Two men stalked through the woods wearing all black — black jeans, black t-shirts, black sneakers. There was one single pop of brightness in their outfits. On their heads, they were wearing bright red ski-masks, knit, with white pom-poms on the top, which made the ski-masks look like Santa hats.

Ryan held his finger up to his lips and then pointed at the cabin where smoke was coming out of the chimney, and bright, blinking rainbow lights were hung up along the gutters. Inside, children were laughing and playing, and the scent of freshly baked marionberry pies filled the air.

Ryan and Kevin stalked to the cabin. That’s when Kevin spotted the target — a wooden tray full of steaming hot marionberry pies. Next to it, there was a wooden tray full of Christmas-themed sugar cookies, set out to cool. Kevin nodded at Ryan.

Kevin snuck up to the house and grabbed the tray of marionberry pies. He took off running. Ryan grabbed the sugar cookies and took off after Kevin. The pair reached a picnic table near the house and sat down.

Kevin started stuffing the sugar cookies into his mouth. There was no spoon with which to eat the pie. He hoped that Ryan’s plan was working, as he already felt very guilty about stealing pies from a grandma and her neighborhood ‘grandkids.’

Kevin felt his chest start to burn. The cookies fell out of his mouth as his jaw gaped open. He couldn’t believe it. The mark was already changing! He pulled his top layers up and got a peek of his red mark reading ‘Nice’ turning into a green word reading ‘Naughty’ – just as planned.

Suddenly, a sleigh appeared in the clearing. Sitting in the sleigh was a muscular man with a white beard and a pissed look on his face.

“Kevin Murphy, you’re on The Naughty List,” roared the one and only Santana Claus. “Stealing pastries from a grandma and some kids? That’s very Naughty.”

“So?” asked Kevin, arms crossed.

“So it’s time for you to get taught a lesson,” said Santana, walking over to the table. He grabbed a cookie and stuffed it in his mouth.

“Isn’t it hypocritical of Santa, of all people, to steal cookies from children?” asked Ryan.

“Well, if it isn’t Ryan Rex,” said Santana. “I have half a mind to drag you to The Wreath too. Those cookies were probably for me, anyway. Whatever. I’m Santana Claus, but I’m not perfect. I’ve got a bad boy streak myself. Doesn’t change the fact Kevin here is now on The Naughty List for grand theft pastry — or should I say, grandma theft pastry?”

Santana grabbed Kevin by the scruff of his shirt and pulled him toward the sleigh. Before Santana’s sleigh teleported away, Kevin shot Ryan a wink.

“Good luck, dude,” said Ryan, but Kevin was already gone. Ryan looked at the two trays on the table. He couldn’t believe that he’d managed to trick Santana Claus. Ryan stacked the plates and carried them back to his wife’s grandma’s house.

“Thanks a ton, Grandma Jessie,” said Ryan.

“Well, dear, the kids here were so excited to help feed Santa Claus’ helpers!” said the old woman. “Tell me — did your plan work?”

“Yes — Santana has no idea I planned all of this with you, and neither did Kevin,” said Ryan. “I think I might need your help again in the future. I have a feeling that’s not the last we’ve seen of Kevin this Christmas season.”

“But —” started Krampus.

“He’s Naughty, isn’t he?” asked Santana, still munching on the sugar cookie he’d stolen from the cookie thieves.

“Fine,” said Krampus lamely. “I guess I could train two lumberjacks this year…but what about the shift? About Donner?”

“I’ll have the elves work on figuring out what the problem is,” said Santana. “Until then, Donner’s in his body, so I need both Kevin and Nivek trained for The Ride.”

“Fine, fine,” said Krampus. “But, if he gets back on The Nice List, do you expect me to keep him here?”

“You can send him back if he manages to get back on The Nice List, but call me,” ordered Santana. Santana got back in his sleigh, cracked his whip in the air, and disappeared.

“So, Nivek, we meet again,” said Kevin, turning to face the blonde-haired, blue-eyed man who had watched the spectacle with a smirk on his face. “Keep your distance, and know this — you are not meant to be here, and you are not going on The Ride.”