Santa’s Bag
Snow gently falls outside. Inside a quiet hum is playing in the background, probably from a small ornament or little electrical Christmas tree. Next to the chimney is the Christmas tree, plastic with spray on snow and far too many lights. Presents fill the bottom of the tree, overflowing to the sides. There, by the tree is a small T.V. tray with milk and chocolate chip cookies. The room is dark with the exception of the lights on the tree.  The stockings are set up with names of Dad, Mom, Billy and Dan. It is now 2:45 in the A.M. and the house is serene.

3:15 shows on the clock on the wall. Feint walking can now be heard on the roof. Suddenly a light brown sack falls to the ground followed by overweight gentlemen using the bag to brace his fall. The elderly gentleman looks tired and weary. Slowly he rises to his feet, grabs the sack and makes his way to the stockings.  Reaching into his bag, the man pulls out several neatly wrapped gifts and places said gifts into the stockings. With every stocking filled, the man makes his way over to the milk and cookies, has a seat and starts to eat. He devours each and every cookie and looks to the milk, perspiration dripping off of the cool glass. He begins to drink. As he tips the glass to his lips, he shuts his eyes and enjoys the smooth taste as it flows down his throat.

With the last drop seemingly stuck at the bottom of the glass, the man’s eyes open wide in surprise when he sees a shovel blade speeding towards his rosy face. Lyric less carols continue to play calmly in the background. The jolly man collapses on himself in the chair, blood trickling from his nose. A dark figure quietly places the shovel next to the chimney, and makes his way over to the bag initially brought in by the man in red. With the sack in hand, the dark figure moves over to the unconscious individual still out cold in the chair, grabs a beautiful Christmas towel and gently wipes the blood off of the man’s face. That would have been a horrible way for the children to see Santa.

As the shadow man cleans up Santa and sets him so that it merely seems as though the elderly myth had just fallen asleep, he notices a small flashing red light in the white puff ball on the man’s head. Quietly flashing red, the light blinks feverishly.  As a small dose of fear rises inside the man with the shovel and sack, he quickly realizes he should be leaving. Very quietly, the man exits the home, making sure to silently close the door on his way out. The man turns around, pauses for a moment and can feel his heart drop and his eyes swell up as large as humanly possible. For before the man now stands a small army of fellow Santa’s standing before him, looking very upset.

The bag drops to the ground. It seems as though this falling bag takes forever to hit the ground almost like it fell in slow motion. Trying to speak, the man who formerly held a shovel and the bag utters “Wha…How?” Which of course was the short form for, How are there so many of you. There is only supposed to be one and maybe some elves or something? The men in red still standing in place, seeming almost stoic in nature are still mute and have yet to move and inch.  Behind the man, who is still in awe, the house door begins to open.

The now conscious Santa makes his appearance and places his hand on the shoulder of his attacker. “Where is your Christmas spirit?” Says the Santa as he wipes a bit of blood from his face. Santa looks at his hand, where the blood was smeared, and begins to show a conniving smile on his still rosy face. 
The man, still in disbelief begins to slowly back away from the Santa in the doorway, seemingly forgetting about the small army of men in red who are standing behind him.  As the attacker walks with his back to facing the cadre of red clad men, one of the other bearded jolly men quietly steps forward, places his hand over the attacker’s mouth and injects the man with a needle full of Christmas cheer, or a sedative, depends on who’s point of view you see it from. Two other men, gather the body, and toss it into a nearby van. Six men, two in the front, four into the sliding door, follow the now passed out individual. The van door closes. The side of the van reads “Reindeer Chimney Cleaning”. The van slowly and quietly begins to leave and travels down the street. 

As all of the men slowly disperse to their individual tasks, the original man in red takes down his ladder which was leaning on the side of the home, picks up and carries the ladder to his van, and places the ladder inside the vehicle. The doors of the van close and the man reaches into his pocket searching for something. With the item found, he pulls out a pack of cigarettes, pops one out and lights it. Leaning against the driver’s side door, he inhales deeply and exhales slowly. It’s quiet again. The snow is still gently falling. Santa pan’s his vision up and see’s through the home’s window a child starring in shock in awe at the man leaning on the van. Santa inhales one more time, exhales the smoke which mixes with the chill air, drops the cigarette and then proceeds to wink at the child. He gets into his van, and as the van begins to roll away, he belts out “HO HO HO !!!” and drives off.