A Christmas Tree for Santa

An Original

Christmas Story

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Talbot glared at Charlie. "I didn't think any such thing. I just got bad information from a moron who used to work for me...Bob?" Bob deflated like a balloon as every eye turned to him. Talbot felt more in control now. "You're fired, Bob." Bob collapsed into a chair, dumbfounded at his sudden misfortune. Charlie looked over at him and winked. "Merry Christmas, Bob. Good thing you didn't loan me that money, seems you might be needing it." Bob ignored the comment and sulked. Chief Sandoval looked around the room and motioned to his officers. "Well, it looks like there's nothing for us to do here. Carl, Kevin, you boys had best git home and put them guns up before you hurt yourselves. I promise you'll get to play commando again soon. In the meantime, those cookies over there look like some kind of contra band... I'd better taste them to be certain though""I think I'll join you Chief." Talbot took the Chief by the arm and led him to the refreshment table, talking to him like a long lost son each step of the way.

"...have I told you what a great job your department is doing..." Shannon walked over to Charlie, her eyes still moist from laughing at the ludicrous events. He avoided her eyes as she stood in front of him, looking him over with a smile on her face. She took his chin gently into her hand and raised his head, looking him in the eye with amusement. "So cowboy, you still haven't told me what this is all about. Why did you go home to get that cheap, but cute, little K-mart tree?" Charlie grinned sheepishly, but before he could answer a young voice piped out from below them. "It's for me!"

Charlie and Shannon looked down to see little Wendy, staring at the tree in Charlie's hand, her eyes wide with excitement. Shannon looked at Charlie, her eyes soft and moist. "Is that what this is all about?" Charlie looked into Shannon's eyes, and she could see that his were a bit moist as well, not to mention the cat-that-ate-the-canary grin on his face. "She's never had a tree, and she wanted a small one. I figured this little thing of mine was perfect for her. Her grandparents had no money to buy her any presents, and your bank wouldn't loan them a measly hundred bucks. I sure don't have a hundred bucks, but I had this tree. I couldn't let that cute, young gal go home empty handed."

"That's what you wanted the hundred dollars for...to give to them?""Yep," Charlie was embarrassed, "I'll pay you back, you know I will." Shannon was silent for a moment, then looked at Charlie sternly. "No, Charlie.""No?""No, I won't lend you the money." Her stern look melted into a big smile, "But I will give it to them, as my Christmas gift." Charlie was speechless, and before he could utter a word Shannon reached over and kissed him lightly on the cheek, before walking over to where the elder Garcia's were still sitting. Mr. and Mrs. Garcia exchanged a look as she approached, both wondering if this bank was loco all the time.

Charlie sighed, then knelt down next to Wendy. "Is this tree OK, darling?""Oh yes Santa, it's just the best tree I've ever seen, it's perfect!" Charlie smiled. "Sweetie, I gotta tell ya, I'm not really Santa Claus." Wendy just grinned as she hugged Charlie tight, giving him a kiss on the well-disheveled beard before whispering, "Oh yes you are." Charlie's heart melted. He returned her hug and wished her a very Merry Christmas. "Santa had better be going now. You don't want me to be late tonight do you?

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