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prolixity rolled 2 6-sided dice:
4, 6
Total: 10 (2-12)
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 Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 2:49 am
The next child in line was a small girl dressed in so many red plaid frills it was a wonder she could move at all. Her immaculately groomed mother patted her on the head and shooed her forward, and she trotted quietly over to climb onto Santa's lap, giving him a curious, solemn look.
"Hi, Santa," she said, in a tone of voice that said that this was the seriousest serious business ever, because it was almost Christmas (okay two weeks away but that was like practically tomorrow or anyway her mom seemed to think so because she was getting all fussy about presents and decorating and things being perfect) and this was Santa (well maybe not the REAL real Santa but her dad said that all the Santas at the malls were because Santa needed a little help and they all went back to tell Santa what all the boys and girls wanted) and she was on her very very best behavior (no, she really was, this doesn't actually require qualification).
She fidgeted a little, thinking very hard about all the things she wanted for Christmas (you could only really ask Santa for one thing, because Santa was very very busy, she could even see that, look how long the line was, they'd been waiting for ages, so what you asked for had to be what you really really really wanted), then said softly, "May I please have the Deluxe Chemistry Kit from the catalog for Christmas?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:13 am
It was wonderful how easy a child so sweet, so quiet and gentle, could turn Robert's mood around almost instantly. When he picked the girl up and sat her down on his lap, he hadn't even had to ask her what she wanted. He was about to comment on just how fluffy she was, when that adorably serious voice snuck out of her, and Robert's heart melted into a pile of mush. He remembered a tiny little voice that serious. One that, no matter how young and no matter how innocent, always seemed to know exactly what she wanted.
She reminded him of a young Petra.
He bent in very close, to make sure he heard her right, and his face lit up at the request. From the catalog, no less. So specific, and so smart - yeah, she was just like his Pet. Robert turned, head dipped down to stay at eye level with the little girl, and his eyes twinkled with all sorts of Christmas magic.
"Little sunshine," He whispered reverently, with a broad and loving smile. "I'll make sure of it."
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:26 am
Her face had been very, very serious, but at the answer she got, the little girl lit up with a billion-watt smile. She snuggled up and hugged Santa tightly. "Thank you, Santa," she said, still very polite and quiet-voiced, but clearly absolutely delighted. "This is going to be the best Christmas ever, it really really is."
Her mother snapped a picture with an iPhone, looking very pleased; this one was obviously going on the family cards.
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:39 am
Robert's eyes widened just slightly when the little arms tried to wrap around him, and only managed to get to his sides. His mighty embrace wrapped around the little girl carefully, returning the hug. He heard the snapshot of a camera phone, and gently uncurled himself from the girl, handing her a candy cane and picking her up to put her back on her feet.
"Hey, mom! Can Santa see that pic?" He stood up out of his throne, holding a finger up to tell the attendant elf to pause on letting kids through for just a minute, while ambling down to where the mother was.
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:43 am
The little girl chirped, "Thank you very much!" and trotted back down to her mother when she was put down, clutching her candy cane and still beaming like she'd never stop.
The girl's mother looked up from her phone, looking briefly surprised; this wasn't part of the usual procedure, but it had been a truly adorable moment. She brought the photo up on the screen and turned it around to let the mall Santa have a look. "It's a great picture," she smiled.
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:55 am
Robert bent down far enough to get a real close look, his smile growing so wide it stretched out his beard awkwardly. He wished he could have asked for a copy of that photo. He wished.. he wished other things, too.
The way that little girl was hugging him. The way her eyes reminded him of Petra.
Robert bent in closer, touching the camera very carefully, while slipping something into the mothers hand. It was a $100 bill, and she probably didn't want to know where he'd been holding that.
"Deluxe Chemistry Kit." Robert whispered at the mother, giving her a knowing wink. "From Santa."
It was the best he could do to keep his promise.
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 4:01 am
The girl's mother's bright social smile melted into a real one; she hadn't expected a mall Santa to really care and look so happy. She glanced at the bill in her hand, and her eyebrows jumped; then she shook Santa's hand, deftly slipping it back, and whispered, "Already wrapped and under the tree. Thank you. You're a great Santa." Louder, she said, "Thanks so much! Good job being polite, 'Licia!"
The little girl slipped her hand into her mother's neatly manicured one and hugged her arm, sparkling up at Santa. "Bye, Santa," she said. "I promise I'll leave you cookies!"
Then they were off, headed for one of the big department stores; but both mother and child looked genuinely happy.
