Showdown with Santa

            On a cold winter night, the night of Christmas eve, a figure could be seen riding across the sky. Santa clause and his reindeer sped through the air at breakneck speeds, traveling the world in one night all thanks to Christmas magic and a sugar high from cookies and candy canes.

            This Christmas eve night was different than most, as Santa would be visiting the house of the dreaded, Nathan Wilson. A character so dastardly he made the reindeer uneasy. Since Nathan was married, Santa had to visit his house for the first time in twenty years to bring Nathan’s wife Ashley a gift for Christmas. Santa was nervous though and decided to tread lightly. He could recall the incident so many years ago as clearly as if it were yesterday.

            Twenty years ago santa arrived to the Wilson house. Silently he crept, stopping only to snack on some cookies. Then suddenly a little four-year-old boy appeared from the darkness. “Hello, little boy” Santa said, with a warm smile. The small child was cute enough, but hardly innocent. Because just as santa went to pat the boys head, the little four year old triggered some kind of booby trap, making a rope wrap around santas leg and fling him into the air. He hit the ceiling then dropped back down, hanging from his foot like a giant red piñata. The little boy then beat santa with a rubber snake until the little devil got tired and fell asleep. Santa eventually freed himself and vowed to never return.

            Year after year he watched Nathan grow, hoping for some kind of change in behavior, something to put the child back on the nice list. But every year, was the same. Tormenting his poor cousin Stephen. Beating on his innocent siblings and even going so far as to burn down an orphanage.

            So the night had arrived and Santa crept into the House of Nathan and Ashley. Holding a gift in one hand and Candy cane fighting staff in the other. Then Nathan stepped out of the shadows the devils smirk across his face. “Hello Santa, is that for me?” He asked. Santa noticed Nathan was carrying an axe and readied himself for battle. “No, the only thing you get is a one way ticket to hell!” Shouted the emotionally scarred Santa as he lunged at Nathan with his fighting cane. “Bring it on, Fatman!” yelled Nathan as he chopped down with his axe, striking the cane, but to his surprise it was made of steel, not candy. “Ha, you will not get the drop on me kid” Santa said then struck Nathan’s leg with the cane, sending the menacing figure to the ground. “You old fool, you can’t expect to win!” Nathan said as he jumped up and struck santa with the axe.

            Santa stumbled backward, out of breath and slightly wounded. Nathan approached, his axe ready to strike again, when suddenly Ashley bust into the room. “Nathan, NO! we talked about this” She said angrily. Nathan’s eyes went wide. “B-but” He began to say, but then Santa took his chance to strike and delivered a sucker punch right to Nathan’s face. Nathan growled and stumbled backward holding his face, then the fat man made his escape, leaving the gift behind, tucked away under the tree.

            Up the chimney and to his sleigh he went. He flew off with his reindeer, going half way around the world before stopping to finish his Christmas deliveries.

So another year past and all the good little girls and boys got their gifts, meanwhile Nathan plots his revenge. So until next year, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

(Disclaimer: Any characters used in this story are fictional and any resemblance to real life people either alive or dead is merely coincidental)

Spending Christmas alone

Christmas music played softly in the background in a dimly lit room. A man named Andrew sat at his writing desk with a mug of eggnog. Most of his apartment lights were off, but he had a string of multicolored Christmas lights running along the top of the wall. This was one of his favorite times of the year and was always a time to be joyful. This year was different though, this was the first year in a few years that he had been single for Christmas. Andrew wasn’t the type that needed girlfriends, but there was one specific girl named Rachel that he met around Christmas two years ago. The excitement of a new relationship mixed with the holiday cheer that he was already feeling.

            On Christmas eve they would visit her family, then on Christmas night they would visit his. Christmas morning however was just for them. They would make love in the morning, have a simple breakfast and then Andrew would get as excited as a kid to open his presents. They would exchange gifts, Rachel always tried to guess what was in the box before she opened it, she never did get one right. After they opened presents Rachel insisted they listen to Christmas music to relax before more family stuff.

