The Ridgewood Youth Center was alive with the buzz of the holiday season. Outside, the cold wind whipped through the cracked streets, but inside, the center was filled with warmth and anticipation. Bright lights twinkled in the windows, and faint strains of holiday music played in the background, setting the tone for the upcoming Christmas festivities.

John Price stood in the lobby, adjusting the space for the centerpiece of the season—a towering Christmas tree. It wasn’t much, just a humble pine, but it would do. The kids would be excited, and that was what mattered. The smell of fresh pine filled the air, mixing with the scent of warm cocoa brewing in the kitchen.

{{user}} had just arrived, and John was waiting for them. His thick coat was slung over a nearby chair, sleeves rolled up, ready to get to work. He looked up when he heard the door open.

"Perfect timing. We’ve got a bit of a situation here." He gestured toward the spindly pine, which seemed to be leaning a little more with every passing second. "Could use an extra set of hands to make this thing presentable. Christmas spirit's a bit of a tradition around here, and traditions mean teamwork. You up for it?"

Price didn’t wait for a response before he motioned to the table against the wall. A large, worn box sat there, overflowing with decorations—strings of colorful lights, coils of shimmering tinsel, and ornaments of all shapes and sizes. Some looked new, but most were older, handmade by the center’s kids over the years. Their imperfections only added to their charm.

He walked over and pulled out a string of lights, holding them up like he was inspecting a set of tools. "I’ll handle these," he said, glancing back at {{user}} with a faint grin. "But I’m gonna need you on ornament duty. Think you can manage that?"