The day before Christmas

‘Twas the day before Christmas and all was calm. Maybe it was the holiday spirit or the last minute rush, maybe the smell of baked goods and presents to be….but the world does seem brighter, as it very well should be.

The streets were full, people going around. None of them knowing why they were coming and going except that there were things to do and people to kill. The lines were dull at the all the old markets, the hypers and supers and even old fashion fruit stands. And pennies were going back and forth, falling from hand to hand, the ring of their fall joined by "merry Christmas and happy holidays"

Of course people argued just as well as they normally did. But even then they were more festive, giving respect to tradition and spreading the holiday cheer. "Merry Christmas, you nitwit!” the grouches shouted, some even pointing their fingers up towards the sky. But even that was no rude gesture...they could've been pointing towards Santa.

Amongst all the people good old Jakey was making his runs, a list in his pocket, a list mostly undone. It had spices and treats going from chicken to beef and to pig. It also had greens and yellows and oranges and all the colors that veggies come in. A regular rainbow of foods and delights cause what is Christmas without a few extra pounds?

As Jakey spread the content of his basket of goods across the small counter, he could not help the feeling that there was something that slipped his mind. He went over the list and checked it twice, which was a lot easier since he didn't have to make sure if everybody was naughty or nice. He hated THAT list, even after all these years he couldn't get through it without falling asleep.

From what he knew of the workings of being Santa, the list was a thing that one didn't really need. Still, a use had been found and it was kept around cause not even at the North Pole was there anyone who would appreciate insomnia.

Well, the list was fine, all was done and dandy. The chicken and beef were whispering sweet nothings at the end of the line, while the pork was resting on top of a pile of fruity offerings, considering himself the top fruit of the group since his wrapping was the gayest one indeed.

The shopping was done and the pennies went down to the cashier that cussed a Christmas cheer. Or so Jakey thought, he didn't like to hear. It was better that way; he didn't have to listen to the deer.

He hated the bells and the lights and the strings. He loathed the fruitcakes and other creepy things, like the wall climbing Santa or the red nose reindeers.

He did like the chocolate and the pastries and cheers. He liked the new shows with the snappy cute actors and he liked foreign movies, cause they weren’t as dull.

So Jakey made his way to the mall parking lot, bags in his hands and feet on the ice. That lot was bloody murder, or so people shouted. But the key to it was balance or you'd back down on ice.

So Jakey went home and spread the wide table and placed all his shopping right there with a twirl of a thumb. And the tree lights all glittered, and candles were light. And off he went dashing to the Santa mobile. In the old garage, a shiny new thing. All polished and cared for by the small Ferrari elves, because the sleigh was Italian, not a Mercedes Benz.

The bag went inside, placed in the red trunk, it had room for four more small towns or so the dealer had said. Cause the elves knew their sleighs and this was the best. The reindeers sat put, enjoying the sight of the new sleigh with horse power instead of spry deers.

Jakey rolled in and sat in the seat, took gloves out of glove box and turned the key in. He placed the radio to his old favorites, not Christmas songs, but a rather neat indie that’d go well with a bong.

And with an okay sign from the elves and a high five from Rudolph, old Jakey drove off with a cheerful twinkle of the old tail lights. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

(*) Thanks for that line to The Playwright, the rhythm wouldn't be the same without it. :)