Page 41 of A Raging Merry Christmas
“Hey, get some help. I’m stuck up here,” I shouted.
“There’s someone up the chimney,” EJ said.
“EJ, get your dad!” I ordered.
“Shit, Dante, he knows my name. Is that Santa?” EJ asked.
“No! It’s the person in charge of the spy elves. Why would Santa be here so early, and since when would Santa get stuck up a chimney? Nuh-huh, this is the baddie, and I bet he’s come to steal our presents,” Dante replied.
“What do we do?” Nashoba demanded.
“We gotta save Christmas,” Dante said.
A sinking feeling hit my stomach. Considering what my son had done to the elves, I’d a rough idea what he’d do to me.
“Dante Chance Michaelson. Get some adult help right now!” I ordered in a shrill tone.
That shit ignored me, and I heard him ordering the others about.
“Get the wood. Yeah, Mom stacks that and shoves paper in the gaps to make it burn,” Dante was saying.
“Should we get some gas to make sure it burns?” Nashoba asked.
“Don’t you little fuckers dare! Phoe would tan your asses red if you burn down the Hall!” I yelled. “Go get your dads! Dante, if you set that fire, I’ll make your life a living misery.”
“In that case, it’s all the more reason to put the fire on,” Dante replied.
There was rustling and noises below me, and I guessed they were laying a fire. My damn kid was going to cook me alive.
I began to struggle in earnest.
Ace had warned me I was too old to do this shit, and I’d not listened. In a panic, I struggled to get free. I could hear Dante ordering the others to search for matches, and EJ yelled that he’d found some.
My suit tore, and suddenly I fell the last few feet and landed on my ass with my legs out in front of me. Surrounding the fire were the kids and my brothers with the women. They all looked amused.
“You were going to burn me alive,” I snarled at Dante.
“Mom told me to,” Dante replied.
I glared at Phoe, who shrugged. “Needed that after today.”
I opened my mouth to argue and then closed it quickly. Her words were true. Today had been a shitshow. I could only hope tomorrow went better.
Epilogue –
The day finally arrives…
Rock, Gunner, and Apache - Apache’s POV
“Are you sure about this? They’re still a little frozen,” Gunner said, looking worried.
“It will be fine,” Rock replied, but I was with Gunner.
However, as Gunner loaded up the fryers with turkeys, he didn’t look too fussed. In fact, he looked excited. But I had misgivings.
An hour later, I wondered what I’d been stressed about.
Today had been picture-perfect. The caterers arrived early, and, as per tradition, each family collected a tray full of breakfast foods to eat in our rooms or cabins. The food had been cooked perfectly, and Zara, the woman in charge, was very helpful.