*Devika humming quietly as she puts away dishes*
Devika: Hey you! No touching! Those cookies are for Miranda.
Birdie: GAH! You DO have eyes in the back of your head! Sheesh!
Birdie: Besides, it's a well known fact that Miranda hates Christmas, so she's going to hate Christmas cookies too.
Devika: She may hate Christmas.
Devika: But NO ONE hates Christmas cookies!
*knocking on door*
Birdie: Well, there's your Christmas hater now. It's a pretty sad waste of Christmas cookies, if you ask me.
Devika: Oh, Birdie. Have some of the ladybug cookies on the counter instead. They're tasty too.
Birdie: Ah... alone at last. Don't worry, little Christmas cookies, I'll save you.
Devika: Here, take your coat off. Oh! And see the tree? We decorated it just last night.
Miranda: Yep. Wow. Magical.
*girls upstairs giggling and laughing*
Miranda: What are the girls doing up there?
Devika: Dunno, but it sounds like they're having fun. Fahren had a friend over. I'm sure they're all just playing nicely.
Devika: So... I know you hate Christmas, but how do you feel about yummy Christmas cookies?
Miranda: Hate 'em. They make my mouth itch. Maybe I'm allergic to Christmas cheer or something. Why?
Devika: Well, I uh... um.... oh! Well good! Because I didn't make Christmas cookies! Just fooling! Ha. Um...
Devika: Instead I made you these delicious ladybug cookies. No ladybug allergies, right?
Miranda: Nope, sounds wonderful.
Miranda: So what did you want to see me about anyway? Misha said you wanted me to come visit right away.
Devika: Since when do I have to have a reason to want to see my best friend? *nervous giggle*
(meanwhile, back at Miranda and Misha's house)
Misha: Thanks for your help, Lon. I couldn't have gotten this done so quickly without you. Devika's promised to keep Miri there until dark, but we're going to be done in plenty of time anyway!
Lon: Uh, no problem. But doesn't Miranda HATE Christmas? Is she really going to like this?
Misha: Nah, no one REALLY hates Christmas. I think she's going to be so happy and surprised when she gets home!
Lon: Well, I do think she'll be surprised....
(*later that evening*)
Miranda: Christmas lights. On my house. ON MY HOUSE!!! Imgonnakillthatfox!!!
Miranda: Grrrrrrrrr. Christmas.