The mall was crowded, more than ever and the brunette could feel a sense of claustrophobia from being surrounded by men and women running back and forth, competing for being able to earn the perfect gift to give to their friends, or member of family.

            “Bah! What a worthless thing. What a waste of money and time” she murmured to herself.

            “Hello, Miss Porter!” a blonde woman yelled, running toward her.

            “Alice” the brunette rolled her eyes at her, “Hi”

Alice was a friend of her; she met her in college. Furthermore, she was her business partner. They had been friends since they started their studies and Bette didn’t trust anyone but her. Actually, that wasn’t a vast number of choices, since she wasn’t a very ‘friendly’ person, and the only closest friend was Alice. It may sounds strange, actually, given the divergences in their personalities. One was a happy, lovely and sometime too nosey woman; the other one was a serious, stubborn and always so secretive one. But still, they were very good friends, and they loved each other, even though Bette didn’t show it.

            “Oh, wow. That’s so nice to see how happy you are to see me” she said, sarcastically.

            “Come on, you know how I hate these things”

            “Yeh, yeh, I know” the woman uttered, reaching the brunette’s side. She started walking with her. “So, what brings you here?”

            “It’s just a routine check-up. You know, wishing a ‘Merry Christmas’ to the employees and blah-blah all that bullshit” she said, still walking through the shelves. Looking around. “I can’t believe how people immerse themselves into this foolishness. Christmas, what a waste of money!”

            “Oh, come on, girl! That’s not only about that”

            “Don’t give me that ‘it’s about people getting together’ bullshit”

            “Why? Well, it’s true. I mean, it’s cute when people spend the Christmas Eve together, having a good time. Exchange presents, in the shade of a giant Christmas tree, warmed by the love they feel for each other”

            “The only thing that can warm you in this period of the year is a huge glass of Scotch!” the woman interjected. “Oh, and maybe lighting the fire may be a good thing as well”