Santa’s Huge North Pole Page 2

  Be still my little ovaries.

  I think they might explode!

  One by one, we take picture after picture. It’s hours later before the line begins to die down and I can’t believe how many kids we’ve photographed. He has a natural gift with children—not a single one of them has cried. There were a few that were scared at first but once he offered them a candy cane and started talking about toys with them, they flocked to him.

  We’re almost finished when this woman carrying a ten-year-old girl walks up to the gate. “Excuse me,” she says. “Do you have time for one more picture?”

  Glimpsing up at her, I’m surprised that she’s carrying such an old child but then I see how limp her lower body is and that’s when I spot a child’s wheelchair by the bench behind us.

  She’s paralyzed. Her legs are so tiny in comparison to the rest of her body.

  “Yes,” I say, smiling at the mom and little girl. “We sure do! If you’re ready, we can go ahead and put her on Santa’s lap.”

  The mom carries her little girl over to him and places her on his lap.

  “What’s your name?” He asks her.

  “Lexi,” the little girl says. She’s so shy that it’s cute.

  “What would you like for Christmas, Lexi?”

  She gets real quiet for a moment, carefully forming her thoughts before she speaks. “I’d like to walk. Can you help me walk, Santa?”

  He looks up to me, then her mom. “That’s a pretty big request,” he sucks in a deep breath. The corners of her mouth fold down as she begins to frown. “But you know, Lexi, you’re very special. You know that, don’t you?”

  She slowly shakes her head. “I’m so different than the other kids at school and I just want to be normal like all of them. I want to run and play jump rope with the other girls but I can’t because of my stupid wheelchair.”

  “I see,” he says. “Let me tell you something. Santa’s been watching you all year and do you know what I saw?”

  She looks up at him, baffled. “What?”

  “The kids at school are jealous of you.” Her eyebrows arch in surprise.

  “Why would they be jealous of me? I’m the one who can’t do anything. I’m the only one who’s different.”

  “Exactly,” he says. “And that’s why they’re jealous. They’re all the same. They blend in and nobody ever notices them, but not you. Everyone notices you, Lexi, and it’s because your’e so special. They all want to be like you.”

  “Really?” She asks, her voice an octave higher.

  “Absolutely! The kids think your wheelchair is cool because you don’t have to walk. In fact, I’ve had several requests for wheelchairs from some of your classmates, but don’t tell them I told you that because it’s supposed to be secret.”

  Oh my god! First my ovaries and now my heart!

  “Okay,” she smiles real big. “I won’t tell them.”

  “So what would you like for Santa to bring you this year?”

  Chewing on her lips, her smile widens as her eyes grow big. “Could you bring me a doll that’s like me? In a wheelchair? So I can play with someone who’s like me?”

  He looks at her mom who quickly nods. “Sure, I think my elves can make something like that. What will you name her?”

  “Alexis, so her name is like mine.”

  “That’s awesome. Are you ready to take our picture?”

  She nods, gloating that Santa promised her a doll that’s like her. When I go to take the picture, I notice that one of her feet are turned sideways but she probably doesn’t realize it since she can’t feel them. Upon looking at her feet, I also notice something else: a massive bulge in Santa’s crotch.

  Holy shit! I know they say the camera adds ten pounds, not ten INCHES! How did I not see that before? I gulp at the site of his huge package. He probably has to tuck that thing into his underwear because it’s so big! And thick! I know what I want for Christmas this year!

  As I approach them to adjust her feet and legs, my hands shake as they grow closer to his crotch. It’s enormous and I want to touch it just to see if it’s real but I wouldn’t dare do something like that. Once I have her legs all adjusted and regain my composure, I try to focus on taking their picture but my eyes keep focusing on the giant lump in his pants.

  If he’s that big soft, I can’t imagine what he’d be like when he’s hard.

  After a few clicks of the camera, I print off the pictures that her mom purchased and wish them a merry Christmas. She’s still rambling about getting a doll in a wheelchair and talking about all the outfits she’s going to need so she can make their clothes match.

