The Modern Mrs. Claus

Chapter three- January 10th

"So tell me again... You're starting a... Campain?"

"No, I'm started a charity case that will end by Christmas 2012..."

"Okay, well explain this charity case to me. Please."

"Well... Did you know that there are 2 billion children in the world and-"

"Okay okay, skip that part, get to the good stuff."

"Well, half of those children are in poverty-"

"I said skip to the good part."

"I am! Just listen!"

"Fine. Very well. Keep going."

"As I was saying: half of those children are in poverty, and since Santa is too old and fat to get to everybody in the world, I must be the modern Mrs. Clause and help him stretch the possibilities."

"You do know ma'am, that Santa is a myth right?"

"Excuse me. I didn't know your newspaper printed lies."

"I-I'm not lying ma'am."

"You most certainly are. Santa Clause isn't something you can prove. You could get all the people in the world checking their chimney's for signs of Santa Clause, and they wouldn't find him! Santa Clause is an idea. A beautiful idea that helps children get through a tough year at school, old men to get through a terrible heart attack. It helps a women get through her heartbreak. This idea is so beautiful, it makes even the grinches eyes shine. This is not just the idea of Santa, but of Christmas! Do you believe in Santa Clause? No? Then you don't believe in Christmas! Put that in your damn newspaper!"

"Ma'am-"

"Thank you for your time sir, and I can't wait to see this article in Sunday's newspaper!"

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I stared at the newspapers headline: Women starts crazed charity case, in hope of helping Santa Clause.

Slamming the newspaper down on the table, I started crying. How could they? It made me look like a complete fool. Jonah won't even speak to me. No, the children in Africa weren't the charity case, I was! "Jonah!" I wailed, "Come out so we can talk, please!" 

Silence.

"Damn you Jonah!" I yelled, "Why can't you get over yourself?!"

More silence.

I started sobbing, what else could I do? I kept sobbing and sobbing and sobbing until:

Ring, ring, ring.

It was the phone. I slowly made my way towards it, half in a trance. Picking it up, I wiped away my tears and hoped my voice didn't sound too crackly, "hello?" I whispered.

"Yeah, um, hi, so my daughter has a billion toys in her closet, and whenever I try to throw them out I find them again in her closet. My daughter's 21. So could I donate her toys to your cause?" Came a women's voice on the other end.

I wanted to jump and shout with joy, but I contained myself, "That would be great, hey, if she really had a billion toys, we would be half way to our goal!" I laughed a little, but the women at the other end just said, "listen. Where do I drop them off?"

"At my place. Just put them in a bag or something and drop it off at this address," I smiled.

After I told her the address, I put the phone down on the receiver and screamed up to Jonah: "HA! SEE JONAH? I'M NOT A COMPLETE NUTCASE! HAHAHAHAHA!! Haha! Ha! Ha. Ha. Oh." I groaned, "I see how it is, your just making me talk and then it sound like I'm talking to myself huh? Is that it?"

Then, struck with a reality too scary to say out loud, I checked the garage.

The car was gone.

I was screaming to nothing but ghosts.

That is one scary reality.

I heard someone at the door, their clomping footsteps gave them away. I flung open the door and was face to face with a young women of what looked like forty something. She stared at me.

"Hello. I called here a few minutes ago, here are the toys."

Then she was gone, faster than I could comprehend. I looked down at the black garbage bag and smiled widely, that was sure a lot of toys.

I went to grab the keys to the car when I realized that my boyfriend was gone with the car. Dang it.

Picking up the phone, I dialed his number, "hello?" his voice said, "yeah honey, I need the car, like, now."

"No, I need it more! I'm at a meeting, can't you just leave me alone for a sec?"

"If your at a meeting... Why do I hear music in the background? ARE YOU AT A BAR?"

"Honey, don't get mad!"

"DAMN IT JONAH GET HOME RIGHT NOW. WAIT. STRIKE THAT. LET ME TAKE YOU HOME IN THE CAR BEFORE YOU MEET SOME SPUNKY TWENTY YEAR OLD." I screamed.

"Okay." he said in a small voice, "love you. By the way,"

"Your drunk," I growled, then I slammed the phone on the receiver and remembered I needed to call a taxi.

I groaned, how could an amazing day turn out so rotten?