Christmas sucks and dad killed Santa (chapter 2)
Finally we were home after a mediocre dinner at Dennys. I drag my feet as I enter the threshold of the house. I'm the last to enter and the last to get my pajamas on. I may be an adult but I still wear onesies. My pjs of choice are a pink rabbit with a white tail. It resembles the one off of a Christmas story. It was mom's favorite movie of all time so I wear it Christmas Eve each year to honor her memory.
I lean into the doorway of Charlie's bedroom. Dads reading the night before Christmas and Charlie has just about a million questions.
"When out on the lawn, there arose such a clatter, l sprang from my bed to see what was the matter away to the window I flew like a flash.With a miniature sleigh and St. Nick and Prancer and Dancer and to all a good night." Dad recites the book, practically from memory, as he had since I was Charlie's age.
"What's that?" Charlie questions our dad.
"What's what?" Dad asks, clearly confused.
"A rose schuck ladder!" Charlie says with wide eyes.
"It's not a ladder. He said, 'arose such a clatter.' It means, eh, 'came a big noise.'" I clarify.
"What?" Charlie scrunches up his face still confused.
"Charlie, ‘arose’ is a word that means 'it came’, and 'clatter’ is a big noise." I reiterate.
"Yes and now it's time to go to bed" dad agrees as he tucks Charlie into his bed.
He turns to me and takes in my pajamas and holds back a snicker.
"Gotta problem with my duds old man?" I joke at him.
Charlie giggles and snuggles in deeper into the covers.
"No problem at all, squirt. Just makes me think is all." Dad replies with a small, sad smile. Tears are brimming in his eyes that threaten to spill.
"Come on, let's get to bed! If we want Santa to come we need to be asleep!" I usher dad out and into his room and walk to mine.
Soon I hear a gentle knock on my door just as I'm ready to snuggle in.
"Sissy (y/n) can I sleep in her with you? Dads snores too loud and I can hear it through the wall!" Charlie practically wails.
I know he just wants to make sure I'm ok but I pretend to buy it nonetheless.
"Come on sport! Let's snuggle and fall asleep to some nice music." I say swooping him into my arms and sitting us onto my queen size bed. Too tall for him to reach on his own without a stool. I put on some Mozart and we drift away.
(TIME SKIP BROUGHT TO YOU BY RED RYDER BB GUNS! YOU'LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT KID!)
I am abruptly woken by Charlie shaking me. This is not what I signed up for when I said he could sleep with me.
"(Y/n)! (Y/n)! I heard a clatter!" Charlie yells.
I slowly open my eyes and ask "What? Charlie, what are you talking about?
"You know! From the story! It came a big noise. It's coming from outside"
I start to say it might be the wind until I hear a loud noise too. Kinda like a ka-thump. The the sound of boots on the roof. I jump out of bed taking Charlie with me. I run as fast as I can to dads room.
I practically take the door off its hinges. My heart is pounding out my chest.
"Dad you gotta get up now! Someone's on the roof!" I say setting Charlie down rushing to his bedside.
"What (Y/n)? Someone on the roof? That's impossible. You probably dreamt it. Go back to sleep." Dad begins but gets cut of by more footsteps. Now he's wide awake.
"I guess it wasn't a dream dad," I huff at him
"Now is not the time for the sass (Y/n), someone's on our roof. Come on we'll go outside. Put on your shoes and coat quickly!" He says while pulling on some socks while quickly hobbling to his bedroom door and down the stairs.
I pick up Charlie again because I know I'll be faster carrying him than waiting for him at the bottom of the flight of stairs.
Throwing on a coat, boots and a winter hat onto both of us with Charlie still holding his blanket.
I rush out after dad and Charlie follow suit.
Dad yells something I can't make out to the person on our roof. Suddenly they slip and plummet onto the lawn as I quickly shield Charlie from the sight.
"Oh my gosh! You killed him!" I yell running through the slushy snow to where the man lay. However, all that was there was his clothes.
"You got him!" Charlie cries out, running, and nearly tripping to get to me.
"I did not! He's gotta be here somewhere! Let's check for some Id to see who this poor shmuck was." Dad argues now riddling through the pockets of the red coat.
"That almost looks like-" I start
"Look (Y/n)! Reindeer!" Charlie interrupts me pointing to the roof.
Lo and behold eight reindeer and a sleigh are parked on our roof.
"(Y/n) come here! I found something!" Dad calls after me.
I approach him and take a small business card from his gloved hand.
"lf something should happen to me, put on my suit. The reindeer will know what to do. What does that mean?" I read from the card and inquire to dad.
He shrugs and Charlie comes to us. "That means you gotta put it on dad!"
"No we are not going anywhere!" Dad asserts poorly.
"We never do what I want to," Charlie says, his eyes watering.
I hug him from behind and glare at dad .
"Look! The rose schuck ladder! Like from the poem!" Charlie beams at both of us.
"I'm going to call the police, please watch your brother for a minute (y/n)." Dad pleads and scurries off to get his phone.
Before I can even blink Charlie is now on the roof trying to touch a reindeer. I follow after him in a hurry.
"Charlie! (Y/n)! Get down from there! I thought you were watching him!" Dad yells at me. It's a miracle the neighbors haven't woken up.
"Dad, it's amazing! Come up here!" I yell down at him.
He runs to the ladder and climbs up, suit in hand.
"You need to get away from ghost things! They could have key lime disease!" Dad panics as he walks carefully towards Charlie. "Easy Rudolph" dad says to the reindeer.
As clear as day the reindeer says "I'm not Rudolph." I look to my dad to see if he also heard but he's just looking at its nametag.
"It's Santa's sleigh!" Charlie jovially says while climbing into it.
"There's no such thing as Santa's sleigh" dad scoffs.
"Sure there is. You said you believed in Santa, right dad" I nudge him.
"I did" he questions then covers his tracks with "I do!"
Dad climbs into the sleigh and I follow him. The seats are much softer than they look.
"Hey dad look! A hat!" I say pulling a plush Christmas hat from in between the cushions. I gently place it on my head after inspecting for lice. It's warm and cozy. The ear flaps are extra padded with faux fur.
"Oh great you found a bug infested hat! Oh how joyous! Let's get out now please" dad practically pleads with Charlie.
"No!" Charlie shakes his head making his hair get in his eyes.
"Come on Charlie! Let's go!" Dad pushes.
Suddenly the reindeer take off. I guess I'm in for one helluva ride tonight!
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