            Present day and Andrew continued to listen to the music in the background, it was their favorite holiday CD. Tears filled his eyes, as every little thing around the holidays would remind him of her. It was strange that having someone around for the holidays made it twice as fun, but when the person is gone, it ruins everything. Andrew still had his health, his job and his family and for that, he was grateful, but still, something was missing. He thought of her constantly and doing so made his chest hurt, like he was being stabbed in the heart. It had been ten long months since they broke up and it hurt for a while, but Andrew thought he had gotten over it. Before the holiday season he was even feeling confident enough to start dating again. But then the cold weather set in and the jingle bells started to play and Andrew was reduced to a miserable helpless mass.

            The eggnog he was drinking was full of rum, he drank it down in one gulp. He was already drunk and this would only add to it. He didn’t care though. He needed something to help him forget the pain, to drown his sorrows. Andrew eyed his phone, but kept stopping himself before he called anyone. He was sober enough to know that no one wanted to talk to him in his current state and trying to contact Rachel would be a really bad idea, especially if he was drunk. He just wished for a few months they could be together again, have the old holiday feeling back, then they could go their separate ways.

            Andrews mind tormented him, playing over what he did wrong and what she did wrong and all the bad stuff that split them up. He couldn’t drop it, even though it hurt so bad to even think about her. In a fit of confusion and rage, Andrew threw his empty mug, shattering it against the wall then began to weep softly. His emotional pain felt like physical pain too, that plus the alcohol made him act like a wounded animal. How badly he wished he could find comfort. Comfort from his loneliness and from his own tormented mind.

            It hurt now but the pain would heal, he just needed to get through one day at a time and things would eventually get better. Then his phone rang, he rushed for the phone and answered it. “Hello?” Andrew said, drunkenly. “Merry Christmas, Andrew” Rachel said from the other end, rather meekly. Andrew’s heart sank into his stomach. How badly he wanted to say her name and go see her, to find comfort in her and pretend everything was back to normal. Andrew cried silently. “Hello? Are you there?” Rachel asked sounding worried. Andrew loved her, she was the only woman he ever loved and moments ago he would have given his right leg to talk to her again. But now, it just didn’t seem right. He didn’t know why she called, but things would never go back to normal, they would never be the same. Unable to speak and not knowing what to say, he hung up the phone. She might call right back, or she might never call him again. Right now, it didn’t matter.

            As soon as the phone clicked shut, he instantly regretted his decision. For another thirty minutes he threw himself around the room, arguing with himself and wondering if he made the right decision. When he eventually sobered up the next day, he decided that he did in fact make the right decision. That chapter of his life was over and it was time to move on. The rest of the holiday season was still lonely for Andrew, but who knows, maybe in the future Christmas will take on a new feeling for him and it will be a happy time, once again.

Winter road

            As I walk down this road, I wonder where the time has gone. I march, leaving behind a forest of autumn trees, pumpkins and rain-scented land. Ahead of me is snow as far as the eye can see. Peacefully it drifts through the air and lands gently on the ground, millions of tiny snowflakes dancing on the wind for a short moment before gathering together in mass. Cold wind blows in my face, as if trying to push me back, but still I march. 

            I’ve made this trip countless times over millions of years. The seasons change as I walk down this road. Spring starts the birth of a new year, then summer a time to enjoy the warmth you have in your life, Autumn is a time to reflect on your life and Winter is the end, a time to enjoy the time you have left with the ones you love. So I leave the world of the harvest and set down this winter road, to a world of holidays, celebration and warmth against the cold night.

            My mind drifts back into memories, remembering good times of winter and Christmas as I look forward to the new winter fast approaching. I love listening to the Christmas music that stays the same every year, yet never seems to get old. I crave nostalgia almost as I crave warm desserts.

             Traveling on this winter road is wonderful as it is difficult. The snow looks so nice in the daylight as sun shines off the ice, making it sparkle. Animals play in the snow and the fields of pure white are a sight to behold. When the sun goes down stars sparkle brightly across the clear night sky. The beauty of nature always impresses me, year after year. Though to say it gets cold and a little lonely out here is an understatement. The wind blows so harshly that I feel it cut through my coat and chill my bones. Walking through snow is also very tiring and when your walking alone, the journey seems a little tougher.

            Winter is so diverse, that might be why I like it so much. It is such a mixed bag of good and bad with so many different emotions to experience. So I make this trip down the winter road, walking my way through the season, headed north for the holidays. But now its time I leave you, but I wish to leave you with warm thoughts, thoughts of family, sitting by the fire staring out at the snow, bright lights, and delicious food.

            Have a happy holiday and I will see you again in the spring.