It was here, in this very spot, that I met him last year. I was taking a cigarette break in between tooth-collecting stops, admiring the view of the town below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only one house was close enough to see inside \u2013 log fire burning, Christmas tree aglow, presents piled beneath it. A couple clinked wine glasses on a squishy sofa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Cheers!\u2019 I muttered, raising my cigarette aloft. I had my own present haul in a bag beside me. I\u2019d only taken a few gifts from the children\u2019s stockings while I grabbed their teeth. I called it a Christmas Eve bonus, although it was mostly tat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Behind me, a rustling sound in the long grass. I turned to see Santa striding towards me. No jingle-bell warning like in the movies – he\u2019d left the reindeer in the next field. I dropped the cigarette and stamped on it, waving the smoke away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Don\u2019t mind me,\u2019 he said, reaching inside his suit. He took a long swig from a sliver hip-flask before handing it to me. We sat down, passing it back and forth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018So magical when they believe, isn\u2019t it?\u2019 He gestured towards the couple in the cosy house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Huh?\u2019 My head was already spinning from the two sips of sherry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018They think they did all that: the shopping, the present-wrapping. All of it. They don\u2019t know I exist. Not \u2018til their children grow up and forget, at least. Lovely while it lasts.\u2019 He sighed. \u2018I\u2019m getting too old for this game.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I almost choked on my drink. \u2018What? You only work one night a year! Some of us are out here every night.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018There\u2019s seasonal work for fairies too. Didn\u2019t you fancy that gig?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I looked at the fairy atop the tree. \u2018Ugh. The ultimate indignity. A Christmas tree right up your\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018A wish-granting job, then?\u2019 he said swiftly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I took another swig, the alcohol burning my throat. \u2018Tried that. Got sacked for granting a family any wish from a Christmas song. The kid wished for it to be Christmas every day and his Dad wished he was home for Christmas. But the Mum had already skated away on a river. I did laugh! The elder fairies didn\u2019t find it funny, though.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Santa might have stifled a smile. \u2018I could do with a helper.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My heart leapt before I remembered. \u2018I\u2019m still on probation.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018How about you accompany me on my rounds tonight, and we return this lot as we go?\u2019 He eyed my bag of stolen presents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018How did you\u2026 never mind, yes!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rest of the night was a blur after all that sherry. I may have put teeth in the stockings and delivered presents to the elders instead of a stash of milk-teeth. But among them was a Dyson hairdryer, which solved the Fairy Queen\u2019s longstanding flat hair problem, so I passed my probation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year, I have a new boss and part-time hours. And this remains our tipple-stop. Cheers! See you tonight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unless I decide to keep your presents\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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