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Chapter One

Nick

“What do you mean, there are no damn elves?”

I wave er of the mall in his face

Well, ive hioddaot to wear this stupid get-up, with the fake white beard and the big fake belly, but now I have to do it on my own

At least with the elves, I can say as little as possible, because when I have to really be Santa – when I have to play the role – it’s hard It’s like ot to try and push it down, stay calm, stay on task

I’ve got to be Santa

But who is Santa without his elves?

Rex Sullivan looks up and down the mall, quiet this early… but soon it will be full to the brilittery golds and yellows, and there’s a giant – giant – tree behind lass ceiling, the star reflecting the hazy winter sunlight

He returns his gaze to h

“They’ve all called in sick What do you want me to do? Just improvise, Nick”

I stare down at the er pulses inside of o on dressing up like an asshole and acting like I’m not all twisted up inside

Be Santa, I yell in my head, as if to affirm the mission Just be Santa

Telling myself Santa would handle this calh the wall – I try to force a sood at s his hands

“I’ll irit

He nods and turns away, racing through theall around me

I face Santa’s Wonderland and push out a breath through tightly clenched teeth

My Santa’s chair sits in the middle – fake snow strewn everywhere, a life sized reindeer sitting beside ifts piled on each side of the ay The guests wait behind a s

Perhaps it would make other people feel Christmassy

But I feel nothing

This job really isn’t suited to me

I drop down into the large chair and closeto take a moment of peace before the stampede commences With the beard on and the hat pulled low, at least nobody will recognize me… but they will notice a Santa who stands at six foot five

Again – really not suited for this job

But it has to be done