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 4:10 am
When Robert pulled his hand back, he was surprised, and just a little heartbroken, that the money was still in it. He should have known the mother was already on top of things. He should have known he couldn't buy his way into a family. But he'd wanted to. For just, just one minute, he'd wanted to be Santa for that little girl. No, he realized, he wanted to be the one who really should be buying her presents. He wanted a little Alicia of his own, to bring to see Santa. He wanted.. He wanted lots of things he could never have. Robert feigned another happy smile at the girl as they left, waving to them as they walked away. He turned to go sit back at his throne, and one of the elves caught the look on his face. It was tragic. "Dude." She whispered. "You're going to bum out the kids." She put her fingers against her own cheeks, mimicking a smile, and Robert stared at her in melancholy for a while, before sucking his gut up and faking the smile again. He was back, on Santa's throne, ready for another kid, but his heart just wasn't in it anymore. lizbot 14 cheer, my body is ready
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 12:03 pm
Gradually the line grew smaller and smaller as the day turned to night, until finally, only one child remained. A small girl with large brown eyes and chestnut curls approached Santa cautiously. She had obviously dressed for the occasion, with red stockings, a green skirt, and a hideous but comfy looking sweater that featured a glittery kitten in a Santa hat. She paused a few few feet away, looking at him in confusion until her mom ushered her on with a quiet, "Go on, Rene. Go talk to...Santa." As her daughter nodded solemnly and closed the gap, the woman looked at Robert with her own look of confusion. "Hi Santa, it's me," the girl greeted him, "Did you get bigger? Did you lose weight? Mr. Mittens got fat and we had to put him on diet, did you go on a diet too?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:55 pm
The line of children had managed to slowly wear down Robert's sadness, as he shared in a moment with each and every child, and began to forget his troubles once more. They were all so different, and sometimes they kicked him in the balls, but every once in a while that sweetheart came along and warmed his heart again, to make it all worth it. The day was almost over, but Robert hadn't even realized he'd been here that long, as he picked up the last child on the line and sat her on his lap. Then he got a good look at her, and choked. Her questions confirmed what he'd been thinking, and he let out a soft, wavering laugh, wrapping his arms around her in a bear hug. "Ohhh, princess." He chuckled out emotionally. "It's good to see you." He pulled away, trying to get back into his role, but the tears in his eyes and the goofy smile on his face were messing him up. "No, no diet. Milk and cookies all the way. I'm so glad you're okay, princess." He sniffled, and wiped his eyes with one gloved hand, before shaking his head and forcing himself back into character. With a bellowing voice he asked, "So what would you like for Christmas, little girl?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 4:10 pm
Shifting a bit, Rene beamed up, "I'm glad you're okay too, Santa. But you need to eat some vegetables too, kay? Mom said even magical people need to eat healthy, because choler-tol is non-discro...discrimintory." She preened at getting the word out, and then settled in to get down to business. "Me and Mr. Mittens have been extra super good this year. And..." brown eyes shifted to her mother, and she lowered her voice, "...and brave, so I think I'm ready for that bike. With the basket for Mr. Mittens to ride in."
Bowing her head, the girl continued, "And maybe some snacks and map, because...Mr. Mittens is going to go find his Daddy, and he'll need me to pedal."
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 4:47 pm
Robert listened to every single word Rene said with the look of utter and complete enthrallment. He nodded at the vegetables warning, giggling when she couldn't say the word discri- well, he would have had trouble with it, too. He knew just how brave she really was. He would have bought her a million bikes, if he could have, but when she told him what she planned to do with it, his smile finally faltered. "Sweetie, that sounds dangerous. I don't want you biking off alone lookin' for trouble like that. The world's a dangerous place, you know that. I'll get you a bike, but you've gotta promise me you won't go lookin' for no daddy. Your momma would be super sad if you got lost, or worse." She looked up at the mother, catching the look in her eyes, and quickly looked down again.
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 4:57 pm
Her lips compressed into a flat, stubborn line, "But his Daddy might be lost, and its making Mr. Mittens really sad." Rene's eyes flickered to her mom, and her hands formed into small, trembling fists, "And I think Mom would be really happy if we found him so...so I'm sorry Santa, but I can't promise that."
She stared up at him, expression still hopeful, "It's okay if I don't get a bike but...but can I still get the special hug?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 5:01 pm
She wasn't talking about Mr. Mitten's daddy.
Robert's arms tightened reflexively around the little girl. He wasn't going to give up on her so easily. "Rene, Mr. Mittens daddy isn't lost. He's just.. he can't be with Mr. Mittens anymore, but he loves you all very very much, and you have to just trust that and not go out looking for him." He was trembling, now. "Just think about it, for Santa. Please."
He wrapped his arms around the little girl, his heart breaking as he held her like precious cargo in his arms. "Please, baby girl. Please be safe for Santa. That's what he wants, this Christmas."
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 5:12 pm
Small arms clung to him with a strength of every bit of sadness and longing her little body had been storing up. "I know," she hiccuped, "...I'll try, I really will, but I won't promise because those are forever." Rene's voice broke on the last word, and then she pulled herself up and gave him a small, fierce kiss on the cheek. "If you see him, you give him that okay?"
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