  My feet and back are aching by the time the mall closes, and I’m exhausted. We must have moved over a hundred families through the line tonight—maybe closer to 150.

  “That was great work,” he approaches me as I begin to put up my equipment and shut down the computer for the night.

  “Thanks. You did great, too! I was seriously impressed that none of the children cried or threw fits with you. You’re really good with kids.”

  There’s an awkward pause for a beat before he asks, “Your name is Jessica, right?”

  Surprised that he knows my name, my mouth drops open and I quickly shut it before I look like a fool. “Yes. How’d you know?”

  “Denise. She’s not the quietest, if you know what I mean,” he laughs.

  “Oh,” I giggle. “Yeah. What’s your name?” I’d just die if he said Dick.

  “My name’s Jimmy,” he says.

  Well, close enough to Dick. “Nice to meet you, Jimmy. I saw you working here when I came in for my interview. Is this your first time doing it?”

  “Yeah. You?” He asks.

  “Same. Well, to an extent.” His face contorts, and I’m sure he doesn’t understand. “You see, I’m a photographer by trade but I picked up this gig to bring in some extra Christmas cash.”

  “What’s your regular job? Do you normally take people’s photos?”

  “No,” I laugh. “I work for Dining On A Budget. I take photos of various foods, kitchens, and the like.”

  “Whoah,” he grabs his chest. “I’m seriously impressed. Beauty and brains.”

  My cheeks heat up an instant one-hundred degrees and I can feel myself sweating. “My sister helped me get the job,” I meekly say. “If it weren’t for her, I doubt they’d give a brand new grad the job but she worked her charm and helped me get my foot in the door.”

  “Attention shoppers,” the loud speaker comes on. “The mall will be closing in ten minutes.”

  “I guess we’d better get out of here,” he says, shrugging his shoulders.

  “It’s probably a good idea.” I pick up my bag and slide it over my shoulder. “Are you working tomorrow?”

  “Yeah,” he nods. “I need to get out of this get-up. I’ll catch you later.”

  “Bye, Jimmy. See you later,” I say.

  Walking out to my car with a goofy grin still plastered to my face, I can’t get my phone out fast enough to call Tamra to tell her about my first day at my new job. I want to spill my guts to her about Jimmy but it’s best not to count your eggs before they hatch. Besides, he’s probably not interested….although, he did say ‘beauty and brains,’ but maybe he was just being polite. There did seem to be a certain chemistry between us. But what if it’s all in my head? Maybe all the Christmas music polluted my brain and made me a little too hopeful?

  Chapter 4

  Jimmy

  Changing out of my Santa suit proved to be difficult last night when I got off work. Jessica is a totally hot babe and having her hand near my junk started to give me a hard on. I know it should be the last thing on my mind when I have a little girl on my lap but I’m only human. What guy wouldn’t get a boner if a sexy girl like Jessica had her hand a few inches from their cock?

  I’ve never met a woman like her. She’s somewhat reserved, very professional, sweet, and insanely sexy. Her curves are in all the right places and I like
the fact that she looks like she has a healthy appetite. There’s just enough padding on her that I could easily grab her ass while she rode my cock. I wish I would’ve asked her out last night but I was so tired after working all day and night, plus I have to do it all over again today. The good thing is that today’s Friday, so I only have to work one job this weekend. Luckily, for me, I get to work with Jessica all weekend instead of working in a dusty factory around a bunch of guys.

  While I get my bowl of candy canes ready for all the good little boys and girls who I’m going to see tonight, I smell a light vanilla scent waft through the air. I immediately turn my head and see Jessica standing behind the scrooge of a photographer who is more than grateful to be relieved from his duties for the day. Her hair is pulled back in a loose French braid with curly strands surrounding her face.

