Do I really have to do this? (Patreon)
Content
I wanted to be Tiny Tim.
“Well you definitely can’t be Tiny Tim now," Lana scolds, "after that stunt you pulled with the protective ward.”
“Zat vardt," the Director snarls, "iz ze only zink keepink ze Krinkle from draggink every elf in ze buildink to Frostheim!”
“If we hadn’t put fresh chalk on the spot you touched," Lana explained, "we would have been in serious trouble! He could have come down that chimney in an instant and stuffed us in his jolly sack of despair and toil!”
Hey! I said I was sorry about that!
“No you didn’t!" Tiny T- (I mean the Ghost of Christmas Past, played by Alexia Minkworthy) snaps. "You got mad and said they should’ve told us earlier!”
“And they did tell us earlier," someone else added. "You just didn’t hear them because you wouldn’t put down your phone!”
I have a social media presence to maintain! If I don’t post something at least every ninety seconds my fans will start to worry!”
“Quit mit ze chatter! Just read ze cue cards!"
Sure thing, boss! Uhh ... Shout and be jolly: Come in! and know me better, Mel! Who's Mel? I am the Ghost of Kringlemas Present! Kringlemas? It’s called Christmas, you odd silly Frenchy.
“READ ZE CUE CARDS ONLY!!! NO EXTRA KOMMENTARY! Und I am not French!”
Eep! Okay, okay! Um, Look upon me! You have never seen the like of me before!
“This story has been done to death," Alexia grumbles. "They probably have seen- OW! What’d I do?”
I come to you now in this present moment to discuss - no, DISCLOSE the secrets of the present to you. Ugh, who wrote this? For in this season of joy, generosity, and merrymaking not all are as fortunate as you. Look around you! What do you see? You are in a cozy place with a roaring lion - no, sorry, fire ... warm drinks, and Five-Star entertainment. Oh please, this is barely two and a half-stars, and it’s only that high because I’m in it.
“VAT DID I ZAY ABOUT KOMMENTARY!?!”
The one you have betrayed so callously, at this very moment, could be hiding in a forsaken pine box in some forgotten corner of the world! Denied the festive pleasures that you take for granted at this VERY moment! Cold and alone with no one to share the season. Have you no shame? No pity? No decency? Did you plan to betray your wise and handsome elf lord again this year? Wise AND handsome? I can't wait to meet this guy, when's he supposed to be back? I KNOW, NO COMMENTARY! Lessee ... you betray him for what? Another whistle? Really? Whistle? That's what it says. You are taking this moment for granted! SHAME OF THE HIGHEST MAGNITUDE BE UPON YOU! Is Adler Young not allowed to have a peaceful holiday as well? Will you turn your back on his generosity again this year? Mayhaps you should look in the mirror and wonder if you are deserting such constellations.
“Ze line iz: DEZERVINK ZUCH CONZIDERATIONZ! Vhat iz wronk mit you?”
Hey! It’s not my fault! The stage hand isn’t holding the cue cards steady!
“Vait… Who iz zat?”
“What the-?" Lana bellows. "INTERN!!! What in Fuma’s name are you doing here??”
“I accidentally violated twelve of my restraining orders," the Intern explains sheepishly, "when I went Christmas shopping at the mall. I decided to lay low here until the heat dies down.”
“Hey! Back off, buddy!" the clapboard operator snaps. "This here is my gig! I’m under contract!”
“Vhat kontrakt?? I zigned notzink!”
“Aaaargh!" Lana bleats miserably. "It’s these DAMN lowfolk unions! Intern! Get out of here and go do something useful! Fetch me a coffee! I need a warm drink.”
“Sure thing, boss lady!”
“And this time make sure it's JUST coffee!”
“Vhy must I be made to zuffer zo…”
“Aw, quitcher bellyachin," the clapboard girl grumbles. "We’ve all got problems.”
“No zatz out of you, STAGE HANT! Just give ze Geist of Present ze schtory book!”
Okay, um… The start-
“UND SCHTART FROM ZE BOOKMARK!”
I did!
. . .
The start of the journey was fairly uneventful. There was a handful of townsfolk who asked Rebecca if she had any remedies to sell, but they were disappointed to learn that she was leaving for a while. Adler asked if they should head to Percysthorpe by train. Wow, that’s a silly name for a town. Couldn't you come up with something believable like Nether Wallop, now THAT’S a nice solid town name. But, uhhh, where was I? AH! He was informed that the little farming town they were in had no railway station, and unless they wanted to ride in a cart full of grain, they were walking until they hit a town that did have one. Wow, life before everyone had a car really sucked. So they walked.
While they were walking along they saw a strange mel on the side of the road. Lots of blokes named Mel in this story.
. . .
Bella's reading is interrupted by a loud thump on the roof.
“Vhat vas zat??”
“It came from up on the housetop!" Lana exclaimed nervously. "Where’s the intern? Send him out to check! Also, where's my coffee??
“The two-tailed guy is outside snogging with a vaguely female shaped snowman. Oh, never mind, he’s taking his pants off now."
“GAH! Close the blinds!”
“Stage hant, go outzide und check vhat it vas zat lanted mit zuch a loud ZZUMP on ze roof.”
“Sorry, I’m on break.”
“YOU ARE ALL HORRIBLE UND USELETZ!!!”