Due to the current on-again, off-again state of Gatchamania, this was posted over on the Crescent Coral Base. I've copied it (as well as the replies) so that those who have never been to MsAnn's site could participate. *************************************************** OOPS! I got so caught up in reading the Gift Exchange stories that I almost forgot the prompt! Anyway, this week's prompt is Exchange Have fun!

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Mark wrote 'Tibetan singing bowl.' "That's four," he said. "How 'bout a vacation?" Tiny put forward. "A vacation?" Jason grinned. "In your dreams," Anderson told them. "It was worth a try," Tiny sighed. "I know! Computer games!" Keyop put forward. "That's your Christmas wish, squirt," Jason said. "Come on, guys," Mark said, "ideas." "Has anyone," Anderson said, "considered asking Princess what she'd like for Christmas? Or is that too close to logic for you to cope with?" "It's supposed to be a surprise," Mark explained. "And if she's surprised, and hates what you get?" Anderson debated. "She won't hate it," Jason said. "I mean, what Mark gets might not be exactly what she wants, but the thing with gifts is that it has to be something given from the heart, something thoughtful. Women go for that." "I'm tempted to ask how you came by your extensive knowledge of the female psyche," Anderson said, "but I'm afraid you might tell me." Jason only smirked. "How 'bout a catalogue?" Tiny said suddenly. "What's Princess going to do with a catalogue?" Mark wondered. "Not her," Tiny corrected, "us. Why don't we get some catalogues, look through 'em, and pick out stuff Princess might like." "Good idea!" Keyop exclaimed. "Ugh!" Mark let his head fall forward onto the desk. "This is insane! All I wanted was some help figuring out what to get Princess for Christmas!" There was a knock at the door. Mark fumbled with the notepad. Jason picked it up and tossed it to Tiny. Tiny juggled it for a second then thrust it at Keyop, who hugged it to his chest, then threw it to Anderson, who caught it and shoved it in his desk drawer. "Yes?" he called. The door opened and Lieutenant Colonel Alberta Jones stepped inside. "Sorry, I didn't know you were in a meeting." "We're not having a mee-mmph!" Keyop started to say before Tiny clapped a hand over his mouth. "Ah," Jones said. "one of those not-meetings. It's after seventeen hundred," she said to Anderson. "Gunny's gone home and we're supposed to be going Christmas shopping." "Al!" Mark said. "You have to help us!" The shop assistant tied the gold ribbon in a bow and handed over the slim gift-wrapped folder. "All done. I'm sure the young lady will love it!" "Thanks," Mark said, and handed over some cash from his wallet in exchange for the item. "So you ended up with a gift voucher after all," Jason said with a smirk. He was holding a gift-wrapped box of his own. "Yes," Mark said, "but now that I know what to say with the gift voucher, it's okay." "Got it memorised?" Jason asked. "Sure," Mark said. "I wouldn't presume to buy her perfume that might not be exactly right, so I got this gift voucher from Le Maison Parfums so that Princess could choose something that's perfect for her." "Y'know, skipper," Jason said, "there may be hope for you after all."

And Chris responded with: ********************************************** LOL I'm wondering if Jason will do the same thing for his girlfriend.