  She looks right at me and smiles, waving hello, as she straightens her station. I smile back and nod as I take my seat and note the long line of children waiting to tell me their Christmas wishes. It’s nearly impossible for my eyes to focus on them while I try not to stare at Jessica. She’s wearing a pair of Christmas-patterned leggings, knee-high boots, and a loose cable knit sweater with a belt cinching her waist.

  But I’m forced to pay attention to my job when a trio of children approach me. The oldest is chatting away at a mile a minute, going on about what she wants for Christmas, while her younger brother and sister fearfully stare at me.

  “And what would you like for Christmas?” I ask the younger two. Their eyes are the size of dollar pieces as they contemplate whether or not they should tell me.

  “Go ahead and tell him,” the eldest child says. “It’s Santa! And if you don’t tell him, he won’t know what to bring you, and you’ll probably get something you don’t want.”

  The two younger siblings look up at their older sister as she nods, urging them to tell me. “I’d like a new bike,” the little boy finally says.

  “A bike? I might be able to manage that, though it’ll be big on my sleigh. What about you?” I ask the younger sister.

  She coughs all over me and wipes her snotty nose on the sleeve of her shirt before saying, “Do you think you could bring me a dollhouse?”

  “Have you been a good girl this year?” I ask her. She frantically nods, still afraid of talking to me. “I’ll see what I can do. How about a picture for your mom?”

  The oldest takes her place on my right knee and helps her sister onto my other knee while their brother stands between them. Jessica’s warm smile makes the children smile as she tells them to say ‘cheese’ on the count of three. The mother is thrilled with how well the picture turns out, and then we continue the process throughout the rest of the night. It might be the busiest night we’ve had yet and I can’t wait to get out of this costume by the time 10:00 rolls around.

  “Tonight was a long night,” Jessica says as she puts away her equipment and cleans up her area. “After I dump this trash, I’ll finally be done.”

  “You know they have janitors that come around to do that, right?”

  “I know,” she says, “but they have to do so much, so if I can at least make my area clean, it’s one less thing they have to do.”

  “I’m going to go change out of this costume,” I announce. “But I had a question. I was wondering if you’d like to grab something to eat after we get out of here?”

  “Oh, I’m starved,” she says. “I was hungry before I came in and now I feel like I could eat a horse!”

  I laugh at her. “Okay, give me a few minutes to get changed and I’ll meet you right here.”

  Thankful that tonight didn’t end with a boner like it did last night, I quickly slip out of my Santa suit and change into my regular street clothes. I’m pleased to find Jessica waiting in my Santa chair with her bag neatly placed on her lap.

  “What are you doing?” I tease.

  “I don’t know. I just wondered what it was like to sit here,” she gets up and we start making our way to the parking lot. “You know all the kids think you’re magical and they all look up to you.”

  I shrug. “Yeah, but they have to know that I’m not the ‘real’ Santa, right? Like I don’t look nearly old enough—or, at least, I hope not.”

  “God, no,” she laughs, tucking one of her curls behind her ear. “But I’m sure a lot of them don’t know the difference. They think you’re like a God and can grant all their Christmas wishes.”

  “Yeah, I remember when I was that age and thought the same thing.”

  “So, where are you parked and what are we going to eat?” She asks.

  “I’m over there, in the blue Chevy, and we can eat wherever you’d like. Are you in the mood for anything?” As soon as those words leave my lips, I instantly regret them. Secretly, I hope she’s in the mood for something because I’d like to see her butt naked, spread out on my bed, but that’s not exactly what I meant—not right now, anyway.

  “Well, I’m over there in the silver mustang, and I could go for anything. Where do you want to meet?”

  “Meet?” I laugh. “I thought we could ride together. I can drop you back off at your car when we’re finished.”

  “Oh,” she says, her cheeks turning red as she giggles. “Okay. We can go anywhere, really.”

  “Come on, Jess, you’ve got to know what you’d like. I’ll eat anywhere you suggest.”

  She pauses and smiles. “Jess? Nobody calls me that except for family and very close friends.”

