Page 43 of Hollow

“Yeah, but it won’t be as festive. There’s a joy that comes with unwrapping a gift.”

“But there is also frustration that comes with wrapping. Why not cut it out of the equation?”

“Then we won’t have the joy of unwrapping our gifts, the fun, the surprise.”

“But we will have joy in just having the gift. I simplify. Everyone wins.”

Jack merely glowered in response. It created an uncomfortable silence.

“Fine,” Dimitri huffed. “I go wrap gift.”

“Make sure to do it with love,” Jack shouted as Dimitri exited the living room momentarily. “Nothing worse than opening a bitter gift.”

Dimitri muttered his annoyance in Russian.

“Awww,” Jack cooed. “Must be whispering sweet nothings about me.”

It took Dimitri what felt like an eternity to wrap his presents, and it didn’t turn out nice. The stuffed animal proved challenging to cover, and the rest of his gifts clinked around within the wrapping. Perhaps he should have wrapped everything individually, but that seemed so unnecessary.

Once he stepped back into the living room, he found Jack had wrapped four lovely rectangular boxes. Their edges were folded perfectly, and the lines of the wrapping seemed so crisp.

“Is it a competition to see who wraps the best gift?”

“No, but it is a competition to see who got the best gift.”

Jack called Dimitri over to the couch, and the pair sat beside each other while Jack set up.

“So, do you want raw reactions of us opening the gifts or post-glow monologuing about the gifts?” Jack asked, holding his phone up. “To be clear, I’d do the talking on your behalf.”

“Why are you asking me? I do not know which is appropriate for the media of socializing.”

“It’s not about appropriate. It’s supposed to be fun,” Jack explained. “If you’re not having fun, then you don’t need to make the video.”

“But I want to make the video,” Dimitri insisted. “I want to do the monster cosplay.”

“I know, but I want you to enjoy making the videos,” Jack explained. “Too many people treat these apps like a lifeline. They get consumed and overwhelmed and burnt out. I used to be obsessed with engagement and follower counts and staying active just for the sake of being active. Trust me, not the way to go about it. It’s important to keep it chill and fun.”

“Fun is a high expectation.” Dimitri resisted the urge to sigh deeply. “Can I just enjoy it moderately?”

Jack collapsed back onto the couch, languishing dramatically. “I suppose.”

Dimitri sat in silence, awaiting Jack’s instructions.

“You still have to pick. Are we opening them on camera or off?” Jack picked up his poorly wrapped gift from Dimitri.

“On camera.”

“Oky doky.” Jack propped the phone on a small tripod and aimed it in their direction. “We are back from our mall trip, gifts are wrapped, and we’re exchanging some early presents. Since I’m fantastic and impatient, I’m opening my gift from Deer Daddy first.”

Dimitri furrowed his brow, still annoyed by his online name. Jack made a joke about the poor wrapping job as he began tearing apart the paper.

“Ah, this is so cute!” Jack held up the little keychains. “Someone knows some of my favorite characters in my favorite games.”

It wasn’t as if Dimitri knew them per se, merely that Jack seemed to enjoy every game he picked up, so it wasn’t much of a stretch to find a few novelties he’d like.

Jack made sure to show each of the keychains close up while giving the briefest description about why he liked that particular story and character.

“This, though, is quite the sight.” Jack grimaced, holding up a monstrous reindeer with snarling teeth and a rabid expression. “What on earth inspired this holiday horror?”