Santa's Baby

Intro

                                It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go,
                                    Take a look at the five and ten, it's glistening once again,
                                            With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.

    Soft Christmas music floated through the frost bitten air, piercing every ear within reach with its soothing melody. Children giggled as they chased after each other with snowballs sticking to their woolen mittens, the occasional couple walked hand in hand on the sidewalk swapping secretive kisses underneath street lamps, restaurants were buzzing with life and in many apartment windows you could see families celebrating Christmas early, with friends and family.
Children and adults formed a line going around the town square into the middle of the park, standing outside of a small hut of red while snow fell upon its surroundings. Everything seemed so peaceful and jolly, but something seemed off.

    A child. She didn't laugh at her surroundings, she did not throw snowballs, and she didn't have anyone to share this moment with. She kept to herself while she sat on a bench and stared at the red hut, watching the children with their parents as all sounds were drowned out. She could be no more than six with a ratty winter hat on, her gloves were torn leaving her little fingers to be nipped at by the cold and she was covered by a thin nightgown with a patchy jacket and shoes with the soles falling out. As the night drew on, the young child drew her little jacket around her small body tighter and watched as the last child and their parent walked into the red hut. The child's curiosity got the best of her as she rose from the frozen bench and tentatively began walking towards the hut, watching as the child and their parent walked away with smiles adorning their faces.
    The young girl made her way slowly to the opened door of the hut, and peered around it to look inside. It was a cozy looking hut, a small fire was lit in a wood stove casting a luminous glow upon the tiny room, a little Christmas tree stood in one corner, and a plush leather chair that must have seen better days sat in the middle of the hut with a white wool rug underneath it. The smell of candy canes and fresh baked cookies assaulted her nose as she took in her surroundings, and her eyes grew wide and her mouth watered at the sight of the sweets.
    So enthralled by her new surroundings she failed to notice the large shadow walking behind her and the sound of heavy boots on the floor.
"Well, a little guest! How may I help you this fine evening?" A booming, but jolly voice spoke up causing her to jump and cower away in shock.