This humorous short story will appeal to anyone who's
attended an office Christmas party. Tina is clearing out
files and bringing scrap paper to dump in a big bin, when
she literally bumps into Brian. He's a new appointment and
he's not used to the Miami heat. But sun or no, Tina loves
her Christmas season and Brian's already noticed the tinsel
in her cubicle. He asks if she'd mind helping him find
decorations for his apartment.
Tina's pleased to help, but takes the season of goodwill
more seriously than Brian realises, for she's locked in a
bidding war for a knitted reindeer sweater on-line. The
annual party is coming up, and she's won the sweater award
five years in a row. Not even the distraction of a good-
looking co-worker is going to get in her way. The REINDEER
WARS are under way!
I thought the story was great fun, and the contrast between
Brian cautiously trying to get to know the bubbly,
attractive co-worker and her single-minded determination
was perfectly achieved. We've all seen - and worn -
Christmassy clothes, from ties to sweaters to scarves, and
it really is that one time of the year when we have an
excuse to wear something silly, even in the workplace. This
short piece is light but I found it a good introduction to
the author, who has aired more serious themes in her full-
length work.
The author Liese Sherwood-Fabre has previously
written 'Corazones', an anthology of love stories,
and 'Saving Hope' about a female microbiologist in Russia
trying to stop the spread of a new virus and save her
daughter.
Tina has a tendency to go a little overboard when decorating for the
holidays, but Brian decides her skills are just what he needs to get into the
Christmas spirit. Can this mutual attraction survive when they find
themselves in a knock-down-drag-out competition to win the office’s “most
outrageous holiday sweater?”