Two hours after Susan went to sleep Mrs. Walker returned from her date with Mr. Bedford, but she appeared a bit sad. To avoid complicating the situation I simply said goodnight and left.
Upon exiting the lobby I saw Mr. Bedford across the street and decided to talk with him, while waiting for the taxi I called to arrive.
"Mr. Bedford"
"Mr. Kringle"
"Please call me Kris"
"Okay Kris how was your night as a babysitter?"
"It was wonderful, Susan is an exceptional child. How was your evening?
"It started out great...a wonderful evening we spent together, but... towards the end I... asked her to marry me... she refused"
"I see... well perhaps the timing was off. I know how much you liked her and I know you enjoyed spending time with Susan. Perhaps you let your emotions get the better of you"
"I may have been hasty with my declaration, but I thought I could overcome her past. What I know about Mrs. Walker is fragments and rumors. I know that she had a tough life with her husband abandoning her and Susan, right after Susan's birth, but now the bitterness she has accumulated is affecting Susan."
"I agree, Susan honestly tries to believe in me, but she is also loyal to her mother's wishes. I can't fault her for that. And in there lies the problem... if I can't convince the mother... I have no hope in convincing the child."
As we sat there in silence the taxi I called for had arrived. Getting up to leave Mr. Bedford followed me.
"I always wondered what guys say when they return an engagement ring to the sales clerk at the jewelry store. Now I don't wanna known."
As I entered the taxi he handed me the ring box.
"I'm sure you can find a lucky guy to gift this ring to"
"Well it is a shame, but I will see what I can do. Have a goodnight Mr. Bedford"
"Goodbye Kris."
December 17th
The day began like any other. Children waited in line to meet me, while their parents shopped for gifts. As I was speaking with a young boy, a man walked into the line and began harassing the workers. They attempted to reason with him, but he brushed them off.
He began to shout towards the children while glancing my way, before the situation could escalate security arrived, which forced the man to leave.
I do not know what he was trying to achieve, but I have a feeling... I will see him again.
Later that night as I was leaving Coles, I felt that someone was following me.
Finally connecting what happened this morning and what I remembered from the film, I decided to avoid a confrontation and began to pick up the pace.
Unfortunately, the situation was out of my control.
As I continued walking, I almost reached the corner, two men suddenly appeared blocking my path. These men were dressed as Santa, but their suits were stained and smudged. Their beards were cheap fakes that would probably break if you pulled too hard.
One was carrying a baseball bat, while the other pulled out a pair of brass knuckles. All the items had a piece of mistletoe tied to them.
I have a bad feeling...
"Hey!!"
Turning around the man from this morning was standing right behind me. Same one who disgraced himself at the parade.
"So you finally noticed me huh... let me ask you something... you think your better than the rest of us huh!?!"
"Just because your beard is real and your suit is custom made makes you think you are better than us working stiffs."
"Well... here is a present from each of us to you... Santa!!"
Once he shouted my name I felt the hair on the back my neck stand up and ducked.
WHOOOSH
A bat rushes over my head.
Seeing the failed attack, the man in front charges at me. I dodge to the side and quickly turn around to face all three.
3 v 1... not the best odds, add to the fact that I have never been in a fight... ever, means that the odds just dropped.
I needed to even the field.
Pulling my belt off, I take a deep breath before addressing them.
"A gift for me I'm touched... sadly all I have... is a whooping for each of you!"
"GET HIM!"
WHOOSH SLAP
I dodge the bat once more, while slapping the man with the bass knuckles in the face with the belt stunning him.
The Santa with the bat swings again, which I block with the belt before kicking him, forcing him away.
The unarmed man grabs my hands trying to get me to drop the belt. In response I headbutt him and then whip his stomach.
The man with the knuckles rejoins the fight
"Kiss my fists!"
I step back to avoid the punches, unwrap the belt and whip him in the knee to stop his advance. Succeeding I strike again, but this time I wrap my belt around his neck and pull him towards me. Once he is in my range I punch him in the gut with my right before I hit him with a hook from the left that knocks him out of the fight.
"SHIT!— YOU BASTA—WHOOSH"
With the advantage I strike the man with the bat, hitting his arm. He retaliates with a slash, but is too far back.
Putting my whip proficiency to good use. I take three steps forward and strike his face twice in quick succession. He drops the bat allowing me to approach unopposed. A quick jab to he jaw and he drops.
Now for the last one
...
???
Where did he go?
"FREEZE! Drop the belt!"
... Opps
Notes then add and revise to make story
NEXT DAY
News of my arrest appeared in the local news, they claimed that I reacted recklessly using excessive force against two men.
There was no word of the third man or of the weapons used against me within the papers. According to the media it was a simple misunderstanding that I escalated into a brawl.
Right...
Still the case being made against me wasn't about the assault, but about my mental faculties to be out in public and if I should be allowed to continue working as Cole's Santa.
As I waited in the mental institute Mr. Bedford visited me to provide counsel and to ask why I purposefully failed the mental exam.
Obviously I couldn't tell him that I knew what happens next, so instead I told him that I let myself lose control, which was kind of true.
"I disgraced myself"
"I don't buy it Kris. I read the transcript of what happened. You defended your self and your honor. You stood up to bullies and no matter what the media may say you are still Santa Claus"
"Only if the children believe that. and what kind of Santa Claus would they believe in anyway. An angry man who used his fists at the first sign of trouble? No, they can't look up to me anymore."
"Perhaps, but think about what happened that night. Police arriving minutes after the altercation, a tabloid photographer was nearby and the man who confronted you was the one you replaced long ago. No... this was a setup and I fully believe we can overcome this."
ok... ok... thank you Mr. Bedford
No problem and don't worry I am not the only one who will have your back.
Meanwhile at Cole's department store headquarters
BAM!
"Mrs. Walker! We are in conference"
"You Cowards! I just finished reading the company press release you should all be ashamed of yourselves. You really don't deserve to run the store!"
"Mrs. Walker!"
" We have spent millions telling people that we are the store that cares. Care about what!?!?
Profits? Ourselves? Our Jobs?
well what about when one of our own is in trouble and needs our help!"
...
Sigh... "What can we even do. The public perception of Kris is that he is dangerous. A threat to others and to himself."
"We have change public perception. If we stand with Kris, fight the rumors and tabloids. If we force the truth out, we can win. We can not leave Kris alone, we need to get into this fight, we need to believe in Santa!"
...
"Alright!"
...
"lets get ready then!"
December 22nd
Today was the trial. I'll be honest... I was a bit nervous. I have never done anything like this before in either lifetimes. Still this will be a moment to remember.
"All rise! Oyez, ozye. Let all those who have business before this court come forward. The honorable Justice Harper presiding. Draw near and you shall be heard!"
And so it begins.