A Zombie Christmas

There he was, I thought, the one that kept hanging around the house, the one who kept messing up my Christmas decorations. I lowered my rifle and put my left eye on the scope. There he was right in the sight of my rifles crosshairs, an ugly sucker at that. From what I could tell, he used to be a man around five foot five or six maybe seven. Hell, I couldnt tell the height from just a tiny scope. His suit was disheveled, full of dirt, and blood (it looked fresh, a recent feast perhaps), and half of his face was gone. It looked like whatever death had put upon him before he came back was a nasty accident. This zombie was currently investigating my Santa Claus and reindeer display. He was studying it like he knew what it was, but he wasnt sure why he knew that. Dont pick up Rudolf. Dont. He leaned over and picked up Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. That did it. Every morning I was coming out to find this particular display laying half way across the yard. I now could tell why it was like that. You see, the biggest problem was this. When you messed with Rudolph, you screwed up the whole display. All the reindeer were attached by string, and that string led into the hands of Santa who was glued by his butt to the sleigh he was sitting in. That meant, you picked up one, you picked up them all. Sure enough, as soon as the zombie picked up Rudolph, the rest of the display just went into some kind of disarray. 1

I didnt want to shoot the zombie just yet, because if he fell forward then it would crush the display all together. So I waited until he was trying to walk away with Rudolph, shambling off, the display dragging behind him. Bam! Thats when I dropped him. Perfect head shot, display still safe. I was on the balcony of the house when I made the shot, so I took my rope ladder and dropped it over the side. I put the rifle down and grabbed a couple of pistols nearby. I checked their chambers, full, locked and loaded. I put the guns in their holsters, checked for other zombies. Nothing. I climbed down to the ground and took my pistols out of their holsters. I walked across the lawn, eyes back and forth, looking for zombies. Theres one. I stopped and got down on one knee. I aimed. Bam! It was another perfect head shot. The zombie hit the pavement, and he didnt move. The noise had stirred up more zombies, so I had to get to my display, fix it, and then get back. I know its stupid trying to worry about Christmas decorations in a world filled with zombies, but like I always say, its the little things that keep us sane. So, I grabbed Rudolph out of the dead zombies hands, and I put the display back in order. I took a second to look for other zombies; they were starting to move again, so I did one quick check of the house. Nothing was stirring, not even a mouse. I took out a few with my pistol, climbed back up the rope ladder and took my place on the balcony so I could guard the house. I turned on my boom box, and I listened to Perry Como flood the air with Christmas cheer.

The zombies were getting restless around me, so I decided it was time to even out the heard. It was pretty easy shooting . . . I stopped my rampage as something white hit my nose. I looked up into the sky as flakes of snow began to fall. It was the first snow fall of the year. I sat there a moment just enjoying it all. Then it was time to go back to my task at hand. Two days passed. The decorations were unharmed, including the Santa Claus display. I was glad for that. I was sitting in my living room reading a Stephen King book when I heard the door bell ring. I grabbed my gun and walked over to it. I looked out the peep hole as a zombie shambled down off the porch. There were four of them out there. All zombied up, rotting, bloody, fresh from the grave, and they were all dressed like carolers. They were all holding caroling books. One had it upside down, two had theirs sideways, and the smart one who rang the doorbell had his right side up. I began to smile as they began to sing or grunt Jingle Bells. I didnt know if I should shoot them or let them be. I stood there a moment thinking about it, listening to the comical tunes coming from the mouths of those zombies. I went over to the window and looked out onto the lawn. Their singing was attracting other zombies, so I knew I had to take them out. I put on my cold weather gear and ventured upstairs. I went into the master bedroom and walked over to the balcony doors. I stepped outside. 3

