Christmas Shopping Marathon

Christmas Shopping Marathon
By ten-thirty on the fifteenth of December, Crane and I arrived at the coffee shop near the main entrance of the shopping center a few minutes before the time we agreed with Colton and my sister. The four of us had decided to do our Christmas shopping together.

Colton was already there.

He sat outside with a paper cup in both hands, looking like someone who had been dragged out of bed against his will.

"You look tired," I said.

"I am tired."

"It's ten-thirty."

"Exactly."

Crane laughed.

"You agreed to the time."

"I was pressured."

"By who?"

"Everyone."

I shook my head.

Grace arrived a few minutes later, carrying her handbag and looking considerably more awake than Colton.

"Good morning."

"You're late," Colton said.

Grace looked at her watch.

"I'm two minutes late."

"That's late."

"You were complaining about me waking up late."

"That's different."

"How?"

"I don't know."

We all laughed.

Crane looked toward the shopping center.

"Ready?"

Colton stood.

"No."

"Good enough."

We crossed the street together.

The shopping center was already crowded.

Christmas decorations hung from the storefronts, music played from several shops, and people moved through the walkways carrying bags.

The moment we entered the first department store, Colton disappeared toward the electronics section.

"Where are you going?" Crane called.

"Looking."

"Looking for what?"

"Things."

Crane shook his head.

"That boy."

Grace laughed.

"Let him look."

We started with gifts for our parents.

Crane and I moved through the shelves together, discussing what might suit his mother and father.

"What about this?" I asked, picking something up.

"She'd like that."

"Are you sure?"

"Very."

I put it into the basket.

Then we looked for something for his father.

Crane took his time.

He wanted something useful rather than something that would simply sit around the house.

After a few minutes, he found something he liked.

"That one."

I nodded.

"Good choice."

We moved on.

We also picked gifts for Colton and Grace.

Crane held up one item.

"Would Grace like this?"

"Probably."

"Probably isn't good enough."

"Then ask her."

"She'll know we're buying her something."

I laughed.

"Fair point."

We eventually settled on something we thought she would enjoy.

Then Crane picked something for Colton.

I watched him smile.

"You know your brother well."

"He's easy."

"Don't tell him that."

"He already knows."

We found gifts for their grandparents too.

I specifically picked something for Crane's grandmother and another gift for his grandfather.

Crane looked at me when I added them to the basket.

"You didn't have to."

"I want to."

"They're going to love that."

"I hope so."

I had known his grandparents long enough that buying something for them no longer felt like a strange gesture.

They had welcomed me.

They remembered little things about me.

They asked about my paintings.

They asked about school.

They treated me like I belonged.

So when I saw something I thought Crane's grandmother would enjoy, I didn't hesitate.

The same went for his grandfather.

At some point, Crane looked around.

"Where are Grace and Colton?"

I glanced toward the other side of the store.

"They were behind us."

"They're gone again."

We walked a few aisles over and found them standing together, whispering.

Crane folded his arms.

"What are you two planning?"

Grace immediately looked innocent.

"Nothing."

Colton nodded.

"Nothing."

I laughed.

"You both look suspicious."

"We're not doing anything."

Crane looked at them for several seconds.

"Okay."

They waited until he turned around.

Then Grace whispered something to Colton.

Crane immediately turned back.

"I saw that."

Colton groaned.

"You're annoying."

"You're my little brother."

"Unfortunately."

I laughed.

We continued shopping.

The list seemed endless.

Parents.

Grandparents.

Siblings.

Friends.

People we hadn't even remembered until we saw something that made us think of them.

At one point, we found a section filled with Christmas decorations.

Crane stopped.

"We need decorations."

I looked at him.

"We?"

"Our apartment."

He was already looking through the shelves.

"We don't have to buy much."

"That's true."

He picked up an artificial Christmas tree.

"This."

I looked at the size.

"That's going to fit?"

"It will."

"You've measured?"

"No."

I laughed.

"Then how do you know?"

"Faith."

"That's not a measurement."

He grinned.

We ended up buying an artificial Christmas tree, a tree stand, a box of red and gold ornaments, a string of warm white lights, a small wreath for the apartment door, a pack of Christmas-themed kitchen towels, and a set of scented candles.

Crane looked pleased.

"The apartment is going to look good."

"It will."

"We need something for the coffee table."

"We already have a centerpiece."

"Something else."

"Crane."

"What?"

"We're not decorating a hotel."

He laughed.

"Fine."

We took the decorations to the checkout.

Crane looked at the total.

"I'll pay half."

"No."

He looked at me.

"Elias."

"I've got it."

"We're both using them."

"I know."

"Then we split it."

I shook my head.

"I'm paying."

He studied me.

"Why?"

"Because I want to."

"I know you want to."

I lowered my voice.

"Crane, I make extra money from my paintings. You mostly depend on the money your parents give you."

His expression changed slightly.

"I don't want you carrying everything."

"I'm not carrying everything."

"You know what I mean."

"I do."

He sighed.

"I can contribute."

"And you do."

I touched his arm.

"But let me handle this."

He stared at me for a moment before nodding.

"Okay."

"Thank you."

He smiled.

"But next time we're splitting it."

"We'll discuss that next time."

"You're impossible."

"So I've been told."

We paid and moved on.