Page 11 of Mishaps and Mistletoe

A touch of Christmas graced every inch of the main lobby. Icicles dangled from the ceiling and giant candy canes lined the pathway for photos with Santa. Volunteers had even decorated the donation boxes to look like giant presents.

Josie walked to the trifold displays of photos. Memories of toy drives throughout the years hung proudly on the stands, a testament to how much hard work went into the annual event.

“Elno? What’s that?” Hannah asked as she stood beside Josie, looking at the photos.

Josie chuckled lightly at the picture of her sister and her holding signs with letters on them. “We were literally holiday cheer. Had a whole cheerleading routine and everything. It was my idea to add signage to the skit at the last minute. I got a little caught up in the excitement of the moment, and I stood on the wrong side of Courtney.”

“It was supposed to say Noel, wasn’t it?”

“You cracked the code. Better than the kid who booed us and shouted that we spelled Elmowrong.” Josie shook her head at the memory. “And then there was the year we thought it might be fun to line the path to Santa’s chair with toy soldiers.” She paused and released a shallow sigh. “It looked so cool until a toddler got spooked by Santa and knocked them down like dominos as he made his escape. So, that’s what you see there.”

“That’s a lot of carnage,” Hannah mused.

“It was. But we always had such a fun time with this event.” Josie closed her eyes for a moment, the flood of memories hitting her much stronger than she’d expected. Hannah’s touch on her back, rubbing small circles, grounded her. After a few slow, deep breaths, she opened her eyes.

But she didn’t like what she saw.

The trifold boards acted like windows to a life Josie was watching from the cold outdoors. Separating herself from these moments no longer felt like a method of survival for her; it acted like a wedge between her and a life she once loved. A life she didn’t allow herself to live anymore. And for the first time, she felt like she was missing out.

“Bravo on the new Santa, ladies!” a voice boomed, pulling Josie from her Ebenezer Scrooge moment.

They both turned to see Mrs. Morris, Josie and Max’s childhood neighbor, water aerobics enthusiast, and unofficial town meddler, arms filled with toys.

“Renee, what do you mean bynewSanta?” Hannah asked as she took the donation from the elderly woman’s hands.

“Yeah. I accidentally saw him outside getting ready. He’s just like I like my Santas: tall, dark, and jolly. Kinda like one of those Hemsworths Hannah named her houseplants after. Too bad there’s an age limit to sit on Santa’s lap.”

Josie could have told her there wasn’t, but the waggle of Mrs. Morris’s brows made her keep that bit of information to herself.

“Let’s go see what happened to Chris. Mrs. Morris, thank you for the donation,” Josie said as she hugged her.

“No, girls. Thankyou. Next year, consider putting that studly Santa on the fliers. Bet you’d get an even bigger turnout.”

Josie and Hannah walked to what used to be a basketball court. Today, it was the North Pole. A huge backdrop with a gingerbread house painted on it, draped behind a velvet throne, and massive cardboard cutouts of various candies and cookies flanked each side, glittered to perfection.

“Here we are.” Johnny shuffled into the gymnasium, with Max following closely behind. The jingling bells on their wrists and shoes accompanied their arrival.

“You guys make adorable elves,” Hannah gushed. Josie didn't miss the way her eyes glowed when she saw Max. As bittersweet as it was, she was glad for her sister’s boyfriend. Max deserved happiness, even if he couldn’t have it with Courtney.

“That’s us," Johnny responded, wiggling his foot to sound the bells. “We’re the jolliest bunch of—”

“Johnny,” Josie hissed. “There are children everywhere.”

“—elves this side of the North Pole. Geez, Jojo. Did you really think Jingle would use foul language in the middle of Santa’s Wonderland?”

Josie squinted her eyes. “Uh, Jingle? Who’s Jingle?”

“It's my elf name. I can't risk blowing my cover, especially since I see a lot of these kids at the gym during the after-school program." He hooked an elastic loop over his ears and pushed a red beard across his face. “Alright—Jingle and Muffin at your service.”

Max shook his head. “Nope. I didn't agree to names.” He glanced down at his green tights that left little to the imagination. “Only an emasculating costume.”

“Speaking of costumes," Johnny said, pulling down his faux beard. “Chris came down with the flu and couldn’t make it. But no worries—we found a replacement for Santa."

Before she could question him, Johnny pulled up his beard, winked at Josie, and walked behind the gingerbread backdrop, Max jingling begrudgingly behind him.

“Okay, then.” Hannah’s voice trailed off. “Time to get to work, I guess.”

Josie and Hannah opened the doors to throngs of people, their arms filled with toys. Most dropped off their donations and ran to play some holiday-themed games like Pin the Nose on Rudolph. Others got in line to get a photo with Santa once he entered the building.

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