Santa Loves Curvy Girls

2. Nick

2

NICK

“ S ee you at Haley’s New Year’s party?” Kane asked as we parted ways after the lighting of the Christmas tree.

I hesitated. “Um, maybe. I’ll text you?” With one last wave, I made my way back home.

While I played on the football team at school, Kane was our resident star pitcher. Most of the school jocks would be at Haley’s big holiday party this weekend. The cheerleaders too. But what I really wanted was to spend some time away from everyone.

It was pressure enough during football season, knowing everyone’s eyes were on me. What I wanted this Christmas was a chance to be someone different.

Play a different role than the one I had always played.

That’s why I’d asked my dad if he’d ever been picked to be Santa in Garland.

Getting to be Santa Claus was a huge deal in this town, and the rule was that no one could know who it was. Even now, Dad wouldn’t tell me, but I had a sneaking suspicion he’d been selected back in his day.

Let’s just say I’d noticed one year in Mom’s photo album when Garland Santa and Dad had never been in the same room. I’d never be able to ask him and find out for sure, though, and Mom always got kind of weepy if he came up. The holidays were a tough time for her.

I bet it paid good money to be the official Santa in Garland. Every winter, I took on as many small jobs as I could for my college fund. Shoveling driveways, chopping firewood, that kind of thing. I’d even played Santa Claus at the mall a couple towns over last year. Anything where I could get away from the spotlight for once.

The guys on the team were nice—and so were the cheerleaders—but it also felt like none of them really saw me for me.

A couple minutes later, I walked into Santa’s Elves. I liked to come in here around this time of year to see if there was anything I could do to help. When my mom came upon hard times after my dad died, this place had really helped us out for a few months. I’d been too little to know what was going on, but I still remembered shopping for groceries in the food pantry in the back. The presents I’d unwrapped under the tree that year had come from here too. Santa’s Elves was there for any family in Garland who needed a little extra help.

Whether it was mopping the floors, hauling away junk, or reading books to little kids, they usually had something for me to do, and tonight was no different.

Mrs. Mulberry’s eyes twinkled up at me from behind her glasses. “I don’t know what we’re going to do without you once you’re off to college next year, Nick.”

I smiled and picked up the heavy box she wanted me to move to the basement. “Oh, you’ll just have to keep putting up with me, ma’am. I’ll be here every winter break. You can count on it.”

That was if I ended up making it to my number one choice. The state university wasn’t cheap, but my grades were decent and I could throw a football. I had a chance of snagging some sort of scholarship.

After I finished moving boxes, I came back upstairs. “Anything else I can help you with, Mrs. Mulberry?” I asked, leaning forward on the counter.

“You’re wonderful, sweetie,” she said. She was sorting through food donations. “That’s all.”

Before I could ask if she wanted help stocking all that stuff in the pantry, she spoke up again. “Oh, by the way, I hear there’s a package you need to sign for at the post office, hon.”

My brow crinkled. “A package? Are they open now?”

She nodded. “They always work extra hours around the holidays to get everyone's packages shipped out. Mr. Long called about an hour ago. He knows you come here on Saturdays.”

Mr. Long was about ninety-five years old, and he still worked at the Garland Post Office.

“Okay,” I said, wondering what kind of package was waiting for me. It would be a first. “I’ll head over there then.”

“Merry Christmas, sweetie,” she said with a smile that made her eyes crinkle.

“Have a merry Christmas, Mrs. Mulberry,” I replied.

The post office was only a few streets over. I was there in no time, especially because I had no idea who would be sending me a package.

We didn’t usually get gifts from relatives or anything. And anyway, wouldn’t those come to our house?

I walked in. It was packed, as it always was this time of year. There was a long line of people, all holding packages of various sizes.

Mr. Long was at the front, slowly ringing up Ms. Jane, who worked at the library.

“Nick!” he said, spotting me. “I’ve got something for you.”

With that, he ran to the back and returned a minute later with a large brown package in his hands. “This is for you.”

I took it. “But I’m not expecting anything.”

I noticed some wording. “To be opened only by Nick St. James.” I saw there wasn’t a return address either, but Mr. Long was already back to helping the next person in line, so I couldn’t ask about it.

The box was big enough that I wondered what could be inside. It wasn’t super heavy. I could carry it home no problem, but what was it?

As I made my way home, I took guesses. It was too big to be a new video game console. Plus, I wasn’t really into video games. Mom would never go for it anyway.

Maybe Mom had ordered something else for me, but that had me feeling a little guilty. I didn’t want her spending money on expensive gifts for me. If anything, she deserved something nice, not me.

I made it home and closed the door behind me. Mom wouldn’t be home until later, so the house was quiet. I walked past our goldfish in the living room and headed to my room.

After I set the box on my bed, I took a step back, still wondering what it could be. Only one way to find out.

I found a box cutter in the junk drawer in the kitchen and went back to the box.

Time to find out what this thing was.

The box cutter sliced neatly through the packaging tape. I opened up the box, and my jaw fell open.

No way.

“No way, no way, no way,” I said to myself.

Was this…

I held up the large red suit with fluffy white trimming. There was even a sturdy black pair of boots in here. And a hat.

When I pulled out the hat, a small white note fell out.

Garland Mall, 3pm on Sunday.

Keep the secret. Keep the magic alive.

I set the note down and looked at the Santa suit on my bed.

It would be me. I was this year’s Santa Claus.