I had a notion to write something for Christmas, and subsequently decided to enter it in the Holiday Contest.
As always, comments and ratings are most welcome!
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Christmas Eve. Truly the most wonderful time of the year,
thought Marie Haynes as she pulled into the driveway of her modest suburban Denver home.
Her three kids were in the back seat, merrily singing Christmas Carols at the top of their lungs. Actually it was more like hollering than singing but their enthusiasm was contagious. They'd had too much sugar that afternoon, but Marie simply could not bring herself to reign them in when they had been given s'mores at the mall, candy canes at the bank, and hot chocolate at the evening church service.
Dennis, being the oldest at ten-years-old, quickly assumed command over his two siblings.
"Hey, you guys! We gotta help mom with the groceries or Santa won't give us any presents! C'mon, Kenny! C'mon Mindy!"
Marie watched in delight as the kids each snapped up a bag or two out of the back of the SUV and scampered into the house. Mindy, being just three-years-old, struggled with her lone grocery bag scarcely being able to clear the ground with it, but she was determined to do her part. Maybe the whole 'too much sugar' thing wasn't so bad after all!
Marie collected the last of the parcels and made her way inside. The kids had dutifully brought the bags inside, but rather carelessly plopped them down where they spilled half their contents onto the kitchen counter. Mindy's bag was carefully laid on the floor right in front of the stove.
Marie sighed as she began straightening the various items on the counter and managed to catch a jar of pickles just as it rolled over the edge. She couldn't be cross with the children. At least they had made an effort to help.
At that moment the sound of the Pointer Sisters singing
Fire
wafted from her purse. It was the unmistakable ringtone for her firefighter Husband, Stan.
"Hi, honey!" she said into the phone. "Are you going to be home soon?"
"Not as soon as I had hoped. There's one more children's home that needs our help tonight. But it's way up in Greeley. Their local station was supposed to take it, but they got called out on a fire. I hope you understand. I just can't bear the thought of those kids not having a Christmas."
Every Christmas Stan's fire station brought what holiday cheer they could to the area orphanages, hospitals and foster homes. Marie loved that they were able to put smiles on the faces of kids who had precious little to smile about.
Early in the evening they would arrive with gifts and treats for the older kids, but then they would make a second round after bedtime so that the kids would have gifts 'from Santa' to open on Christmas morning.
"Of course, honey. It makes me sad to think of those kids not having a great Christmas! Do you know when you'll be home?"
"It'll be pretty late. If the roads are good I should be home about midnight. Maybe a bit later if there's snow and ice."
"OK," Marie sighed. "You drive safely and I'll get everything ready here after I get the kids to sleep. Hope I see you sooner than later! Love you!"
"Love you too, hon. I'll see you at home."
The kids were fairly bouncing off the walls, the ceiling and even one another as Marie tried to get them ready for bed. Bath time was particularly challenging with a lot more splashing than usual, leaving the bathroom a sopping mess. The excitement of Christmas Eve combined with the afore-mentioned sugar rush took its toll, but at last, the kids settled in and after about an hour drifted off to sleep.
With the house finally quieted Marie set about the task of making ready for Christmas morning.
* * * * *
The fire burned low in the fireplace, savoring its last log of the night. The only other light in the room, and indeed in the whole house, was from multi-colored Christmas lights strung around the periphery of the room, adorning it with a soft, diffused glow. The heavenly scent of the pine tree combined with a sachet of cinnamon for the perfect holiday aroma.
Marie placed the many gifts for the family beneath the tree, arranging them just so. Each one was a picture in and of itself, perfectly wrapped with a shimmering bow perched atop.
And as would be expected in any holiday painting, the stockings were perfectly spaced across the width of the fireplace's mantel, each bulging with untold goodies and trinkets.
Marie sighed and stepped back to admire her handiwork. Yes indeed, it was as perfect as a postcard.
She yawned deeply and looked at her watch. Twelve forty-seven.
As she was preparing to retire for a few hours of much-needed sleep she remembered one last thing. Mindy, her youngest, had insisted that mommy put out some milk and cookies for Santa. She was earnestly concerned that Santa should be well provisioned for his annual mission of gift-giving around the globe.
Marie padded softly into the kitchen and retrieved the last few props to complete her Christmas scene. She took a bite of one of the cookies and sprinkled some crumbs across the small plate. She took a sip of the milk and started back toward the living room, flicking off the light switch as she went.