In the cold grey light of dusk, I stood there looking at the sky and the world around me. I checked my decorations to see if they were intact, my Santa Claus and reindeer, the cross on my front lawn, the elves and Santas work shop, the nativity scene, and various candy canes I had spread throughout the yard. They were all safe. Now, I know most people would say, why? It made me feel good inside, so that is why I did it. It might be a zombie filled world, but I was still going to try and enjoy it as a human being. I didnt put up anything with lights in it or on it. There were no lights around the house. I had muted decorations so they wouldnt attract attention. I dont know why or how the carolers found me, but they did. Also, for those few survivors in my neighborhood and those who wandered in, I hoped a lawn full of Christmas would bring them some kind of cheer in this dreary holiday season. It was the first Christmas since the zombie invasion. I looked down at the four caroling zombies as they went into a rendition of Frosty the Snowman, the years first snow only a couple of inches underneath their feet and melting just as fast as it got here. The group, of course, was led by that one smart zombie. He seemed to remember quite a bit of whatever he did as a human. He was leading them and pointing to their books even though none of them turned a single page. He was the one that started grunting out the tune to Frosty just like Jingle Bells before. They just sort of followed after him. I aimed my gun at them, but had to stop because I couldnt aim. My smile had turned into a full fledge laughter. I let it pass, wiped the tears from my eyes, and then did my business. By the time I was done, fifteen zombies lay littered across my lawn, the four carolers included. The Christmas decorations were unharmed. 4

I went back inside. I didnt feel up to the clean up just yet. I turned on the Christmas tree and watched the white and colored lights dance a blinking happy tune across the walls and ceiling of my room. I stoked the fire with some more wood, turned on some Christmas music, sat back in my chair, and closed my eyes. The last image I saw (which was on purpose mind you) was of the picture on my mantel. I fell asleep with that image in my head. DECEMBER THE 23rd I woke up in the morning to a knock at the door and a quite house. The Christmas tree was still sparkling and doing its thing, the ornaments hanging here and there with a precision touch, neat and organized. I grabbed a pistol nearby, shook the cobwebs free, and walked over to the peephole. I peered through. I reached down and unlocked the door putting the pistol off on the side table. I was wondering if you were going to let us in or not, Jim replied as he stepped into the house. He turned around to see where Fred was. He was still standing guard on the top step, so intent on watching the area that he didnt even know the door was open or that two people were talking. Hes good, Mike, too good sometimes. Jim tapped the man on the shoulder. Fred. Its safe. We can go inside. Fred didnt jump or move in any spastic manner, he just turned and followed the men inside. The door closed and locked, zombies shambled up and down the street, but did not enter the yard. Inside the house, Mike, Jim, and Fred took a seat in front of the fire place. Mike threw a few logs on the fire, and in moments the fire was blazing hot. 5

Can I get you guys something to drink? What do you have? Jim was thirsty, but he wasnt sure what he wanted. I have homemade eggnog, beer, wine, and water. Any soda? Dont drink it. How about some water? Fred, you want anything? Mike asked as the man stared at the fire. Beer me. All I got is Corona. No lime. Sounds good. Mike went into the kitchen and came back with a cold beer and bottled water. He handed the men their respective drinks. Fred was still seated, but Jim had moved over to the kitchen table. He was staring at several rough and crude blueprints. The first was a design of the neighborhood and a wall surrounding it. The other looked like a crude way of getting water from the air outside into the mouths inside. It was a filtration system. These are pretty good. Were you an architect before all this? No, just a man with ideas. Jim took a sip of his water, and he found that it was cold. Shock filled his face. Man, I havent tasted cold water in so long. I keep them on the back porch. Zombies dont bother them, and it keeps them cold. Brave man. Once I am in, I stay in. I am afraid to open the front door let alone the back door. 6

Jim looked back at the plans. He scanned the neighborhood one again. I like this concept, but how in the world can it be done? We have zombies crawling up and down this street everyday. If we do it in shifts, a couple people guarding, several people working, we can get it done. I dont think the zombies are going anywhere any time soon, and we havent heard anything from the outside world. We might be here a while. I have been thinking that as well. So my thinking is this. We put up a wall around these little thirty houses or so neighborhood, get guards posted at all times. That way, we can come out of our homes and enjoy life again. We can build a community garden. Maybe. If we are lucky, we can bring in some livestock, raise a small farm. We dont have to give in to the zombies. They should be giving in to us. I like that thinking, but it is going to be a lot of work. Anything in this time and place is a lot of work. If we are going to survive, then we have to think outside the box. Thats why I want to do all this for Christmas this year. I want the kids in this neighborhood to wake up Christmas morning and find a present at their door. I want them to feel like Santa is still here, and he is one mean zombie killing machine that wont let Christmas die no matter what the situation. You dont need to sell me or Fred on it. Thats why were here. Jim was ready to get started. I know, but I just need you to understand why. So if it gets bad at the mall, you will know that what we were doing was for a good cause. Im aware. Lets just go over the details. 7

