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Word Count: 1053

Christmas shopping was hectic normally but as the calendar creeped closer and closer to the 25th the malls and stores became a bit like war zones. The hottest toys were fought over, the shelves at the grocery story had been picked over, and the Malls were packed. For some stupid a** reason Pat found himself in one such crowded mall, his local mall, searching for those last minute things to gift to people, mostly coworkers or neighbors since he had shopped for, and wrapped, Fiona’s and his Dad’s presents weeks ago. The worst spot in the whole place was actually Santa’s Village.

A line stretched wound back and forth over most of the open space that Santa’s chair and backdrop were set up in, Pat guessed that the wait for most of those unlucky adults had to be a hour or more if the amount of people were any guess. The mix of laughter, crying, fussing, and chattering of children just became a cacophony of noise that could make a person’s ears bleed… or at least it felt that way to the tall redhead who turned away from the nonsense to check out the display of a sweets shop. He was debating on the merits of a box of chocolates or chocolate covered strawberries for Mrs. Lawson when someone suddenly tapped him on the shoulder.

He barely got a chance to turn around before this young woman started to berate him about being late, and not dressed, and something about getting to work. Considering her get up it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the short elf, in christmas green tunic dress, pointy shoes, and hat what else could she be!, thought he was part of the elf brigade to help Santa out with the kiddos waiting in line. “Look, I don’t know who you think-” Pat didn’t even get a chance to tell the elf lady that he ‘wasn’t the droid she was looking for’ before the surprisingly strong blonde twenty something dragged him towards an employee only entrance, her mouth running a mile a minute. “Mitchel right? I was told that a redhead by the name of Mitchell was going to be temping starting over a hour ago! Your late! So no excuses dude. Just get dressed and get out there before we end up with a riot on our hands. I won’t get fired over you being a twit! I just won’t!” With that warning she shoved him into a small employee room and rushed back out to the ‘front lines’ as it were.

Pat grimace. He could easily fix this mix up just by producing his driver’s license. He wasn’t this ‘Mitchel’ kid they were waiting on but it was pretty clear that the head elf needed all hands on deck, even if his weren’t necessarily Santa approved. Besides he really didn’t want anyone to get fired because of this little case of mistaken identity so with a sigh and a mental scolding to the little angel on his shoulder that talked him into it the tall redhead quickly changed. Soon he too was dressed in the elven holiday getup; fake velvet tunic that rode high on him, to the upper thighs, and was a bit tight across the shoulders with a red collar cut in a zigzag pattern to go with the tunic hem, red and white striped tight pants, white gloves, black pointed shoes with a bell that was already annoying the hell out of him, and the stupid red and green hat that clashed with his hair. Overall a ugly and cliche outfit that he thoroughly hated. At least the pants weren’t tights like the lady elf was wearing, he guessed mall management didn’t want to accidentally flash any male ‘presents’ if the stupid black plastic belt he was wearing didn’t hold the tunic in the right spot.

“Oh good, you're dressed. Becky wants you on the line like yesterday! Move your a**.” A pimply boy stuck his head through the office door and just as quickly left after checking to see if ‘Mitchel’ was ready for primetime. Pat followed reluctantly and soon found himself stationed working the line of waiting parents and their kids. He handed out candy canes, answered questions about how long it would take and ‘where was Mrs. Claus’ from kids and their folks alike, he even had to field a few single mom’s questions about his own ‘Mrs. Clause’ as it were… In general he was trying to keep everyone in line from fussing too much. It seemed like an eternity passed before he was given a brake but it was probably only a hour. Pat wearly ducked back into the breakroom to grab a soda from the mini fridge, it was the least they owed him, and was just cracking it open when a flustered young man came running in, his redhead all dishelveld from when he yanked his hat off. “So sorry! Work ran late then car broke down but I got here as soon…. Who are you?”

His explanation quickly changed to questions when the younger guy realized that Pat wasn’t someone he knew. Pat eyed the kid’s hair and asked, “Mitchel?” When the kid nodded uncertainty Pat could only smile wearly. “They thought I was you. Better get changed before Becky, the head elf, has a litter of kittens. I’ll just get out of this get up and slip out of here before anyone is the wiser.” Almost before he was done talking Pat was halfway out of the elf outfit and back in his normal clothes.

Sooner then one would expect Pat was slipping out of the employees only section Mitchel’s heartfelt thanks echoing in his ears. Pat told him to just write it off as a christmas miracle, seemed like the kid needed all the miracles he could get right then, before taking off. He was nearly out of earshot when he heard a rather loud and shrill, “WHAT!?!” coming from Santa’s village. Oh dear. Becky must have found out. Someone wasn’t happy. Chuckling Pat made his way deeper into the mall, he still had presents to get and spending a hour as Santa’s little helper didn’t actually help when it came to figuring out his own presents.