Story A Demon Hunters Christmas

[gonewacky]

A Demon Hunters Christmas

Late at night they all appeared standing before Najl. In his deep echoing voice Najl explained, “I have a soul that has a chance to be saved. He’s not an Evil soul, but not deserving. With a little push I believe he can change. The year is 1950. Its December, and you’re in Chicago. He has just got out of prison, and been put on probation. I will make Kathy his protector and overseer. You assure he stays on the right track. Suzy you will watch over him with the Kids. Albert you will be the store owner, and Jim as always you are transportation. Now go forth.”

In a snap Kathy found herself in the parole office talking to a man.

Kathy instructed, “Now, William, you must report to your parole office once a month. It's very important. Will you try to remember dear?”

William replied, “Yes ma'am.”

Just then in came Mr. Hollan his parole officer.

Mr. Hollan announced, “Good afternoon, Mr. Duhring.”

William replied, “Good afternoon Mr. Hollan.”

Mr. Hollan looked to Kathy “Afternoon, Kathy.”

Then he sit his sites on William, “Duhring, you're to report to me in just one month in January. That's all. Except remember, your parole can be revoked at any time. Merry Christmas.”

Kathy insisted, “I'm sure Mr. Hollan didn't really mean to sound so pessimistic, Mr. Duhring. Your past parole record isn't very good, but I'm sure we have every reason to hope for the best. Don't we, Mr. Duhring?

William replied, “Yes, ma'am.”

Kathy went on, “I'll tell you what plans we have for your rehabilitation.”

William thought, Rehabilitation, it looks to me like she could do with a bit of rehabilitating herself.

Looking through the files Kathy went on, “Now let me see, William Duhring.

William replied, Yes ma'am. My friends call me “Stretch” Duhring.

Kathy replied, “Yes, of course. William Duhring. We've really been fortunate, finding employment so soon. It's rather hard to find anything suitable for a gentleman of your age and.”

William insisted, “It’s my Record.”

Kathy added, “Record's the word. Can't you say it?”

William replied, “I got a record as long as your face. Maybe they don't want to hire me on account of me being in the stir. You reckon that might be it?”

Kathy insisted, “Oh, dear, Mr. Duhring, you mustn't be sensitive. You must believe me. It's never too late to start again. You must realize you can't. I mean you're simply not young and strong enough to keep on climbing in windows and smashing safes and such things. You must see by now that it doesn't work. You always get caught.”

William mumbled, “What do you mean, always? I was only caught five times.”

Kathy insisted, “Do you want to spend the rest of your life in the stir, Mr. Duhring? Because that's exactly what you're going to do if you slip up again. You must keep in mind that your parole can be revoked at any time.”

William exclaimed, “I don't hardly get a chance to forget that.”

Kathy insisted, “Please, Mr. Duhring, if you're not a little more careful in the future. There isn't going to be any future, I mean. Well, as I was about to say, this job is not permanent.

My sister works for Albert Blocker’s Department Store, and it was through her that I heard about it. The man they had was suddenly taken ill and they need someone at once. I spoke with the personnel manager and I must admit I wasn't quite frank with him.

William asked, “He don't know I'm an ex-con?”

Kathy replied, “Yes, he knows that, but not the number nor the length of your periods of incarceration. If they are pleased with you, and if you try Mr. Duhring, it may lead to something more permanent in the store. It could be a nice light job that can earn you a living. And of course we expect you to spend some time with us here. Plenty of rest and good food will do wonders for you.”

William mumbled, “Yeah.”

Kathy continued, “Good pay, you know a few dollars a day and lunch in the cafeteria.”

William asked, “What do I do?”

Kathy instructed, “Mr. Meyer, he's the personnel manager. Mr. Meyer said he would explain it to you when you got there. You can do it, I'm sure.

William thought, Pushing a broom, I guess. Well, they got me over a barrel.

William replied, “Okay, Miss Davis. It's a deal.”


At the store William found out that he was going to be Santa Claus. William thought, Santa Claus Jeez.

Mr. Meyer exclaimed, “There you are, Duhring. You look very good, very good, indeed.”

William mumbled, “Yes, well I don't feel good.”

Mr. Meyer insisted, “That's not the proper Christmas spirit. Jolly is as jolly does, you know.

William questioned, “People won't recognize me in this get-up, will they? You know, I've a reputation to uphold.”

Mr. Meyer insisted, “There's no question about it. You are Santa Claus himself. And have a round little belly that shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.”

Mr. Meyer Patted his belly some merchandise fell out.

William explained, “Yes, I stuffed some things up there to make me look fat. I couldn't find a pillow.”

Mr. Meyer insisted, “I see. During your lunch hour, you can get a pillow from my office. And you better take these other articles back to wherever you found them.”

