Christmas Ashes Read Free

fleece bag lie on the floor next to him. It was tied in a golden rope.  
    “Funny, Dad. You scared the sh—“
    The bedroom door slammed shut. Santa flicked a white glittery powder into William’s face, silencing him. Santa stepped up to the teenager and leaned forward, their noses an inch apart. “You’ve been a very naughty boy, William.” Santa wrinkled his forehead and lowered the corners of his mouth. “Very naughty, indeed. And I do believe it’s time you face the consequences for your extreme misbehavior.”
    As Santa returned to the bag in the center of the bedroom, William reached back and twisted the doorknob. The door wouldn’t open. Santa waved his hand over the bag. The golden rope twisted away from it on its own.
    “Ho-ho-ho!” Santa laughed. “There’s only one place you’re going, Billy Boy. A special place I’ve reserved just for demented little delinquents like you.”
    He snapped his fingers. The bag tilted forward and opened. William raised his eyebrows, his eyes wide as saucers. Strands of Christmas lights shot out of the bag towards him. They wrapped around his body, pulling his legs together and pinning his arms to his side. The tips of the lights dug into his skin like thorns. They gave him quick shocks of electricity each time he struggled to break free. Within seconds, he had Christmas lights wrapped around him from neck to ankles.
    Santa wiped tears from William’s eyes and ruffled his hair. “Little Johnny is going to love his Christmas gift this year.” Then he shoved the naughty teenager into the red fleece bag, kicking him in the butt on the way in.
     
    * * *
     
    “Santa Claus was here!”
    Daniel jolted awake from his little sister’s yelling. He stretched his arms out and rubbed his eyes. Then he noticed a small gift box on his dresser with a card underneath it. He rolled his eyes and got up. He started heading to his door, but curiosity set in. He turned back around and lifted the gift box from his dresser. Something rattled inside of it.
    His door swung open. “Danny! Santa was here,” Josie said, her eyes wide with excitement. “Come look at what he brought me.”
    “In a second,” he said while pulling the lid off the box.
    “Whatcha get?” Josie said, stepping inside the room. “Is it from Santa?”
    Daniel stared down at the box and lowered his brow. Inside was a lump of coal. Josie peaked into the box and laughed. “You got a lump of coal for Christmas! You were on the  Naught List .” She chuckled again and left the room. “Hey, Mommy, Danny got a lump of coal from Santa Claus!”
    Daniel glared back at the hallway and covered the box. He dropped it on the dresser and opened the envelope. It had a Christmas card inside with an illustration of Santa Claus sitting by a fire. Inside, written in cursive, the message said:
     
    Daniel,
     
    I left you a lump of coal as a reminder of your bad behavior. Next year, if you remain on my Naught List, you’ll meet the same fate as William Hamilton. Believe in me, improve your behavior, and stop bullying little kids. Then, maybe I’ll reconsider bringing you a real gift for Christmas.
     
    I’m watching you,
     
    Saint Nicholas
     
    Daniel dropped the card and grabbed his cell phone. He called William, but he didn’t answer.
     
    * * *
     
    “Wake up, sweetie.”
    Jonathan opened his eyes and stretched. His mother stood by his bed with Trixie in her arms. He smiled and wished his mother a Merry Christmas.
    “There’s another gift under the tree,” his mother said.
    Jonathan sat up and wrinkled his forehead. “Really? You didn’t have to get me anything else.” His mother had already given him a new bicycle and computer tablet for Christmas.
    “It’s not from me,” she said and winked at him. “It’s from Santa Claus.”
    “Santa? Really?”
    “That’s what it says on the box.” Jonathan’s mother set the cat on his bed. “I’ll go make us some pancakes, and then you can open your gift.