WhatsApp:
FOUR GIRLS IN 5G
SHAYNA: Welp it’s not even 9 and I already have a Christmas song stuck in my head.
ABBI: HAAAAAAAAAAA I CALLED IT. I would like a prize now.
SHAYNA: But I haven’t even gotten into work yet. There’s train traffic ahead so I’m still sweating in the subway.
SHAYNA: Can’t even blame this on Shannon. Some dude plastered up against me has been humming Jingle Bells for the past four stops and I am ready to commit an act of violence.
SHIRA: LOL I had to do an x-ray in post-op and the patient is just lying there singing Christmas songs, much to the amusement of my coworkers.
ABBI: aww that’s cute. You’re working Christmas this year, Shira?
SHIRA: obvs. Erev Christmas and Christmas.
RIVA: Erev Christmas? I’m DONE. (laughing emoji)
SHIRA: Well it *is*. But I am working a double shift so technically it’s Erev Christmas into Christmas Eve and then regular Christmas.
ABBI: Ugh, Christmas being on a Friday feels like a waste. Motzai Shabbos for the official Christmas festivities?
SHIRA: Yes please. Don’t worry, I’ll still fall asleep halfway through whatever movie we end up watching.
SHAYNA: The only thing that got me out of bed today was the thought of peppermint mocha creamer. Going back to work after a four-day weekend is the worst.
ABBI: Shay I love you but you have a coffee problem
SHAYNA: Abs I love you too but the fact that you don’t need caffeine for daily functioning is concerning to me
SHAYNA: Someone please get a different song stuck in my head. I cannot be singing Jingle Bells all day. I don’t even know the words.
ABBI: Do you want me to send you a nice holiday mash-up?
ABBI: But then you could have Cardi B stuck in your head instead. Much better than Jingle Bells.
SHAYNA: Not if I’m at work!! I have to pretend to be professional and I think the façade may vanish if I’m humming Cardi B.
SHIRA: If anyone asks you about it, you can just say you appreciate local artists.
RIVA: PEPPERMINT MOCHA!!! Also we should probably restock the hot cocoa stash. It’s supposed to snow tomorrow.
RIVA changed the subject from “FOUR GIRLS IN 5G” to “THE PEPPERMINT MOCHA FANCLUB”
ABBI: eewwww it’s too early for snow
SHAYNA: Abs you think it’s always too early for snow
ABBI: It can snow on Christmas. That makes people happy, right? Having white Christmases?
The train finally pulled into the station, and Shayna Adler picked her way through the crowds coming and going and made her way up the stairs and out onto the street.
The first Monday back from Thanksgiving was the most annoying Monday of the year.
Not just because coming back from a four-day weekend was always a bummer, not just because everyone else was coming back from a four-day weekend and cranky, but because Shannon would transform from just one of Shayna’s coworkers to the bane of her existence.
It was because she hadn’t caffeinated yet, Shayna told herself. That was the only reason she was being whiney about Shannon.
Shannon loved Christmas.
Okay, that was an understatement.
Shannon lived for Christmas. Shannon should have been the star of every Hallmark Christmas movie that had ever been made where the cheerful small-town girl teaches the grumpy but attractive man home for the holidays about the true meaning of Christmas while elves danced and Santa made toys or whatever actually happened.
Shayna had never watched a Hallmark Christmas movie, but that sounded about right.
It also sounded like Shannon, except Shannon lived in Chelsea and had a girlfriend, and Shayna wasn’t sure Shannon had ever been to a small town for anything other than Instagram photoshoots.
But Shayna knew that the moment she walked into the office that morning, it would be all Christmas all the time until January 2nd, when the decor finally made its way down.
It wasn’t like it wasn’t pretty, all the lights and evergreens and all.
It was just... a lot.
And she was definitely sure that she had heard Shannon call her the Grinch at least once, which, honestly, she probably deserved.
But the good part about December was the office coffee creamer leveled up, going from only French Vanilla and Hazelnut to adding Peppermint Mocha and Gingerbread.
Shayna dodged another group of tourists, these ones loudly discussing whether or not they should go see the Macy’s windows now or after brunch, and made her way into the building.
The lights were up, the garlands and wreaths were out, and, as usual, there were a few enormous Christmas trees covered in lights and ornaments.
And then, on the receptionist’s desk, was the electric menorah.
Shayna waved at Yolanda, who was manning the desk that morning, before heading to the elevator banks.
Desk, coffee, avoid Shannon, check email, she told herself as she walked into the elevator and pressed fifteen. She would be a human in the afternoon.
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