Val woke up early the next morning, silently cursing herself for not shopping earlier. Today was Christmas Eve. The mall was surely going to be a mob scene. At least she wouldn't be battling the crowds alone. Reggie was going too. She dressed quickly and headed downstairs.
Otto was already seated at the table, working his way through a large stack of pancakes. Val joined him, hoping she could perhaps end this ridiculous feud.
"Morning, Rocket Boy," she said, keeping her tone neutral.
Otto continued to eat his breakfast as though she wasn't there. Val took a deep breath, trying to keep her temper steady.
"Listen, I know my visits in the past haven't been wonderful--"
"You took the words out of my mouth," Otto said calmly.
"I realize that it's been my fault. You know, I've played too rough, I've called you names....We've never been very close, but I want that to change."
"Did Reggie tell you to say this stuff?" Otto asked suspiciously.
Val ignored the remark. "I know I haven't been an angel, but if you could find it in your heart to forgive me, I'd appreciate it a lot."
Otto thought for a moment, toying with the gold coin around his neck, the one that had belonged to his mom. He felt as though he was connected to her spirit when he wore it. Something was telling him he needed to bury the hatchet.
"I guess we can call a truce," he mumbled.
"Come on, Val!" Ray screamed from outside. "I wanna get going so I can come back and make Christmas Eve dinner!"
"Later." said Val as she stood up from the table.
0-0-0
Val and Reggie manuvered through the crowded walkways of the Ocean Shores Mall, the pair of them giggling like loons. Upon arrival, they had bought some fudge from a group of teenagers, who were selling it to raise money for charity. Before realizing it, they had consumed most of the box. They were feeling light-headed, but definitely giddy.
"This would be perfect for Twister!" giggled Val as the girls browsed in a gift boutique. It was a bottle of three-dollar cologne. Reggie, smirking, read the label aloud: "'Really Ripped Abs?' Are you seriously giving him that?"
"This too." Val held a necklace under Reggie's nose. It was a fake gold chain that had a tiny chili pepper dangling from it.
Reggie shook her head. There was no reasoning with her cousin right now. She had a few more strange gifts in her hands: a bag of gummy octopuses and a beanbag Kraken (giant squid) for Sammy, a lobster-claw oven mitt and kitchen towels with dancing hula girls on them for Ray, and a T-shirt that said "Future X-Games Champion" on it for Otto. Though Reggie couldn't see it, Val had a T-shirt for her that said "Angel" on the front in glitter.
"Let's go," Reggie said once Val had paid for the gifts. "I told Raymundo we'd meet him at noon."
"Is it that late already?" said Val.
Reggie nodded, picking up her own bags of assorted loot.
0-0-0
At home, the girls wrapped presents together. Val was still flying high from the fudge; she refused to write out normal gift tags: ex, "To Uncle Ray, Love Val." Instead, she came up with funny nicknames for everyone on her list. Reggie looked the tags over. Some were pretty clever, like Sam's, which read "To a Cali Calamari." A few were normal, like Otto's and Ray's: "Rocket Boy" and "Rippin' Raymundo." Twister's was slightly embarrassing: "To my Latin Lover Boy."
"I'm never giving Val sugar again." Reggie vowed.