Merry Christmas

 12/24- Paradise CA

  It was a long day of over eating and over drinking with family. I was up for my middle of the night bathroom break when I glanced out the window. The motion light had come on and I saw an Amazon truck pull into the driveway. As it was closer to morning than night I was curious about the late night delivery. Then the side door opened and out popped a rather rotund individual who quickly strode towards the house. I started towards the stairs to head them off before he could wake up the rest of the house. 

    When I got to the top of the stairs I was shocked to see he was already inside and fiddling around the tree. I froze as I watched him remove some packages from his Walmart shopping bag and lay them around the Christmas tree. What the hell is going on !!

   He then turned and headed for the kitchen. Along the way he reached into the cookie jar and filched a cookie.  I got a better look at him as he opened the fridge. He looked old and had a faded or dirty red vest on with like a sheepskin collar. He had a full white beard that was shot with soot. 

    I heard him sigh as he pulled out a box of almond milk. He looked around a little sheepishly and then just glugged away straight out of the box. I’d had enough now and I started down the stairs. When he heard me he turned and a big grin crossed his face. He then reached up and scratched his nose and he was gone. I mean like vanished! WTF !

   I heard the van door slam so I headed back up to the window. As I looked out I saw the van backing out of the driveway. He was in the passenger seat and some guy with a deer head was driving. As they turned and headed down the road he rolled down his window and leaned out. Plain as day I heard him exclaim…

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good night!!