William insisted, “Yes, sir.”

Mr. Meyer insisted, “But you'll make a fine Santa Claus. You know, if you do well here this could turn into a regular job. Every year, but I don't see a twinkle in your eye, perhaps you could develop one.”

William replied, “Sure, yes.”

Mr. Meyer explained, “There's not much to it. You just ask the children what they want. But make no promises, remember that. However, if the child should happen to see something that he wants here, you be sure and make a note of it for the convenience of the parents.

William replied, “Sure. I've shilled before. I mean, I get you. Is there anything special you want pushed?”

Mr. Meyer mumbled, “Now that you mention it. We're having a great deal of trouble getting rid of the musical teddy bears.”

William replied, “I get you.”

Mr. Meyer continued, “So you just take each child on your lap and ask them what they want.”

William exclaimed, “Kids? On my lap?”

Mr. Meyer insisted, “Yes, of course. Please, remember Christmas spirit, Duhring.

Then the store opened and the kids started coming in. They formed a line in front of him, as Mr. Meyer announced, “It's starting.”

Seeing the children William blurted, “Oh.”

Mr. Meyer barked, “Duhring, your mustache.”

William pushed the mustache to his upper lip and Mr. Meyer sighed, “Good, Santa. Santa Claus.”

Kathy had Made Suzy invisible and she was standing where the children exited. She would push love into each one as they left.

The first little girl just stared at William, so he asked. “What do you want?”

She was afraid of him and wouldn’t move, but William went on, “For Christmas, I mean. Come on in.”

 

[gonewacky]

She still did not move, but he continued, “All right, what's your name? You haven't forgotten, have you?’

She still would not move any closer so he added, “All right, listen, I only want to know your name. Come on now, you ain't afraid of old Santy, are you? I'm wondering what you want for Christmas. How can I bring it to you unless I know what it is?”

The little girl replied, “Well... I want a big doll, skates, a cooking set, and a ballet dress.”

William was trying to wright it all down and insisted, “Wait. Now, wait. You're going too fast. I have to write it all down.”

But the little girl continued, “I want a ballet dress, a queen dress, a tea set, a puppy, a kitten, a rabbit.”

William asked, “Do you live on a farm?”

The little girl went on, “I live in apartment B, on Eighth Avenue, and I want a duck.”

William butted in, “Too much livestock for one apartment. Wait, now, maybe I can bring you a kitten. Yes, a kitten. And as many of them other things as I can lay my hands on.”

Then William enticed her, “Here, come here.”

She came up and sat on his lap and William divulged, “Now we can talk better. Think of something funny. Think of your new kitten batting the balls on the Christmas tree. Knocking them, climbing up the curtains, and bating the juice out of the joint. Now, here, take this candy cane and note that I'm going to give you, and bring it back to your mother.”

The little girl got down and walked away as William thought, This is terrible. I'd rather be doing time. Look at the little monsters. The joint's crawling with them.

The next boy came up and sat with him, “Good morning, Santa Claus.”

William replied, “Good morning to you.”

The boy wasted no time giving his list, “I want a bike, a parrot, and a fire engine and I want that.”

He pointed to a big Airplane hanging from the ceiling. William saw the father standing under the Airplane shaking his head no. and replied, “Sorry, kid. That's the only one I got, and that's promised already.”

The boy whined, “I want it.”

William replied, “That's too bad. You don't expect to get everything you want, do you?”

The boy asked, “Why can't I have it? Why is it up there making little boys want it if they can't have it?”

William explained, “I didn't put it up there. The store put it up there. I've got nothing to do with it.”

The boy asked, “It's yours, isn't it? You could have the elves make another one.”

William replied, “No, I couldn't. They're all tired out. Look, I'll bring you a good plane, a small one.”

Pulling a little Airplane from his bag William insisted, “Here's a little one to be going on with.”

The boy whined, “That's no good. All it is just a little old toy.”

William barked, “Look, kid, scat. I got other customers waiting.”

William called the next boy, “Come on now, you want to be next? I can't wait all day. You been a good boy? Have you?”

The boy just stood in front of him and mouthed off, “That's got nothing to do with it.”

William replied, “You're the one looking for Santa Claus.”

The boy demanded, “Santa Claus. Big shot.”

William asked, “What don't you like about Santa Claus?”

The boy barked, “It's old stuff for babies and dopes.”

William insisted, “I ain't no dope.”

The boy replied, “No, you're a wise guy.”

Taking a candy cane from his bag William offered, “Here, do you want one?”

The boy pointed to the Airplane and replied, “I don't want that stuff. I want that.”

William insisted, “Yes, well, you can't have that. That belongs to the store.”

The boy barked, “What do you mean? If you were Santy Claus, you could give it to me. I knew all along you was a fake.”

