A Christmas Tree for Santa

An Original

Christmas Story

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"I'll deal with you later, count on it," he hissed before turning and running across the lobby. Shannon's eyes were not the only ones in the room that were surprised by Santa's sudden urge to emulate an OJ Simpson commercial as Charlie leapt over a couch on a dead run towards her. "Charlie what are you doing?" she whispered as he pulled up in front of her, his breathing coming just a bit heavy. "Shannon, I can't explain now. There's no time. I need a favor?" Shannon looked at Charlie, sizing him up for a moment before shaking her head. "Of course, Charlie, if I can.""Do you see those old folks and that cute little girl heading towards the door? I need you to stop them, stall them, keep them here until I get back?""Get back? Where are you going?""I just need to run home and grab something. I promise I'll explain later. I want you to think over a second favor while I'm gone too...lend me a hundred bucks?" Before Shannon could say anything he turned and ran to the door before the old couple could open it. "Wait folks. You can't leave yet. Do you see that pretty girl standing over there? She needs to talk to you. I think you won the door prize or something."

Before they could reply, he winked at Wendy and ran out the door, leaving the old couple staring after him in confusion as Shannon walked over to greet them, just as confused as they were. From the vantage point of his fully windowed office above the lobby, bank president Frank Talbot had been watching as his Santa Claus went berserk, then ran out of the building. "That darn Charlie," he thought out loud. "I knew we shouldn't have let that loose cannon play Santa Claus. That lout has been nothing but a pain in my neck as long as I've known him. I imagine I'd better go down and find out what's going on before I call the police. It would be best to keep this as quiet as possible. I spend money on these dog-and-pony shows for good publicity, not bad. I hope the moron doesn't come back with an Uzi and really ruin my Christmas."

Talbot thought about that as he walked down his carpeted private staircase. "Maybe I'd better call the cops anyway?" Charlie was out of breath after running the three blocks to his small bungalow, all uphill. His beard was hanging halfway off his face, and the Santa costume was soaked with sweat. He burst through the door and stopped, seeing what he came for immediately. He quickly walked over to the buffet and picked up his small, one foot tall, artificial Christmas tree, careful not to disturb any of the dozen small red ornaments he had hanging from it. He didn't even shut the door as he walked quickly back into the dusky late afternoon, carefully balancing the tree as he made his way down the hill back to the bank.

Shannon knew her boss had probably been watching everything from his office perch. He was always watching, like a hawk looking for prey. "Come to think of it, he even looks like a hawk." She tried to act casual as he walked across the lobby toward her with a stern look on his face. She hoped Charlie would get back soon, with a darn good story to boot. "Ms. Smith, just what in the name of Michael is going on down here?" Shannon hated the patronizing, scolding-father voice he always addressed her in. She knew he thought of her as just a dumb blonde, and had only hired her because of her looks. She didn't care. She was good at her job, and everyone else knew it. She didn't need his approval, but she did need the paycheck he signed, so she just did her job and let him think whatever he wanted.

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