Malcolm

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WE ARE NEARLY TO THE front of the line, and my blood is boiling.

It’s not because I’ve had to wait like everyone else.  I’m not used to it, but it’s fine.

It’s because I’ve seen her.  And then, I saw that other fucking worker touch her.  Heard some of what he said to her, too.  Saw the discomfort in her eyes.  The sadness flit over her face.

My vision tunnels, focused on her.  My breath huffs through my nostrils like a bull about to charge.  When he moves back toward her, a hand raised as though to touch her again, I can’t stop myself.

“Hey!”  I squeeze out from behind the velvet rope, intercepting his extended arm with the grip of my fingers.

Incognito.  I must stay incognito. 

The man-elf spins around to look at me and reluctantly I drop his arm, but my eyes tell him what I’d like my fists to say.

Forcing the rage down somewhere deep, I lower my voice and bend close to his ear.  “I heard what you said to her.”  I look down to see his nametag. “David.”  I tap it with my index finger for effect.  “I suggest you knock that shit off and don’t come near her again. Don’t think that’s the kind of behavior they want here in Christmas Wonderland now, is it?”

David squints one eye, trying to figure out his next move while my curvy angel steps back, wide-eyed and unsure of what’s happening.

“No,”  David finally responds, his eyes darting around to see if anyone else is aware of the unfolding unpleasantness.

“Good,”  I answer, and our eyes lock for a moment.  The tightness in my body betrays that I’m still ready to throw a punch.  All I need is one excuse.  I see in David’s eyes that he’s backing away, mentally if not physically.  “What’s your last name, David?”

“Lippencott,” he mutters as I nod.

My nephew Randall’s voice breaks the tension.  “We’re up!” 

David turns to see Randall standing just behind me.  My eyes are glued to him.

“They said it’s our turn, we get Elf Penny.”

That’s all it takes to break the spell.  At Randall’s words, I look over and finally set my eyes on her nametag. Her mouth curves into an unsure smile and I summon all my strength, still baffled by the effect this young woman is having on me.  My heart pounds, blood flows into my already half-hard dick and I think of how inappropriate it is to walk through Santa’s Village with a boner for your elf escort.

Her cheeks rise with red, but it only makes her more beautiful to me. 

“Hi.” She leans down and focuses on Randall.  “I’m Elf Penny and I’m going to take you through the Christmas Village today.”

With that, Penny is in full character, focusing on Randall as she should, and I follow along behind, spellbound as I listen to her chatter on with him about being on the nice list, pointing out all the novelties and special items of note as we walk.

When we get to the sleigh ride—a little train that traverses the entire village—Penny asks Randall, “Would you like to take the sleigh ride with the other kids, or would you like me to ride with you?”

Randall looks over as a group of kids board the train, sans parents and elves.  “I’ll go on my own.”

“Great,”  Penny replies. “I’ll be right here waiting, then we will go see Santa.”  She turns back to Randall.  “Do you want your dad to come with you?”

Randall looks up at me and crinkles his nose like I’m a bad smell.  “That’s not my dad.”

With that, he’s off, stepping forward and finding a seat on the train with the other excited kids.

Penny and I are left on our own as he pulls away, and for the first time since I asked Margaret Davenport to the winter formal in seventh grade, there is a knot in my throat.  The familiar sensation rattles me again.  Fuck, I’m really not sure what this sweet Christmas cherub has shaken loose in me, but I know I have to keep it under control.

“So.”  She taps her foot, then I look down to see her toes point together. 

A smile edges my lips upward even as I fight it at every turn.  “So,”  I mirror, then continue even as my brain is screaming at me to stay cool and go find a quiet corner somewhere to wait for Randall to return.  “I’m the uncle, by the way. You seem to enjoy your work.  This place sure is something, isn’t it?”

Sure is something?  When the hell did I become a bashful 1950s teenager?

Penny’s eyes light up as I step back from the train tracks as the little ride pulls away.  Behind us sits a grove of pines, lit with green and red blinking lights.  The forest is interspersed with café tables where other parents and adults wait for the return of the train.

Her features remind me of pure joy as she walks beside me to an empty table.  I can feel the energy bursting out of her like a crackle of electricity.  When I pull out a chair for her to sit down, she stuffs her hands under her thighs and looks up at me with wide, bright eyes as I settle into the opposite seat, shifting to try to hide the length growing under my jeans.

“OMG, this place is heaven. I love this job.  Christmas is what I live for.”  The excitement in her voice is barely contained.  “You want to know something?”  She looks around to make sure no one else is close. 

“Yes.  I do want to know something.”  My words come out playful, and the effect she has on me has me wondering if they are piping some sort of drug into the air up here.

“I really shouldn’t tell you this.”  She bites down onto her bottom lip and my lust swells at the sight.  “But, this morning, at our all-hands-elf-meeting, all the elves and staff were there.  There was a rumor they were going to close the village down next year.”

Frost tickles at my fingertips. The way her lips involuntarily pull downward tugs at my heart.

“And?”  I prod, wondering where this is going and knowing I may be the source of that hint of sadness in her eyes.  I hate that I’m the cause, and I think that amazes me more than anything.  I’ve never felt guilt over a business decision before.  Fear at what she is going to say next wraps around my throat.

“And.” Her shoulders square, she sits up, her eyes directly connected to mine.  “Most of the workers got so mad.  They were going to all walk out!  Just quit.”  She tries to snap her fingers, but they make no sound.  Unperturbed, she goes on, “Just like that. Leave all the kids disappointed because they could never keep this place open with the few of us that would be left.”

“Wow.”  I nod.  “That would have been bad.”  I clear my throat and breathe deep, because her scent of sugar and spice is branding itself into me one inhale at a time and I’m already addicted. 

“Yes.  So, so bad.”  She nods back, clearly excited about whatever she’s about to say next. “So, when almost all the elves were about to walk out, I stood up and told them to stop.  I yelled it, like that: ‘Stop!’  I told them to think about who they were hurting by leaving.  Told them all that Christmas isn’t about the money.  It’s about so much more. Christmas has turned into this monster of money and profit.  And even the elves... all they were thinking about was their paychecks.  I told them I would do this job for free.  And I would. Besides that, I told them no way would they close this village. No. Way.”

“Huh,”  I grunt, uneasy with the shame weighing down on my shoulders as she talks.

She flutters her hands between us, then finishes.  “Anyway, as you can see.  We are fully staffed with elves, so things worked out.  But, geez, if that rumor is true...” She shakes her head, her black hair skirting just under her jaw line as the bell on top of her hat flops and jingles.  “Whoever decided this place should be shut down is a real jerk.”

My heart skips a beat and I open my mouth to reply, then Penny winks at me and any thoughts I had disappear. 

Her excited chirp has me wanting to give her anything and everything she could want, just to make sure she’s happy from now on.  “The sleigh ride is back!  Ready for the rest of the tour?”

From there, Penny retrieves Randall and we spend the next hour and a half wrapped in the wonder of the Christmas Village.  And as inappropriate as it is, all I can think about is clearing everyone out of here, tearing that elf costume off, and finding out if her cunt tastes like sugar plums.