theme: Light Brite
He had flinched, being abruptly awoken by the voice over the intercom pounding in his ears.
"Attention shoppers! The Twin Peaks Mall will be closing in ten minutes. Please complete your shopping within the rest of our open period. Thank-you and happy holidays!"
He jolted upwards, his head rolling each way.
Hordes of people were hurrying about, dragging heavy shopping bags and thrusting forward baby strollers, racing to the glass exit doors. The smell of perspiration and perfume mixed in the air, creating an unpleasant odor wafting throughout the busy corridors.
Gasping, he furrowed through a passing wave of shoppers and pressed his face against a window. Squinting, he could make out all of the empty boxes and a slew of torn up wrappers discarded among the vacant shelves. The floors were filthy; muddy footprints trekked around the tiles. He backed away from it, panic rising in his chest. He had really done it this time.
Of course, he had held off his Christmas shopping until the day before... who would expect better?
Rigby had been eased into buying a gift for Eileen by Margaret; she had gone on about how she was spending her entire year savings on a present for him and how she knew he'd love it. Rigby had at first rolled his eyes, ignoring the obvious impel of guilt, but it soon wore him down and he surrendered.
"Alright, I'll get her a stupid Christmas present," he had growled at Margaret. "But don't think that I'm getting you a present."
Procrastinating until Christmas Eve, he had dropped by the Twin Peaks Mall after enduring a long and teeth-grinding day at work.
Rigby had only sat down in a lounge chair for a second...
He detested himself for the moment. How could he have been so stupid? Now everyone had cleaned the entire mall of its inventory and heading home for the much-anticipated holiday.
And where was he? Stuck in the mall, minutes proceeding its close, on Christmas Eve, with nothing to buy.
Rigby began to scurry on all fours, searching tirelessly for something that he could buy within his price range.
Anything.
And finally, he spotted a beige box perched on the ridge of a shelf. He darted inside, making sure to swipe it before anyone else got ahold of it.
Rigby read the title, printed in bold across the top.
Light Brite!
Quickly deciding that a children's toy would be better than nothing, he retrieved a handful of dollars, compressed from being in his hoodie pocket.
Rigby slapped the box and money on the counter for check out.
The cashier stared blankly at the raccoon.
"Would you like that wrap-"
"No, just let me buy it already," he snapped, uneasily checking his wristwatch. 11:56
The cashier scowled, grumpily exchanging the money. "Your change, sir," he spat, flicking a dime at Rigby.
"I've gotta get out of here," Rigby moaned, grabbing the Light Brite and heading outside.
It had been ten hours since he had written the message.
He hastily blanketed the box in wrapping paper, messily sticking duct tape on to hold the seams together.
Mordecai looked over his shoulder. "Dude, ready to go to the Coffee Shop?" he asked, grinning. "I've got my gift for Margaret. She might just ask me to marry her on the spot!"
"Yeah, yeah," Rigby muttered under his breath, carrying the wrapped present in his hands.
"What did you get last night?"
"How about a present that's so unbelievably awesome, you'll cry yourself to sleep tonight?"
Mordecai scoffed. "I'm sure you got something like that for ten bucks, dude."
"Stop talking!"
Eileen felt the warmth of her best friend's presence beside her on the bench.
She shivered slightly as a cold gust of wind drifted by. Her hands retreated to her pockets. "When do you think they'll be here?" she questioned.
"Looks like now!" Margaret exclaimed, pointing ahead. Mordecai and Rigby, both having something in their grasps, waited until the cars ceased to zoom by so they could cross the street.
"Merry Christmas, Margaret," Mordecai said, handing her a paper baggie. He shifted uncomfortably. "I know it's not much, but..."
"I love it! Thank-you so much!" Margaret shrieked, pulling out a silvery necklace. She smiled. "I'll wear it all the time."
Rigby kicked some snow off the curb with the side of his foot.
Eileen motioned him to come. He sauntered over, a look of defeat plastered to his face. Rigby tossed the box to Eileen.
After fumbling for it, she leaned over and retrieved a large container from her side of the bench, holding it out for him.
The wrapping paper was exquisite; folding perfectly over the faces of the box.
"Go ahead and open yours first," insisted Eileen.
He peeled the paper off, revealing the back of a boxed-in personal deep fryer. He squealed.
"Woah! Thank-you soo much, Eileen!"
"No problem," she replied, beginning to pick at her gift. "May I?"
"Uh... sure..."
Opening it, she gasped. She didn't comment on it, though. "Take it out of the box..." Rigby told her.
Following his direction, she tore open the duct tape seal and peeked inside. Multicolored pegs had been arranged on there to form a message.
Marry X-Mas
Eileen
"That is so sweet!" she exclaimed, her voice starting to break.
"I know... I'm quite the charmer."