct, James, " smiled Lily, "Do you want the first, second, third or fourth shell.
"Fourth, " said James cheerfully.
Lily walked over to the table with the chips and shells and placed one of the red chips by the fourth brown shell.
"One down, three to go," said James confidently.
"So, " continued Lily, pointing to the lower left quadrant of the small prize table, "We have a multipocketed gardening tote with three stainless steel tools included. "
Lily touched the touchscreen below the gardening tote and a false price of $35 was revealed.
"HIGHER!" yelled James confidently, "With those tools included, it's gotta be higher!"
Lily touched the screen displaying the false price to reveal a display that read higher $55.
"YES!" said James, "I've earned another chip!"
"Indeed, you have, " said Lily happily, "From the left, do you want the first, second, or third shell."
"Third, " said James instantly.
Lily placed a red chip by the third brown shell.
"Halfway home," said James brightly.
Ponting at the upper right quadrant of the prize table. Lily stated, "Our next item is a portable speaker that is both Bluetooth and FM compatible.
Harry nudged the touchscreen below the portable speaker and a wrong price of $55 was shown.
"Lower, " said James crisply, "Sometimes you gotta with your gut."
Lily gave the touchscreen with the wrong price a nudge and the answer of lower $36 was shown.
"First, second, or fourth?" Lily inquired of James, glowing at him.
"First, " chose James and Lily placed a red chip by first brown shell from the left.
"Nearly there, " said James eagerly.
"The last small prize in the lower right quadrant is a one-step hair dryer with an oval brush design to smooth your hair and round edges to create volume, " said Lily crisply.
Lily put a finger to the final touchscreen and a made up price of $49 was displayed.
"Lower, " guessed James.
But when Lily revealed the actual retail price, it turned out to a higher $60.
"Well," said Lily in a businesslike voice, "We've got some drama. James, as long as the ball isn't under the second shell you win. But we'll go right to left."
Lily quickly lifted shells four and three to reveal no ball.
"So, James, " offered Lily, "I can reveal either shell one or shell two."
"Shell one," said James firmly, "If I've won, I want to know by seeing the ball."
Lily nodded and slowly lifted shell one. It had a white ball underneath it.
"YES!" yelled James.
"James," asked Lily, "Would you rather I just get you an extra Christmas present in advance or on Christmas day with the rest?"
"My preference, " admitted James, "Would be receive my extra present last thing on Christmas, before bed."
"Then that's what'll happen, " promised Lily.
Part 2 will reveal exactly what Lily gets James as this extra gift.