(Dramatic, 1 M, 1 F)
Claire and her brother Fred battle the mice in his apartment, and her own questions of self worth, on Christmas morning.
“CLAIRE: What are you doing up, Fred?
FRED: Well, I wanted to put the presents under the tree.
CLAIRE: Sorry.
FRED: Why are you apologizing?
CLAIRE: I’m up. I’m ruining the surprise. I’m always ruining things.
FRED: You’re not always ruining things.
CLAIRE: Thanks for letting me stay here, Fred.
FRED: No problem.
CLAIRE: You should have seen Mom’s face.
FRED: Oh I can picture it. Popped vein, strained smile, and everything. Sorry that I don’t have much of a tree.
CLAIRE: I like it. It’s cute.
FRED: I decorated it myself.
CLAIRE: I can tell. Isn’t the star supposed to be on top?”
Katie Ganem 