by Robert Cramer

Created on: September 26, 2009   Last Updated: September 30, 2009

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

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