Christmas Means Giving Summary

This tale of gross exaggeration of Christmas extravagance begins with the introduction of the narrator and his wife Beth. They have always enjoyed a great reputation as the most lavish and generous gift-givers, and the narrator details the enormous number of gifts he gives to his family every year. In fact, he shares his generosity with all of his friends and family in the annual Christmas card, which not only features a photograph of the previous year's loot, but also a summary of the cost of these items, along with the catch phrase "Christmas Means Giving."

When the Cottingham family moves in next door, however, the narrator's family faces a challenge. Doug, Nancy, and Eileen stage a passive-aggressive coup when they begin to expand their home so that it is more impressive than any other in the neighborhood. Of...