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which, um, I skipped last year," she admits a bit guiltily. "And this year I'm not going to be able to go, since I'm here. But we can at least do the massive feast and some singing!" she says. "Now, if you would pray, Pap á , we can get to the food!"
    She places her glowing tube on the table and reaches out, taking Voltdrain's hand with her right and Vinny's with her left. The others slowly fall into the hand-holding circle and Voltdrain starts to pray. When he's done, Vinny gives her a look. "If you'd have let me in the kitchen, I could have learned how to do all of this, you know," he complains quietly.
    "Do not worry, Señor Vinny!" Voltdrain says cheerfully, "We have many years for you to learn our traditions."
    Jimmi goes bright red. "Okay, time to eat!" she says, changing the subject and dragging Vinny to the table. The sound of her pap á laughing echoes in her ears.
     

Advent Calendar - Day Eight
    "Ladies and Gentlemen, if you would take an envelope from the hat," Max says, going from person to person. "For my day, we will be going shopping--but not just any shopping," he explains, holding the hat out to Malina. She reaches in hesitantly, taking one of the little of the unmarked envelopes. "This is going to be a secret Santa game. Inside your envelope you will find a name, thirty dollars, and a prompt. Your gift has to be connected to the prompt in some way or another."
    "Who's your helper?" Jack asks, taking an envelope.
    "You are," Max says. "And so are you, Ace."
    "I don't remember signing up for helper duty, do you?" Jack says to Ace.
    "Of course we didn't," Ace says. "Let me guess, I'm going to have to keep metal mouth hidden, on top of it."
    "I didn't know you were a telepath, too, Ace," Max says, faking a stunned expression. "But just imagine how entertaining having me in your debt would be."
    The two look at each other, and then say, "I'll do it."
    "I thought you'd say that."
    Vinny's holds up a piece of paper, looking at Max with a slight twitch of the lips. "You want me to buy something... avant-garde," he says.
    "Is that a problem?"
    "It's obscure," Vinny says.
    "What's um... Ska?" Carla asks.
    "Oh! Oh! Tell me you have me!" Emily says, heading for her excitedly. Carla disappears before she gets close.
    "Nuh uh, it's a secret!" Carla says from across the room.
    "So I'll give you a bit of time to look up your terms, if you need to," Max says, "while Ace prepares our mode of transportation."
    "You're kidding me--I'm on bus duty?" Ace demands, almost dropping his envelope.
    "Can we make, or have the gift made?" Vinny asks. "Because I'm not going to find something good for thirty bucks--not avant-garde."
    "For thirty bucks and help with my job I'll draw you something," Ace offers.
    "Deal," Vinny says.
    "Can we work together like that?" Morgan asks. "Like, if it's something one of us can provide better than a store, can we hire them to do it?"
    "Sure," Max says. "But I'm still willing to provide transportation and security if you want to go shopping for it."
    "Sounds good to me, is everyone agreed?" she asks the crowd. Their agreement is a bit surprising to Max, actually. The biggest part of his offer was to get them off campus.  "Oh, but you have to give your help for free," Morgan tells him.
    "What?" he asks blankly.
    "I think she's right," Zoe says cheerfully. "This is your gift to the school, right, Max? So you should be willing to put more than your money on the line. I think," she goes on, evilly, "since Ace and Jack are your helpers, they have to help for free, too--within reason. You have to do as much of it as you can on your own, guys, and then ask them for help."
    "That's all well and good--but Zoe," Max says, whispering as he gets closer, "I have absolutely no artistic abilities. Whatsoever."
    The entire group suddenly starts grinning evilly. "I didn't whisper that quietly enough, did I," he says as he looks at them. They all shake their heads, still grinning.
    "Not at all," Ace says.
    "Okay,