The Christmas Gift

Carla woke with a start and glanced at the bedside clock radio. A minute after midnight. With a sigh, she stood up and grabbed her fuzzy pink robe from the closet. Slipping her feet into her matching slippers, she headed out into the kitchen for a cup of hot tea.

"Why is it so cold in here?" she asked her cat, Fluffy, who was staring at her, quizzically.

Looking around, she noticed the back door was ajar.

"What the hell? I know I locked that before I went to bed."

Nervously, she peeked into the living room. The Christmas tree stood, unlit, by the picture window. A large present, wrapped in red and green paper sat beneath it.

"Is someone here?" Carla called out to the silent house.

No answer.

Carla turned on the tree lights so she could see better. Then, she picked up the present and shook it, cautiously. She unwrapped it, gently, wondering who could have snuck into her home and left it under the tree as she slept.

Carefully removing the lid, she found the cutest stuffed penguin she had ever seen. The penguin looked as if it was wearing a tuxedo. A red Santa hat with a white tassel topped it's adorable little head.

Carla picked up the half-filled glass of champagne still sitting on the coffee table and raised it. "A toast to my Secret Santa!"

The smile faded from her face; something wasn't right. Her throat tightened, making it difficult and then impossible to breathe, let alone scream. Looking at the glass in horror, she noticed a fine, white powder on the rim. As she fell to the floor, her robe came untied and the remainder of the champagne spilled onto her silky, red nightdress.

Santa stood silently in the corner, watching, a smirk on his round face. He glanced at his list. "Carla, naughty. Check."


317 words