  “Oh,” I say, thinking I just fucked up. I didn’t think anything of it and it just kind of came out.

  “No—it’s okay,” she says, touching my arm. “I like it. How about if we go to Applebee’s? They have a special right now on their drinks and appetizers so we can stuff ourselves and have a nightcap together.”

  “Sounds good,” I say as we head over to my truck. “And, by the way, if I didn’t love my truck so much, I’d suggest we take your mustang and you let me drive it.”

  “We can, if you want, I’d let you drive it.”

  “Maybe next time,” I say as I open her door and help her climb into the cab.

  At the restaurant, we opt to sit at the bar where a game’s playing on the televisions but I hardly pay attention to it. All I can do is focus on her and I have to be mindful not to stare at her but she’s so damn beautiful. The way her face lights up when she laughs is charismatic and she has such a pretty smile.

  “So,” she says, taking a sip of her Bloody Mary. “Tell me, what do you do for your day job?”

  “I work in a factory with my brother. It pays well and I have full benefits, and the work isn’t too hard.”

  “Oh? You have a brother?”

  “Yeah, he’s my twin. I thought I mentioned him?”

  “No,” she says, popping a cheese stick in her mouth. “Are you guys alike?”

  “No, we’re literally twins. Identical. You’ll meet him this weekend when he works at the mall.”

  “Oh, so you both play Santa?”

  I nod, gulping down the rest of my beer. “Yep. He’s actually the one who talked me into taking the job. I’ve been staying with him for a while to get out of debt and a sewer line broke under his house so we’re both working to help cover the cost of repairs.”

  “That sucks,” she says. “But it’s awfully nice of you to help him out like that.”

  “Well, he’s been letting me stay with him for free so it’s the least I can do. He’s a pretty good guy and I think you’ll like him.” Hopefully, not too much, I think to myself but don’t say a word.

  “That’s cool. I just have my sister, Tamra. We fought like cats and dogs growing up but we get along okay now. She’s married and has kids.”

  The day I met Jessica, I noticed she didn’t have a ring on her finger and now the question is burning inside me. “How come you’re not married?” I finally blurt out. It comes out more blunt than I’d like but I’ve never been the beat-around-the-bush kind of guy.

  “I don’t know
, I guess I never met the right guy,” she shrugs while sipping her Bloody Mary.

  “Would you like another?” I ask, noting that hers is almost gone.

  “Please.”

  I flag the bartender over and ask for another beer and Bloody Mary. “Since you got to ask me a question, I’d like to ask you one,” I say when the bartender returns with our drinks.

  “What’s that?”

  “What is the right kind of guy for you?”

  Her cheeks turn rosy and she tries to glance away but I don’t let her. “Ah-ah,” I say, grabbing her chin. “Tell me, Jess, what type of guy are you looking for?”

  “Seriously?” She asks, blushing like crazy.

  “I want to know.”

  She takes a long sip of her drink, stalling for time. “I don’t know. Maybe someone who’s honest, caring, good looking, smart, and has common sense.”

  Her response almost makes me laugh but I hold it in because I can tell she’s dead serious. “Not trying to dig up the past, but what kind of losers did you date?”

  Now she laughs and it’s contagious because I start laughing with her. “A lot of them,” she says. “You’d be amazed how many guys are clueless whether it comes to finances, cheating, or overall common courtesy.”

  I nod, taking another drink of my beer. “You’d be surprised by how many girls are clueless about the same stuff.”

  “Nuh-uh,” she shakes her head, disbelieving me.

  “I swear. Once, I dated this girl who was drop dead gorgeous. She always dressed nice and was funny but after we started dating, I found out she blew all her money on clothes and regularly asked me for loans—that she never paid back—and she had a serious lack of hygiene.”

  “What?” She gasps. “Lack of hygiene? What does that even mean?”

  “Let’s put it this way,” I say. “She showered—for the most part—on a regular basis but when it was her time of the month, she stunk to high heaven.”

  “I don’t get it,” she says.