A Christmas Story

Christmas. What a time. Honestly, I wish it would just not. Would it be so terrible to just take a year off from winter holidays? Just this once? That'd be great.

All these holidays make me realize how many "friends" I actually have and how alone I truly am. At least, at home, I have no friends. Any time that I try to make plans with someone, something comes up or they're too busy already hanging out with other mutual "friends". If I was on campus with the people that I see and hang out with every-single-day, I'd be able to at least go get food or explore Walmart with them. But no, not at home.

Really. Am I that much of a bother to them? Sure, high school was a rough time for me. But it is for everyone. I may be an introvert, but I'm not that much of one where I'm actually content being locked in my room continuously.

I watch every single Hallmark and cheesy Netflix Christmas rom-com, because why not. Though, no matter the mood I go into watching them with, I always come out feeling worse.

Why do those people end up being with someone that cares about them? I'm better than them. I deserve that kind of life.

But, the voices in my head say otherwise. "You don't deserve that life. You really don't want it. You're better here alone. You don't want to bother anyone, do you?"

Constantly. They repeat those things and many others similar to it. They're the ones that make my life a living hell. But do I stop them? No. I believe the lies and continue to lay in my bed. Motionless. Silent. Until I decide to call it quits.

Yesterday was Saint Nicholas day. December 6th. It was a Sunday. Sunday's have always been the worst days for me. Though, this one was different. I met someone when I woke up.

He was glowing. Standing at the end of my street with a tall hat and white robe. Next to him was a goat-man with long horns walking on his hind feet. I immediately ran up to them and asked what was going on.

The glowing man in the robes turned to me first and introduced himself. "I am Saint Nicholas. It is a pleasure to meet you. This next to me is my friend Krampus. We are going around visiting the children and giving them gifts according to if they're good or bad.

The demon Krampus spoke up, "You see my bag?" he said in a growl that no human could produce, "it has at least ten naughty children in it for dinner."

I must have looked a little confused because Saint Nicholas spoke up again, "You must be thinking how you can see us. Well there is a very simple answer."

"You're dead!" Krampus interrupts with a slight chuckle.

"Krampus... Try and be a little more sensitive to our friend here. He's been struggling a lot since you decided to put your demon friends in his head when he was younger" Saint Nicholas said, coming to my rescue.

"Hold on. You're the reason I was like that?!" I exclaimed harshly pointing my finger at Krampus.

"Of course," Krampus responded with a smirk of sheer happiness, "you were a naughty child. It was my job to punish you."

"So, you decided to terrorize me throughout the rest of my life with your little puppets in my head?" I rebutted.

"How else was I supposed to punish you? You didn't learn your lesson the first time. And I didn't want to just eat you, I needed you to suffer" Krampus said walking away, leaving Saint Nicholas and me behind.

Saint Nicholas gave me a reassuring look and went after Krampus. Once again, I was alone. Cold, on a winter night in the midwestern United States.

I walk in the opposite direction from Saint Nich and Krampus. Trying to just think. For once, the only voice that I heard in my head was my own. I went back inside my room and stood over my cold, lifeless body. I looked down and felt sorrow and pity for my living self. I left my room after a few minutes of starring and went into my parent's room and knelt down next to their bed. I immediately started to cry when I looked in my mother's eyes. I started apologizing, knowing that she couldn't hear me, saying how sorry I was for becoming the shell that I was and not giving her the knowledge of what was going on. I went around to the other side and knelt by my father. His breathing calmed me a little bit, just like it used to when I was young.

I stood up and went back outside to find Krampus and Saint Nich standing outside my door. Krampus looked as though he was just scolded by his parent. Saint Nich had the typical look of a disappointed parent on his face.

Saint Nich opened his mouth first, "Krampus has something that he'd like to say... Go ahead. He deserves it."

Krampus sheepishly looked at me and apologized for torturing me for the past eleven years. Saying, "You deserved much better in the world," and "I'm sorry for obliterating your life."

"We have an offer for you" Saint Nich chimed in. "We have an opening on the Board of Christmas Legends. We'd like to offer you that spot."

"What would I be doing?" I asked.

"You'd be my right-hand man" Krampus answered with a proud smile directed towards me.

"Why would I work with you? Especially after the hell that you put me through" I responded angrily.

"Now now," Saint Nich said, defusing the situation, "You wouldn't only be working with him. You'd also be working with myself and Santa."

"What kind of position are you offering?" I inquired.

"Your job would be to go around giving a warning to children about being good." Saint Nich answered, looking proud. "You would dress up in fur and carry a switch in one hand and a bag of nuts and candy in the other. Children would come up to you and do whatever you ask of them."

"I suggest you ask them math equations" Krampus chimed in.

"You could do that, or you could ask them to recite Bible verses" Saint Nich rebutted.

"And if they were to answer correctly?" I inquired.

"You would reward them with the candy and nuts from your bag," Saint Nich answered.

"But if they were wrong, a good, hearty thwack with the switch is what they would get," Krampus excitedly answered.

"Outside of those fundamentals, you're in charge of making up the rules." Saint Nich concluded. "Just... don't eat the kids. That's his job" He said pointing to Krampus.

From there, I went back into my parent's room. I kissed both of them on the forehead and left with Krampus and Saint Nich. I followed them back to the office of Christmas Legends and assumed my new position. When asked what to name my new position, they left that up to me. I contemplated a few names. Such as, "Krampus, but nice" and "Saint Krampus". But I settled on something even better.

Belsnickel. Or Saint Nicholas in furs.