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Proofed and edited by Brootforce
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It was that time of year again; time to get the suit out of mothballs and dry cleaned, Nick thought to his self. He headed up the rickety stairs toward the attic, pushing the cobwebs out of his way. He reached the door and rattled the doorknob, causing the door eerily creaked open. The room was filled with thick musty air, as he made his way across the room to the light switch. Flicking it on the room illuminated. In the corner of the room, hung the Christmas red Santa suit, in a clear plastic bag. A smile crept across Nick's face as he made a beeline for the suit.
This was Nicks' favorite time of year. He got to bring a little happiness into children's lives as he took a month off of work. He dressed up as Santa and donated the proceeds of his Santa work to Toys for Tots.
He grabbed the suit, headed downstairs, and out to his car. Still with a huge grin on his face, he drove off to the drycleaners.
"Hey Nick, is that time of year again?" the drycleaner, Doris, greet him.
"Yeah, it seems to be coming quicker and quicker every year Doris." He smiled handing the suit over.
"You aren't kidding. I remember when you were going to see Santa with your mom and sister. Now you're playing Santa for the kiddies." Doris laughed.
"God Doris, you're making me feel old!" he chuckled.
"YOU feel old?! How do you think I feel?" She laughed as she handed him his ticket.
"Thanks, Doris." He smiled and took the ticket.
Nick went to the barbers for a trim and shave, before picking the suit back up from Doris, and going home to try his beard and freshly cleaned suit on.
Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, he straightened his snow white beard and hat with hair. He walked into the bedroom in his CK boxers. Picking up the prosthetic rubber belly from the bed, he strapped it across his toned stomach. He stood in front of the full length mirror, adjusting it, before pulling a white t-shirt over the belly. He pulled on the red and white trousers, tucking the t-shirt in, and slipping into the red and white coat. Finally he fastened the black leather belt tightly under the belly.
"Ho Ho Ho... Merry Christmas" He called out before chuckling.
He made his way downstairs to the front door, where he pulled on a pair of black leather boots trimmed with white fur on top. Grabbing the huge red velvet sack he made his way to his Audi Q7 and put the sack in the trunk.
"Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to work I go" he hummed.
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Nick arrived at his local mall, where he would be playing Santa this year. He was greeted by a woman in her 30's in a grey pants suit with her silver-blonde hair in a high bun. She clasped a clipboard to her breasts with a stern look upon her face. He pulled up next to her and put the passenger window down.
"You must be Nick Stein. You are late." She said without wavering.
"Actually I am a day early. Who are you and where is Mitch?" He said annoyed.
"I am Miss Gretchen Campbell. I am the NEW manager of the mall." She smiled sarcastically.
"Well Miss Campbell, anytime I have played Santa here, I was always given tomorrow as the day to start. It is your mistake for not telling me YOU have changed the contract I have with the mall owner, Mitch." Nick gloated.
"Erm... well... I..." she stammered.
"You didn't realize I had a contract, I assume? Well now that we have exchanged our pleasantries how about you let me in to see where I shall be working and with whom." He smiled.
"Of course, Mister Stein," She said defeated.
"Actually, if you could call me Santa, or Mister Nicolas, that would be better. That makes it more realistic for the kids and doesn't ruin their belief in Santa." Nick smiled.
"Ok... Santa." She cringed.
Nick parked his car, took the sack from the trunk, and followed Gretchen in through the back door of the mall to where Santa's Winter Wonderland had been set up. He looked around taking in all the decorations and saw the elves all huddled around in a corner talking to each other.
"Elves fall in line, NOW." Gretchen yelled.
Five female elves lined up.
"Names, NOW, Left to Right!" She yelled like some kind of oppressive leader.
"Laura, Michelle, Audrey, Delilah, Holly." The girls called out looking straight ahead.
"This is Santa; you shall address him as such, or suffer the ramifications for not following my orders. Is that clear?!" she called hitting her clipboard.
"Yes, Miss Campbell," the girls called in unison.
"You can leave us now, Miss Campbell, I'm sure the elves will adhere to your rules, if not they'll be on my naughty list. I Promise." He made a stern face then winked.
She drew her eyes closed, making a pissed off face at him, and walked away, her heels clicking away into the distance.
"Okay girls, ignore everything she said. You answer to me. You're MY elves. Only thing I ask is that you call me Santa, so the kids truly believe I am Santa and that they don't think I'm just some random man in a Santa suit." He smiled.
"Yes, Santa," they called out.
"So tell me Elves, who is to be my helper elf?" he looked at the girls.
Their silence was deafening.
"Well? Don't tell me no one has told you what to do!?" he sighed.
"Erm, it is usually Miss Campbell that tells us what to do and when to do it. She's such a bitch." One girl said quietly.
"YOU, You will be my Helper Elf. What is your name?" he smiled softy.
"Me? But I called her a bitch... I'm Holly." She blushed and looked at her feet.
"Yes you, you are to be my helper elf. You will give the kids their presents, I like your heart." He looked at her fiery hair and piecing green eyes.
"You two will be queue handlers, you two will be in charge of taking the money and making sure every child gets the time they require with me. Okay?" He smiled at the girls.
"Yes, Santa," they replied.
"Holly, come with me." He put his arm around her slender shoulders. "This sack is special, it has presents I have brought, and it's for those kids I feel need an extra boost. So when I say 'I wonder what's in my special velvet sack for you, you go into this sack instead of the normal one. Okay?" He smiled as they walked to the large, overbearing, oak, and red velvet chair, surrounded by fake snow and candy canes.
"Aw, you are the sweetest Santa I've ever known, and I've been doing this for the past five years. Of course, as you said, we are your elves. We shall do as you say, Santa." She smiled with watery eyes.
"Good, I'm glad you approve. Well, looks like that's everything, we can start soon. Just need to make sure my beard is on straight." He smiled.
