My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories

by Stephanie Perkins

That’s what they tell me here all the time. Only they don’t mean it as any kind of geographical designation. It’s more of an all-purpose commentary on how strange they think I am. You watch foreign films and are sarcastic, therefore so big city.” Russell thought about it a minute. “You eat spicy food, therefore so big city.” “You read the New York Times and not for an assignment, totally big city.” “You listen to jazz, whoa, big city.” “You wear black, definitely big city.” “You are black, definitely big city. Only then they call you urban.” Sophie laughed. “Sometimes I think big city is code for Jewish, even if people here don’t realize it because they’ve never met a Jew before.”

She’s a very nice, liberal, feminist Christian named Ellie from New Jersey. They met at Bible camp two summers ago.” “Do they make liberal feminist Christians?” Gracie rolled her eyes. “They make all kinds.

The door opens with a rusted jingle, and an animatronic Santa insults my moral virtue three times. Ho, ho, ho.

If someone is watching me sleep, it had better be a hot vampire, otherwise I’m calling the cops.”