Fred got up and walked over to the table. He was ready for his next mission. Fred was one of those guys. The ones that just seem to know how to survive. He was a tall guy with a lanky build and graying hair. He had to be getting close to fifty. He had said in the life before this that he was an accountant by day, hunter by weekend. You wouldnt think an accountant would know so much about surviving, but trust me he did. Jim was more of a following kind of guy with a big heart and big ideas. He was a teacher before the world turned to crap, and I hoped that one day he could lead a school in this neighborhood. Jim was about average height, somewhere in his mid thirties, still youthful, but mature beyond his years. And me, dear old Mike, I stood about five foot eight, not too pudgy, not to lean. I was a runner before the world turned to chaos, a brick layer as my trade. I had learned a lot about hunting and stuff before all this happened. The biggest buck I ever got was a ten pointer. I was proud of that one that day. The details are like this. Mike grabbed a folder he had sitting by his chair. In this folder were three separate compartments with each of their names on it. Inside each compartment was a list of what toys to get (one a piece for each child in the neighborhood), a map of their area they were to cover when delivering the toys (this went along with the first list of toys), a map of the mall (where to go in, where to meet if separated) the time they were supposed to do everything, times to leave for the mall, stuff they would need (weapons, snacks, a couple bottles of water, things like that), and a few other odds and ends. Mike handed Jim and Fred their compartments, and all three of them found a seat around the Christmas tree which splashed and sparkled its white and colored lights. It

had no idea of the world it was in. It just did its holiday cheer, its one function in life, its one simple function. This is pretty elaborate, Mike. Jim replied as he studied the maps. How did you get so much info? Fred chimed in. I started back in September just after it all hit. I had lost some . . . He looked up at the mantel and the picture. . . . important things in my life, and for some reason Christmas popped into my brain at the time. I dont know why. It was hot. I was trying to survive. But as I did all that, I started thinking of Christmas. I started planning it then. I even started going to the mall in November . . . Youve been as far as the mall? I havent left the neighborhood except for going to the closest store since it all happened. Thank God for a hardware store and grocery store nearby. I dont know what I would have done if they werent so close. Me either. I consider myself a pretty tough survivor, but even I havent been brave enough to go that far. Fred chimed in again. I just wanted to do something special, and I thought this thing might last awhile so why not pass the time with a good cause. How did you find out about the kids in the neighborhood, the ones that were left of course? I went door to door. Thats how I found out about you two guys. Thats what you were doing that day. Out of all the homes I went to, you two were the only single guys left in the neighborhood. Everyone else either had one, two, or three kids. Every one of those families was struggling. I told them my plans, told them I would be back with small 9

supplies and most important of all, to hang on. It will get better. It was while I was doing this that I thought of a walled community. So here we sit. Fred picked up a box filled with letters (he didnt know it, but there were twenty inside, one for each kid still left in this neighborhood). This how you found out what they want? Yeah. I went back around recently to check on them, and they had all still managed to hang on. I told them to leave a note on their door for one thing, a toy each that their kid would want. I told them I would be back around to collect the notes in a couple of days. So on each piece of paper is something that will give each kid in this neighborhood a little hope. I plan to deliver on that promise. So are we starting tomorrow morning? We are. So how are the families doing? Fred handed the letters to Jim. Fred was getting restless, and the day was getting later. He stood up from the chair and stretched. He took out his pistol and made sure it was loaded. They all have managed to hang on just like us. They are surviving. I just dont know for how long. We got to get the wall up and get this ground back for us. We own it. They dont. Tomorrow morning. Yes, Fred. See you then. Mike showed him to the door. He opened it. Be careful, we need you. 10

Fred looked out at the road, the neighborhood, zombies shambled back and forth. There dont seem to be as many these days. Maybe that is something in our favor. Hey, wait up Fred. Strength in numbers, remember. Jim had his coat on and his pistol in hand as he was coming down the hall. He met them at the door. See you tomorrow. Fred gripped his gun and breathed in the cool air. He made his way down the porch with his gun pointed forward. Jim gave a nod and followed Fred out the door. Mike heard several gunshots as Fred and Jim made it back to their respective houses. Mike went out onto the back deck. He checked around for zombies. There were a few, but they didnt bother him. He filled up the generator and went back inside. He turned off the tree to save power, stoked the fire, and then pulled out a small portable DVD player. He turned on one of his favorite TV shows and fell asleep watching it. His dreams were peaceful and full of hope. DECEMBER THE 24th The three men sat huddled in the cold, waiting and watching the mall parking lot. There were a lot of zombies shuffling around the open ground, some going into the mall, some coming out. It looked like a hopeless nightmare. I dont think I can do it. Jim gripped his shotgun a little tighter to his chest. Dont think. When we go, you go, got that. Mike picked up his voice a bit. If these guys needed some encouragement, then he had to be it. Mike looked at Fred, and he had the intensity in his eyes. Mike knew he was ready. 11

