Merry Christmas

 Christmas Night 

Nate lay in his bed he tossed and turned not and was not able to get to sleep. He turned and looked over to the bed on the other side of the room. He saw his little brother Max in bed. He seemed to be deep asleep and was likely dreaming of Christmas morning. Nate could not sleep out of worry of the morning. He feared what this Christmas would bring to his brother. Their parents cared nothing for them but for a long time they had their grandfather. Their grandfather had always been there for them in a way their parents never were in all his 14 years Nate had known his grandfather was there and now he wasn’t. He feared what Max would think since it was their grandfather's favorite holiday. Max was only 7 and still had his child’s wonder of the holiday. Nate had tried his best to get something for Max as a present but lacking material or money he had resorted to other means. He would never let Max know that he had stolen the money for his present. The money was stolen from parents, and he did not feel particularly bad about stealing money from them. Nate looked at his brother sleeping again and smiled as he fell into an uneasy sleep.  

Max 

Max awoke from a dream of his grandfather. He sat up and looked around the room. He saw his brother sleeping and tried to figure out what had awoken him. Then he heard something a sound of something shuffling on the roof. Then loud clattering from downstairs in the living room. He felt a thrill of fear and then excitement. He knew his parents were asleep and with sounds from the roof and downstairs it must be Santa. He attempted to wake up his brother, but Nate would not wake up. Max decided to go look at Santa. He slipped out of his room quietly and moved down the hall. He moved towards the stairs and slowly moved down until he could see the living room.  Then he saw him a large man in a red suit and Max knew it was Santa. Santa was turned away arranging presents under the tree and then he stopped as though he knew he was being watched. He turned and Max saw Santa's face turn towards him. His face was round with a long, flowing white beard. There was kindness and joy in his face as he looked down on Max. “Well young Max, you should be asleep but since you're up. You might as well come down and talk to me?” Santa said with a smile. Max was nervous as he went down to the living room and approached Santa. Santa smiled again and went and sat down on a chair. He patted his knee, and Max went and sat on Santa’s knee. Max looked at Santa’s face and saw the kindness in his face. “How are you young Max, I know that this has been a hard time for you?” Santa asked. Max looked down “I am sad about my grandpa.” Max said, “and I wish Nate was here with me to see you”.  Santa had a glint in his eye “Don’t worry young Max, your brother has another appointment, but he will be down to see me soon enough. For now, Max tell me about your grandfather. Remembering the good times with him will help when you're feeling sad.” 

Nate 

Nate awoke from his sleep with a start. He looked around the dark room with sleepy eyes. He thought he had heard a loud stomp in the room. As he was looking around, he saw the empty bed where Max was supposed to be. The shock of Max not being in his bed woke Nate all the way up. He quickly looked around the room trying to find his brother and began to get out of his bed when he heard a sound from inside the closet. He got out of bed and slowly moved towards the closet. “Max?” Nate asked, “are you in there?” He moved to open the door and hand on the knob he heard another noise this time from under Max’s bed. He turned and approached the bed and looking into the darkness under the bed thought he saw too shining points like eyes. “Max is that you? You need to come out.” Nate said. He reached into the dark trying to grab his brother, then he felt a grip on his leg. He screamed as the grip began to pull him out. He grabbed at the leg of the bed trying to stay under the bed, but a strong pull caused him to lose his grip, and he was pulled into the air. He hung upside down the strong grip on his leg. Was turned and saw the thing holding him. A large demonic creature stood on two legs but had the countenance of a goat. Its eyes glowed red as it stared at Nate. Nate knew this creature; the legend called it Krampus. Krampus did not say a word it carried Nate over to a bed and released him to fall into the bed. He landed face first onto the bed, and he suddenly felt the hand of the beast on his back holding him down. Nate struggled trying to get free, fearing what happened next when he heard a soft whistle and a loud smack. With the smack a sharp pain in his rear caused him to cry out. He felt the pain dull quickly, but another whistle brought the pain back. Each time the sharp pain in his butt dulled the whistle and smack would bring it back with a vengeance, and he would cry out. The beast did not make a sound as it whipped him. After about 10 whips Krampus removed its hand, and Nate was able to move around. His face was wet from crying and his butt throbbed as he quickly got out of the bed and stared at Krampus. Krampus moved towards a shadowy corner and Nate saw its red eyes staring at him. Nate kept his eyes on the shadowy figure of Krampus as he moved slowly towards the door. Krampus only stared as Nate made it towards the door and fled the room. Nate did not know where to go or where his brother was when he noticed the light and noises from downstairs. He heard a stomp and turned to see Krampus coming out of his room. Nate bolted to the stairs and began descending when he was brought to a halt. He saw Max sitting on the lap of a large man with a large white beard in a red suit. Santa motioned to Nate, signaling him to come and sit with them. “Don’t worry Nate, Krampus will not come down” Santa said “Not while I am here” 

Nate came to Santa and sat with his brother on Santa’s lap. “Nate, I do not want to remind you of your experience with Krampus. You know why it happened and what you need to do to recompense that” Santa said “Now, Nate and Max. I have a few things to say to both of you. Your grandfather would not want you to feel sad or to fall into bad ways, especially on Christmas.” Both boys nodded at Santa and did not say anything as he smiled at them. “Now boys I think it is time for you both to go to bed. Especially if you want any Presents” Santa said. Nate opened his mouth to say something, but Santa cut him off “Don’t worry about your parents, I can promise you they will improve as parents. Now I let's get you both back into bed.  

Santa walked both boys into their room and saw them both get back into their beds and quickly fall asleep. Santa quietly left the room and closed the door. Santa looked around and saw Krampus. Their night's work was not done at this house. The boys had been put back on the right course based on their needs. Now Santa had to ensure they stayed on the right course. Santa and Krampus approached the Parents room. 

Parents 

The Parents lay in a drunken stupor but awoke with a start when Santa and Krampus entered the Room. The father got up and thinking they were intruders tried to attack, but Krampus picked him up and pinned him against a wall while the mother screamed. The mother screamed for several minutes before Santa put up a hand, and the woman's screams ceased. She stared in shock at him and at Krampus who was pinning the father against the wall. “You will listen even if you do not remember what happens you will remember my words” Santa said “You have sorely mistreated those boys over the years and now they do not even have their grandfather to support them. Max is on his way to depression, and Nate is resorting to criminal behavior. So, I warn you know you will not touch another drop of alcohol and you will love and cherish those boys until they leave home or there will be severe consequences.”  

“What if we don’t” the father said with a sneer. Santa only nodded to Krampus. Krampus put his face close to the father's ear and spoke into his ear. None but the father could hear him. The father listened and as he did his face went white and the strength left his body. Santa watched smiling and when Krampus was done, he turned back to the mother. You will both remember what we said and we will be watching. Santa and Krampus left the parents trembling in their bed and on Christmas morning both parents were attentive and Kind. They remained so for many years but always there was a fear around Christmas. It was a thought the parents feared more than their children being on the Naughty List.