Christina put her hands on her hips. “They are children. They’re hyper with excitement. Their parents’ nerves are on edge, they’re overwhelmed trying to put together a lovely warm holiday, and everyone’s just a little bit crazy. The shop owner needs to be tolerant, and helpful, and kind.”

“When I agreed to come here, I didn’t sign up for a lecture,” Oscar snarled.

“That’s true,” Christina agreed. “And fortunately for both of us, your hour is up.”

Oscar checked his watch. “Humph.” He was still wearing his wool cap and gloves. “I’ve been here an entire hour, you agree?”

“I agree.” Her heart was in her throat when she asked, “And do you still believe the rent increase is justified?”

Oscar glared at her. “I do.”

Christina couldn’t believe her ears. She wanted to argue, to curse, to burst into long wailing sobs. But she held on to her dignity. “So you’ve stayed for a full hour. You’ve won the bet.”

“Damn right I have!” Oscar stomped to the door and stormed out into the snow.

The shop was almost silent but the air shivered from the cold wind buffeting the walls. Christina forced herself to take a few calming breaths. It was only two o’clock. More customers would be coming. She would concentrate on them. She would smile and help them choose wonderful presents for their children.

But first, while the store was empty, she had to make a few phone calls.

She called Mimi, and then Jacob, and then Harriet. She told them that her dare hadn’t worked. Oscar had stayed the entire hour. She’d promised him that if he could, she would pay the rent increase. She knew she couldn’t do that, so after Christmas, she would close her shop for good.

The Shedders were kind. They all, even Harriet, thanked her for trying. They couldn’t talk for long, because customers needed attention, and by the time Christina had told Harriet, her own store was filling with people.

The rest of the day flew by. More customers surged through the door. They needed stocking stuffers! Bags of marbles, miniature sailboats, rope bracelets, and sticker books flew into the toy shop bags and out the door. While that group was trying to get out, another group was shoving their way in. A woman in a fur coat bought a dozen wooden rainbow sailboats to be put at the top of each place setting for her dinner that night. A grandfather bought the large, jeweled pirate book for his grandson. A gang of schoolgirls about twelve years old shuffled in giggling and whispering, searching for something.

“Is there anything special you’re looking for?” Christina asked.

This set off an especially explosive round of giggles.

“No, thank you,” one of the girls said, and in a mass, like a giant amoeba, they squeezed back out into the cold.