The rest of the day was up and down. William had to deal with scared kids, mean ones, quite ones, wild ones, ones that wanted everything. He head was spinning. Finely he announced, “That's all, brother. I'm done.”

William thought, I wouldn't take another day like that for a Million dollars. I got to have a drink.

Kathy was outside the store waiting for William to get off, as he came out she announced, “Mr. Duhring, here you are.”

William replied, “Hello.”

Kathy explained, “I just happened to be passing, and I knew you'd be tired. So I thought I'd save you that long trip on the bus.

William replied, “Well, I was just...”

Then he thought, It's an ambush. It's a dirty trick. This dame is rehabilitating me to death.

Kathy insisted, “We'll be just in time for a good hot dinner at the shelter.”

William thought, This is the first paddy wagon I ever got into through a side door.

Kathy asked, “How was it today, Mr. Duhring? I know you've had a hard day. So trying sometimes, the children, I mean.”

William insisted, “What makes you think a bunch of kids are so tough? I can handle anything I want to. But one day of that is enough.”

Kathy questioned, “I hope you exercised discretion. I mean you didn't forget yourself? No bad language, no incidents.”

William insisted, “No, I didn't cuss any of them out and I didn't lay a finger on one of them. Not that it wouldn't have done them good.”

Kathy replied, “I'm so glad. You're a very versatile man, Mr. Duhring. Not many men could have stepped into a job like that requiring so much self-control.”

William asked, “What makes you think I've no self-control? Miss Davis, I'm grinding out self-control, by the gallon, all the time. I've so much self-control, I can't control it.”

Kathy surmised, “Yes, of course. I understand. I didn't mean. I'm sorry you don't like your job, Mr. Duhring. You are virtually unemployable and I am trying to keep you out of trouble. You don't have to like it, Mr. Duhring. Just do it. You don't have to like me, either, and I don't have to like you. I've become practiced at self-control myself. I can get mad sometimes, too. Maybe there are times when I'd like to give somebody a swift kick.



Kathy was there waiting the next morning when William got to work and announced, “Mr. Duhring, you've stuck it out beautifully. You really have just this one more day, and then after Christmas we'll find you something more suited to your talents. I mean, taste. I'll see you tonight.”

William assured, “Sure, yes.”

Kathy said, “Goodbye.”

William thought, That's what you think. I get paid at noon and then it's goodbye to you.

Then he was seeing his first child, “What do you want us to put in your Christmas stocking?”

The little girl revealed, “I want a stove and a beach ball and a horse, and a mother rabbit and a father rabbit.”

Writhing a note William replied, “All right. Give that to your mother, and here's a little gimmick for you. Merry Christmas.”

Then William had two boys on his lap. “A teddy bear and a truck”

William declared, “No, wait.”

The children came and went and something was changing in William. He was enjoying having them kiss and hug him. He realized he was hearing the children’s hopes and dreams. Then he announced, “Sorry, kids. Santa Claus won't be back till 1:00, but you must all come back after you've had your lunch, because I got to know what you want for Christmas. Merry Christmas.”

 

[gonewacky]

When William went to get his check all that was in the envelope was a note, “Dear Mr. Duhring, I know what temptation is high. Especially at the Christmas season, and feel it most important that I give you moral support at this critical time. I've asked the store to give me your paycheck, and I've opened a nice bank account for you.”

“Kathy Davis.”

William thought, Of all the low-down, double-crossing thieving, cut-throat dirty, underhanded.

Then William went back to work, “Well, why don't you ask me what I want?” As he thought, What do I care what you want?

The little boy insisted, “I want a chemical set and a carpenter kit, and a big electric train, and a signal and a switch. Aren't you going to write it down?”

William insisted, “I don't need to write it down. Tell that to your old man the way you told it to me.”

The boy asked, “Don't I get anything out of your sack?”

Then Mr. Blocker came in and announced, “That's all now. Store's closed. Have a Merry Christmas.”

Then William saw the mean little boy and exclaimed, “Well, look who's back. If you're not interested in Santa Claus, what are you doing here?”

Looking around The boy insisted, “Anyhow, I already told you, you ain't Santy Claus.”

William insisted, “I ain't? You saw me sitting up there, didn't you? Who do you think I am? Little Boy Blue?”

The boy replied, “Look, Santy Claus is supposed to give kids stuff, ain't he? Well, then?”

William asked, “What do you think I've been doing this live-long week? Writing stuff down and…”

The boy barked, “I don't mean writing lists. I mean give them things, if you're Santy Claus.”

William went on, “Sure I give them things.”

The boy acknowledged, Yeah, I know. That ten-cent stuff in a bag.”

Then he pointed to the airplane, “That's what I want.”

