“I’m just trying to make it through life at this point,” I told her, guzzling my coffee. I yawned. The sugar and caffeine hit my bloodstream, and my head started to clear up.
“Did I miss the raffle?” I took another bite of the donut.
Olivia checked her watch. “It was supposed to start five minutes ago.”
I sipped my coffee, wishing I had sunglasses as the sun reflected off of the snow on the ground.
“I’m going back to my shop after this and lying down.”
“Get that reindeer!” Dave, the raffle committee chairman yelled.
My hair ruffled as Prancer the reindeer cantered past me. Someone had put him in a festive sweater, and tinsel fluttered from his horns.
“He has the Costco gift card!” the raffle committee chairman yelled.
The reindeer sprung up onto the stage furiously chewing something.
Dave climbed up the stage stairs and tried to pull on the slobbery piece of cardstock in the reindeer’s mouth.
“I can’t work like this,” he yelled while we all watched in disbelief as he fought with the reindeer. “It’s complete chaos. Animals everywhere.”
Prancer jerked his head, and the raffled organizer lost his grip on the ticket and stumbled back. Prancer swallowed the ticket.
“Fine,” the raffle committee chairman said, “Fine.” He wiped his hands on his corduroy pants. “I’m not going to be on the raffle committee next year.” He shook the big glass bowl with the raffle tickets and pulled one at random.
The reindeer made faces at the crowd.
“The winner of the two-thousand-dollar Costco gift card is Meredith, number 2367.”
“Oh my god, that’s me!” I screamed.
Two thousand dollars! Shit, I could buy one of those premade dog houses and live in that! A little camping grill and I was set.
I was giddy when I walked up on the stage.
The reindeer recognized me and nuzzled my chest.
“Did you have a snack?” I cooed at the reindeer, petting him. I turned to the raffle committee chairman and presented my ticket. “How do I get a replacement gift card?”
“You don’t. It’s nontransferable and non-refundable,” Dave said flatly.
“So that means…” My eye was twitching.
“So that means that two thousand dollars are gone,” he said, “because this town is a disaster.”
I started to panic. “I need those two thousand dollars. I won the raffle.”
Dave threw up his hands. “I’m not a miracle worker. Prizes are not guaranteed. We don’t have a Costco gift card anymore, so your prize is now that reindeer.”
“I can’t take care of a reindeer,” I protested.
“Too bad,” Dave said, picking up the bowl of tickets. “He’s yours now. Merry fucking Christmas.”
Prancer followed me off the stage back to the table where Olivia sat, stunned.
“I don’t think he can live in the shop.”
“Oh my god.” I sat down. The reindeer spotted my donut and lunged.
