Allergic to Cheer

The next day's Christmas team event was at some swanky hotel's banquet hall. Keith was there, wine glass in hand, glowing and talking about the same old spiel–unity and sticking together.

I was tucked away in a corner, quietly nibbling on my food, doing everything I could to blend into the background.

The party was in full swing when the doors to the banquet hall swung open. A waiter rolled in a cart heaped with Christmas gift boxes, each one wrapped up like a little treasure.

Yvette was on it in a flash, tearing into one and hoisting it up for all to see.

"Wow! Check this out, everyone! It's a gift box! And it looks like it cost a pretty penny!"

My stomach dropped.

Those Christmas boxes were a disaster for me: nut chocolate.

Nuts were all triggers for my allergies, walnuts being the worst offender. A mere brush against my skin and I would be covered in red welts, and I did not even want to think about what would happen if I ate one.

The rest of my colleagues were all too eager to grab a box and dig in, their praise for the contents filling the air.

"Mr. Johnson sure knows his stuff. This Christmas gift box is something else!"

"Yeah, beat the heck out of that 800-dollar bonus!"

I kept my gaze low, praying I would go unnoticed.

However, luck was not on my side.

Yvette, with an open box in hand, made a beeline for me, her smile so sweet it was almost nauseating.

"Ella, why aren't you having some? We all passed up our bonuses for these. You've got to try it, it's out of this world!"

She slid the box closer to me, and I stared down a battalion of chocolates.

I gripped my hands tight, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace.

"Thanks, but I'm not much for sweets."

"Oh, nonsense, you've got to try at least a little." Yvette's voice climbed, pulling the spotlight right onto us.

"This gift box is all about our team spirit, Ella. You wouldn't want to disappoint everyone, would you?"

The phrase 'team spirit' felt like a vice around my head, squeezing tighter with every second.

Keith strolled over, wine glass in hand, and gave my shoulder a friendly pat.

"Ella, Yvette's got a point. It's all about the gesture, showing we care.

"Look, everyone's digging in. You can't just sit there not eating. Don't be a party pooper."

The others started to back him up.

"Come on, Ella, what's the harm in just one bite?"

"Don't be a loner, we're all having a good time here."

"You're not still hung up on that measly eight hundred bucks, are you? Let it go already."

I felt like I was in the hot seat, the odd one out on trial for the crime of not fitting in.

I inhaled deeply, ready to make my last stand.

"Mr. Johnson, I'm allergic to nuts. I truly can't eat it."

The room went quiet for a beat.

Then, Yvette let out a loud, mocking laugh. "Oh, Ella, that's the oldest excuse in the book!

"First it was booze, now nuts. What's next, you're allergic to bread?"

She turned to Keith with a wounded expression.

"Mr. Johnson, I just wanted Ella to feel part of the group. How could she lie to reject our goodwill?"

Keith's expression turned stern, and his look was one of sheer disappointment.

"Ella, I never pegged you as someone who'd stoop to lying just to sulk."

He pressed a chunk of nutty chocolate into my hand, his voice firm.

"Today, you're going to eat this, like it or not. It's about showing the right attitude."