Page 44 of This Mate Thing

"Ten."

Fuck.Do I have to come up with ten things?I glance at Simon, who's busy filling out his list.I need to get hold of it when he isn't looking.

"Glow-in-the-dark pens."

Ira frowns at me."Glow-in-the-dark pens?"

"Yes, Ira, glow-in-the-dark pens.Who doesn't want glow-in-the-dark pens?"

He shrugs, then nods, and I make a mental note to get him glow-in-the-dark pens for Christmas.

"Glitter balloons."

This time, he shakes his head, but I see him add it to the list.Shit, I need six more things."Slime!"

Simon looks up from his list and gapes at me.I shrug in reply.I remember loving slime as a kid.

"Which color?"Ira is focused on writing.

"Eh...pink.Like hot pink, not some meek salmon pink or anything else pathetic."

Simon sighs but adds something to his list.I want to walk closer, so I can read, but the pancakes are almost done.

I grab three plates from the cupboard and put them on the kitchen table.

"Ice cream molds."

Ira doesn't reply, but he adds it to the list.Okay, four more things.What else?

"Oh, Zahrah has a bracelet with rainbow beads.I want that."

"A bracelet or rainbow beads?"

"Eh...it doesn't matter.Write rainbow beads."

He nods.

"A book about butterflies."

"Butterflies?"The look Ira gives me tells me he isn't convinced.

"Yeah, I saw a butterfly back in summer, and I don't think I've ever seen one like it before.I have no idea what kind it was."

Two more things.I send a desperate look at Simon, but he's busy writing and ignores me.Fuck.

"I know!A rechargeable lighter.I saw some you can charge with a USB cord.I want one of those."

Ira frowns."Rechargeable, how do you spell it?"

I spell it, then wonder if I spelled it right.Fuck it, if Santa sees the error, he'll think it was Ira's fault.

One more thing.I need one more thing."Duct tape!"

Both Ira and Simon stare at me.

"What?"

"Duct tape?"Simon doesn't sound impressed.