Saturday, December 12th. 13 days 'till Christmas...
Odette had just finished getting ready for Jasmine's father's charity gala, when she realized she forgot to check her storage locker for her mom's ornament.
She headed down to the storage room in the apartment building's basement. It was drafty and the cement floor and wire lockers that looked like cages made the room feel even colder. She quickly unlocked her locker, eager to get out of the basement. Fortunately, the box of ornaments was the last thing she put in her locker, so the box was on top and near the door.
"You're overdressed for a place like this."
Odette jumped at the sudden voice and let out a small cry of surprise.
From a few lockers down, Proteus laughed and held up his hands. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
Odette laughed at herself. "It's not your fault; I'm just jumpy. The storage room has made me uneasy ever since I saw the movie Annabelle."
Proteus nodded as he opened his locker door. Odette locked hers back up and walked over to him.
"So, what are you all dressed up for?" Proteus asked, walking into his locker. Unlike most of the other lockers, Proteus only had a few boxes in his. All of them were marked Christmas.
Odette looked down at her white and green gown. "My best friend's dad is throwing a charity gala tonight."
"That sounds like fun."
Odette shifted the weight of the ornament box in her hands and sighed. "It's for a good cause, anyway."
Proteus looked over at her. "Doesn't sound like you want to go."
"It isn't that. I enjoy getting dressed up and spending time with Jasmine."
"But?"
"But... There's this guy that's gonna be there that my dad has been trying to set me up with for, like, ever and I'm not looking forward to seeing him."
Proteus walked to the back of his storage locker and grabbed a tall box that was leaning against the corner. "It must be hard to be a pretty girl single at Christmastime." He gave her a teasing smile and winked at her over his shoulder.
Odette felt her face grow hot with embarrassment, but since she was holding the box, she couldn't cover it to hide the blush. "I'm still completely mortified over what my mom said to you last night."
"Don't be. She was sweet." He carried the box out of the locker.
Odette read the side of the box. It was a pre-lit artificial tree. "What is that?" she asked, pointing at the box.
"It's my tree." He set the box on the floor, then went back into the locker and grabbed a box marked Christmas ornaments. When he came back out, he saw her eyeing him. "There's nothing wrong with an artificial tree, Odette."
"Well, no. But, real trees are better."
"I disagree. You spend all that money on a tree, just to throw it away when Christmas is over. You can reuse an artificial tree every year."
"So, you're cheap, Mr. Scrooge," Odette teased.
Proteus laughed. "No. The tree is the centerpiece of Christmas and I like that it's the same tree every year. It's like the memories from each year are absorbed in the tree and every year it becomes a little more special."
"I get that. But, Christmas isn't about the tree; it's about who you're spending the day with. The tree doesn't keep the memories, you do. Honestly, the tree doesn't even matter that much."
"Then why bother with one at all?"
Odette shrugged. "Because they're pretty. Plus, buying a tree every year supports the tree farmers."
"That's a good point, I guess."
"Ya know... I'm actually going to get my tree tomorrow. Why don't you come with me? If you don't find a tree that you like better than your artificial one, I'll never tease you about your plastic, storage locker scented tree again."
Proteus looked down at his tree box and then back up at her. "Yeah, all right. It could be fun."
Odette smiled at him. "It will be. Meet me in the lobby at noon?"
"Sounds good."
After saying good night, Odette went back up to her apartment and went through the ornament box. She found the ornament her mom had been looking for and called her mom as she got her coat on and prepared to leave.
"Hello?" her mom greeted.
"Hey, mom. I found the ornament."
"Oh, thank God."
"I'm leaving now to go to the gala, but if you want to pick it up tonight, I can leave it with Wiggins."
"That would be great. Thank you, sweetie."
"Don't forget the cookies."
Odette hung up and headed down to the lobby. Wiggins was sitting at the desk, reading A Christmas Carol.
"Hello, Wiggins."
Wiggins looked up at her. "Ah. Good evening, Miss Odette."
"I'm on my way out, but my mom will be stopping by in a little bit to pick this up; can you hold onto it for me and give it to her when she gets here?" Odette held out the newspaper- wrapped ornament.
"Of course." He took it from her and carefully put it inside one of the desk drawers.
"Thank you."
Wiggins nodded at her. "Have a good night."
OOOOO
The charity gala was held in the ballroom of the Swan Rose hotel and the workers had gone all- out with the Christmas decorations. It was absolutely beautiful. Odette's dad, William, owned the hotel and personally made sure the ballroom looked perfect for tonight.
The turn out this year was even better than last year, which made all of the mingling she had to do a little exhausting. Odette had showed up earlier, but a little while ago Derek found her and she's been with him ever since; leaving Jasmine to mingle alone.
After talking with most of the guests, Jasmine was surprised at how many people here didn't even know what they were raising money for. It was for the Porter Animal Rescue Shelter. The founder, Archimedes Porter, and his daughter, Jane, were both here, but it seemed like no one even knew who they were. Jane had the idea that they should bring some of the animals to the gala so everyone could see where their money was going, but Jasmine's dad didn't like animals and didn't want them to ruin the event.
One of the shelter's volunteers came over to Jasmine. He looked to be around the same age as her and was incredibly handsome with tan skin, dark eyes, and black hair. He handed her a cup of cider and smiled at her. His smile caused her stomach to flutter.
"Thank you," she said, accepting the drink.
"It's a good thing you're doing here," he told her. "You have no idea how much the money raised tonight is going to help the animals."
"I'm happy to hear that." Even though her father organized the event, Jasmine was the one who chose the shelter. Every year the gala raised money for a different charity or organization. This year, Jasmine wanted it to honor her mother, so she chose the animal shelter. Both Jasmine and her mother loved animals, even though Jasmine's father never allowed them to get a pet. Jasmine doubted her dad cared at all about helping the animals. For him, this gala is always about getting recognition.
The volunteer held his hand out to her. "I'm Aladdin, by the way."
Jasmine shook his hand. "Jasmine."
"I know who you are. Archimedes told us that you and your mom would make a large donation every Christmas to the shelter and that even after your mom died, you continued to do it. When we found out your dad picked the shelter for the gala this year, we all knew it was your idea."
"I think animals tend to get overlooked this time of year, but they need just as much love and support as people do."
Aladdin lowered his eyes. "I wouldn't say they get overlooked. A lot of them do get adopted around Christmas. But, it's always the puppies and kittens, never the older animals. And, sadly, a number of them are brought back when they get bigger."
"That's so sad."
"It is. That's why these donations are always a blessing. We're a no- kill shelter, so we keep every animal who comes to us until they leave us- one way or another. But, taking care of all of those animals can get expensive."
"I'm happy to help. And I'm glad the animals have the Porters and you and the other volunteers. I'm sure you make them feel loved."
"We try." Aladdin took a sip of his cider. "It's funny, though; despite the donations you make, I've never actually seen you at the shelter."
It was true. Jasmine could never bring herself to go. She knew seeing all of those homeless animals would break her heart and she'd want to take all of them home with her; but she couldn't.
"I just never get a chance," Jasmine replied.
"You should really come by sometime."
"I'll try."
"Great. I'll see you on Monday, then." Aladdin smiled at her and walked away before she could say anything.