Written for Klaine Advent 2018 prompt: paper
Costarring Principal Figgins
(Klaine is here, but play a cameo role only; trust me that Finn here feels a pang of nostalgia at sight of the two. Set in Season 4, before Thanksgiving)
“I am sorry, William, but I simply cannot accommodate the Glee Club’s wrapping paper allotment this Christmas.”
“My what? I thought we were talking about the budget for our costumes for Regionals. On Thanksgiving.” Will Schuster held his head in his hands where he sat at the tiny desk in his hotel room, staring at the screen of his laptop.
Finn jumped into the Skype call, turning the computer away from Figgins’ agitated face, attempting to placate his old coach. “I know, Mr. Schu. I told him that. And Tina says she can—” He glanced down to a paper where he had taken notes. “Um, repurpose if she needs to—”
“There will be no money in the budget for Ms. Cohen-Chang’s folderols if we have a repeat of last year—or the year before.” Figgins was adamant, and he must have wrestled the computer away from Finn, because his face filled Will’s screen.
Figgins pulled out his phone and pulled up a video on it. Will squinted at the tiny screen within his screen. “What am I looking at?”
Finn stood and leaned his big body over; his shoulder half obscured the phone in Figgins’ hands. Will sighed in frustration, but Finn said, “That’s—that’s Artie’s Christmas special. But, I thought he got money from Breadstix…”
The tiny figures of Mercedes, Rachel, Kurt, and Blaine had moved to the couch, where Blaine struggled mightily with the lid of the box holding his Christmas gifts. The Kurt on the screen smiled at his holiday roommate and mugged with the girls.
“Yes, and this portrayal of midcentury male companionship is compelling. But notice how they are NOT wasting copious amounts of wrapping paper on these gifts. I have to say, William, such an approach has NOT been the norm.”
Finn scratched his head. “But, but…we DONATE those gifts we wrap. To charity. And like, poor kids.”
Will sighed deeply as his talented students on the video launched into My Favorite Things. He could see it was going to be a long night.