Imagine her surprise when she entered the room to find none other than Santa Claus himself, hunched over his proverbial sack, rummaging about within it! Her gasp of shock caught the round red figure's attention and he turned to face her.
"Well, hello there, Marie! I see you've been busy doing most of my work for me."
His voice was indeed jolly, with a commanding presence, yet at a low enough volume as to not wake any of the sleeping children upstairs. A subtle smile crossed her lips.
"Well, yes, I suppose I have. Everything has to be perfect for Christmas, right?"
"Yes indeed! I'm sure you know that Christmas Eve is the most important night of my entire year!"
Marie walked slowly up to Santa and stood directly before him and looked up into his sparkling blue eyes.
"Well, since I've put in all this effort, does that put you ahead of schedule? Can you stay for a little while?"
Santa's grin grew broad and his famous chuckle filled the room.
"Yes, Marie, I can stay awhile. And I can tell you that I know for a fact that your name appears on my 'nice' list. Would you like me to give you one of your gifts now?"
Marie's eyes lowered demurely. Instinctively she bit one of her nails.
"Yes, please?"
Santa kept his eyes locked onto Marie as he reached into his large red sack and withdrew a perfectly wrapped gift box. He extended his arm toward her and passed it into her small hands.
"There's one rule about this gift, Marie, " he said softly. "You have to let me show you how to use it."
"Why, what is it?" she asked, almost knowingly. "Some kind of kitchen gadget?"
"Ho, ho! Yes, I suppose it is a kitchen gadget. But only if you use it in the kitchen! Most people wouldn't!"
Marie held the box toward her ear and shook it. There was no discernible sound, but the package had a bit of heft to it.
"Why do people do that?" she laughed at herself. "We always think that shaking a present will help us to hear what's inside? How ridiculous!"
"Well, Marie, the only way you're going to know what's inside is to open it! Go ahead. You have Santa's permission not to wait until morning."
Marie sat down beside the Christmas tree and her fingers slipped the ribbon off the box. She was aware of Santa's breathing as he knelt beside her and she began to tear the tape from the ornate wrapping paper. Each low, soft breath seemed to put her more and more at ease.
With the paper removed she was left with a simple cardboard box. She popped open the end and tipped the contents into her hand.
Santa watched in rapt attention as Marie's complexion instantly shifted to a hue as red as his suit.
"Oh, my!" she exclaimed, scarcely able to believe that Santa would have brought her such a 'naughty' toy. It was about eight inches long and quite thick. The silky silicone texture warmed to her touch as her fingers absentmindedly rolled across the rounded tip.
"I imagine you're quite surprised to get such a gift. Well, Santa knows that with your husband's job he is not always around at ... well, at the most opportune moments. I'm afraid that lands him squarely on my 'naughty' list! But there's no reason you should suffer because of his faults! With this you'll be able to treat yourself to some much-needed relief from time to time."
Marie's eyes had not moved from the "anatomically correct" gift she'd just received. She felt every nerve in her skin flicker to life, suddenly aware of even the slightest stimulation. Her breasts suddenly ached for release.
"Now, as I said," Santa intoned very carefully, "you must let me show you how to use it. But first we have to get you ready."
He reached toward her with his red-velveted glove and rested his fingers near her throat. For a moment Marie had simply forgotten to breathe and she was seized by a mighty sigh, heaving her chest upward.
Through his thick white mustache Santa's sly smile could just barely be seen as he wordlessly began to unfasten the buttons on Marie's modest blouse. Her eyes fluttered shut as her mind focused on the extraordinary sensations of velvet against skin, creeping ever lower.
After the last button had been released she felt two strong gloved hands momentarily encircle her waist, then draw up her body to peel the blouse from her shoulders and discard it.
Her breathing was just a bit ragged, and her eyes were still closed as the bra followed soon thereafter and the strong hands took her shoulders and laid her back onto the soft carpeted floor.
The fur cuffs of his sleeves tickled slightly as they glided across her clavicle followed by the tender brushing of the velvet-clad digits of his strong hands. The two thumbs traced circles around each nipple before drawing slowly, just once, over the sensitive peaks.
Marie nearly moaned as her hand drew her new toy instinctively to her lips where she glided her tongue gently across the tip.