William questioned, “I suppose you wouldn't go for a musical teddy bear? So, you like airplanes?”

The boy replied, “Yeah. I like them better than anything in the world. I'm gonna be a pilot someday when I get big.”

William insisted, “You might have that, if you stay out of jail. Now, you see, it's this way…”

The boy exclaimed, “Sure. Now, you see, it's this way. I told you…”

William butted in, “Kid, why don't you shut up for a minute and not be so smart? That's not the way I operate. I have to get my reindeer out and all that stuff and you have to be in bed asleep.”

The boy said, “That old baloney.”

William replied, “What do you mean, baloney? Don't you know that Santa Claus always gives it to you straight?

The boy whined, “Oh, yeah? Oh, yes. You mean you're going to give me that?

William replied, “On the level? Yes. Why not? I'm Santa Claus, ain't I? What's your address?”

The boy replied, “Tenth Avenue. Second floor apartment 22.

William replied, “All right, beat it. Hey, wait a minute. You know you got to be a good boy.”

The boy replied, “I've been good.”

Then William took down the airplane and put it in a garbage bag, and took it out to the garbage pile.

After William retrieved the plain Kathy thought about appearing and confronting him, but thought better of it and just followed him. He took the airplane to the apartment on Tenth Avenue, and checked the door. It was unlocked. Slowly he opened it and set the airplane inside the door. Then he pulled it shut, but when William got to the shelter the Police were waiting for him. “Come on, Santa Claus. It's time to head for the North Pole. We're going to put you back in cold storage.”

At the Police station they were questioning him. “All right. Let's have it.”

William replied, “Huh?”

Then his parole officer came in, “I'm not surprised that you broke your parole, but couldn't you have done it yesterday or next week? Why pick Christmas Eve to drag me down here?”

Kathy knew this was spinning out of control, so she left to find a place to become visible.

William asked, “What were you doing? Drinking champagne?”

His Parole officer replied, “That's exactly what I was doing, if you want to know. Okay. Book him.”

The desk Sargent asked, “Name?”

Kathy came rushing in, “Wait now. This is a miscarriage of justice. I'm sure that it is.”

The Parole officer insisted, “I'm sorry, Miss Davis, but I'm afraid it's not. Duhring stole a valuable piece of merchandise from the store. In addition to this Santa Claus suit he's wearing, and he won't tell us where it is. It was an expensive toy airplane.”

Kathy asked, “A toy airplane, Mr. Duhring? I don't understand.”

William revealed, “I gave it to a kid. I'm Santa Claus, ain't I? And don't any of you creeps try and take it away from him.”

Kathy explained, “Oh, oh, well. You see, gentlemen. It's all my fault. When he went to pick his money up at noon he found that I had taken it to put it in the bank for him. This is Christmas Eve, gentlemen, and Santa Claus has to deliver on time. What a dilemma, So naturally, he had to charge it, owing to my officiousness.”

Mr. Hollan insisted, “That sounds just dandy, Miss Davis. But it's the first I've heard of it and I'm sure it's the first Duhring has, too.”

Kathy explained, “Really now, why don't we ask Mr. Duhring? As it happens, I have his money with me as I found the banks closed, and was unable to deposit it. Of course you'd like to pay for the airplane, wouldn't you, Mr. Duhring?”

William replied, “Yes.”

Kathy went on, “And he was going to return the Santa Claus suit at his first opportunity.”

Mr. Hollan assured, “I don't see that we can assume that.”

Kathy replied, “Who'd want a hot Santa Claus suit? Yes, I'm sure it's much too warm. I think that takes care of everything, gentlemen. I feel certain that Albert Blocker won't want to prosecute. When they have their money and their suit.”

Mr. Hollan insisted, “There's still the question of whether he broke his parole or not.”

Kathy insisted, “Mr. Hollan, can't you scare up just a little goodwill? Enough to last through tomorrow, anyway.”



Mr. Hollan scolded, “Well, Duhring, she's got me. You're a little white lamb. You didn't break your parole at all. Just bent it a little, but she's got you; too old boy I'll expect you to be available at the shelter tomorrow. Merry Christmas.”

As they walked out William disclosed, “Miss Davis, I'd like to get you a drink. The trouble is I haven't got any money.”

Kathy replied, “You know, Mr. Duhring, you really do look like Santa Claus now. You've got a twinkle in your eye. Come home to dinner. The plum pudding has quite a lot of brandy in it.”

William thought, You know what I think about you, Miss Davis? I think you're completely rehabilitated.

Kathy thought, You know, he ain't such a bad chap after all. Perhaps his taste in ties has improved. I think I’d give him one more chance.

 

[MMWW]

Thank you.

 

[feralferret]

Thanks, Wacko!

 

[ydderf]

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