2023 Advent Challenge

Greetings & Things was a small, humble shop; positioned close to the Sovereign City centre, it stood out despite its size, with a window display full of cards, balloons and plushies. At this time of year, tinsel and colour-changing lights also decorated the display, their soft hues reflecting onto the street outside.

It was a place many locals visited to buy gifts and cards for their loved ones, and unsurprisingly, it got a lot of business during the festive season. (And Valentine’s, of course.)

Ryder didn’t generally come here – he normally frequented a different card shop closer to his house, but he needed to visit the town centre anyway, so why not. The little shop was inviting; he couldn’t help but smile when he pushed open the door and heard a bell ring to announce his presence. The green dragonman behind the counter watched him and offered a small wave, but seemed content to let him browse without interruption.

Now, who am I buying cards for? he mused. Fred, River, Havoc… Armin, Dianne… Esme? Don’t think she can read yet...

He made his way to the Christmas section. The top of the shelf had a line of cute plushies depicting snowballs and cakes with smiley faces. He decided to grab one of the snowballs as a gift for someone, then turned his attention to the cards – rows upon rows of them, a hundred varieties at least, though most featuring similar pictures and messages. He found himself drawn to anything that stood out.

Behind him, in the same aisle, he could hear quiet footsteps and breathing from another customer moving around, but paid them no heed other than to shift sideways so they could see the cards.

He had just chosen a card for River (depicting a snowy mountain scene with two dragons flying around it) when he heard the other customer quietly clearing their throat. Assuming that he must still be in the way, Ryder straightened up and looked around.

The man, who was shorter than him and had a face framed by locks of pale blond hair, eased himself in to reach the cards.

‘Hello, Ryder,’ he said.

‘Hi, Fred,’ Ryder replied, trying to conceal his surprise at suddenly running into his best friend and boss in the same shop. ‘What a coincidence.’

‘I thought you normally went to the other shop,’ said Fred. ‘The one in the Silvertown district.’

‘Yeah. But I was over here buying presents anyway, so I thought I’d have a look.’

Ryder couldn’t fully access the card shelf while Fred was browsing (this shop was really small), so he put his back against the opposite shelf and waited. He noticed that Fred, like him, was deliberately not choosing the overly-generic cards, though he was also avoiding the humorous ones. Especially the ones with more... colourful humour.

‘Got all your presents yet?’ he said.

‘Yes,’ Fred replied. ‘I usually buy gifts early. Sometimes as early as November.’

‘Yeah, I figured you’d be punctual. I still have a couple of things left to get. Hey, what are you getting me?’ Ryder asked suddenly, with a grin, trying to catch him out.

Fred wasn’t fazed. ‘I won’t say.’

‘But…’

‘No.’

Fred plucked another card off the shelf, this one depicting a homely kitchen scene complete with rising bread dough, freshly-made cookies and pie, and a sparkling tree. If Ryder had to guess, he would say that this card might be for Owel. She liked baking – even if she couldn’t taste all of it.

Most people would be surprised to learn that the reserved, serious Frederick actually went to the effort of buying his loved ones Christmas cards. Ryder knew that he considered it a time-honoured tradition, one that reminded him of growing up with his family in Shacklestone, and one that he’d continue to honour for as long as he lived. Fred wasn’t some kind of grinch who avoided partaking in festivities if it killed him. He actually liked Christmas, and Ryder felt a sense of pride in knowing that he understood the man better than most.

‘Got everything?’ he asked when Fred finally drew back from the shelf.

‘Yes. I’ll see you later.’

‘Yeah. Happy Christmas, Fred. Don’t forget to show up at the party.’

Fred tilted his head slightly as he walked away, in a gesture that Ryder took to indicate weary acceptance. Smiling, he went back to choosing his cards.