Are we going or not? Fred gripped the gun a little tighter. You could almost see the muscles twitching in his legs as he geared himself up for this. Yeah, Fred. He looked over at Jim. You ready? Its like dancing with an electric chair. Youre never ready, but sometimes you just got to do it. Mike didnt know what that meant, but he instructed the men to get up with a slow ease. He had told him the way he made it in was by not drawing too much attention at the start. Once the shots started going off the zombies, would bunch. It was best to get as close to the door before unleashing on them. The men made their way into the parking lot. The zombies noticed them in an instant and began to shuffle in their direction. The three guys picked up the pace, eyes on the door in front of them. When it was almost to the point of a true zombie attack, the men unleashed their weapons. Head shots a plenty began to rain blood into the air as zombie after zombie went down. The men rushed into the open doors, guns blazing, zombies falling. Mike had left a kerosene lamp sitting on one of the benches nearest the door. He grabbed it as the men continued forward. He turned it on as light flooded the unlit mall. Upstairs! Mike screamed as the men kept firing off rounds. They had left their shotguns behind once they were empty of ammunition. It was now down to pistols, and each shot found its mark. The men hurried up the escalator to the closed doors of the toy store. Mike pulled out a key from his pocket as Fred and Jim took aim. Mike unlocked the door. The men hurried inside. Mike closed the door and locked it tight.

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The zombies huddled up against the glass, but couldnt get in. The men, now tired, caught their breath and tried to relax. Anyone bit? Mike checked himself with the light and then the other men. Everyone was okay. Okay, that was insane. Jim took a seat in a nearby chair, and then it hit him. Why was there a camping chair just sitting in the middle of the mall toy store? He looked around as Mike lit up the small campfire area he had built in the middle of the store. Been busy, Mike? Mike turned on several small kerosene lamps and lit up the kerosene heater (the mall had been without power or heat for some time now). The heater was sitting in the middle of the camp chairs with the chairs around it, like a camp fire. Three sleeping bags lay curled up on the floor. There was a cooler, as well, stocked with non perishable food and water. The men ate and drank as they watched the zombies shuffle back and forth in the mall outside. When I came up here to do this the first time I found all the keys, and then made sure I had the one for the toy store. When I came back, I cleaned up the store and locked it. Then the last time I came, I started bringing supplies, a few at a time until I knew for sure I had enough stuff. You didnt think we would just fly in and fly out did you? I honestly didnt know what to think. How are you feeling, Fred? Tired and sore, but itll be okay. What about guns and ammunition? We used up a lot getting in here. We will be carrying stuff back with us when we go. Mike pulled back a rug just beyond the indoor camp, and underneath it was a ton of guns and ammunition. Whatever we need. Guns are loaded. 13

Jim and Fred went over to investigate. I say we chill for a bit and then get our stuff. We crash here for the night and get up just around dawn. We can get the toys, to the kids just after they wake up. Sounds like a plan, Mike. So the three men chilled for a bit, and then they went about the business of collecting toys for the kids. Mike had found three good sturdy sacks they could use (the sacks had makeshift loops attached to them so they could wear them like a back pack). Each man grabbed one and filled it up. They then made their way back to the indoor campground. The night passed. The men slept. Around dawn, Mikes watch alarm went off. It was Christmas Day. DECEMBER THE 25th They left the mall in the same way they came, in a blaze of glory. The going was slower because of the bags; but the men were able to keep their hands free, so that made the shooting a lot easier. Dawn was breaking, and the men hurried back as quickly as they could. It was a miracle that none of them got bit, and it was a miracle that they made it back to their neighborhood. Once they were in the neighborhood, they split up according to their delivery map. They made their deliveries with a tap on the door, a drop off of the presents, and a Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas! It wasnt easy, but they were able to make their deliveries because they lined them up from last to first. That meant if you were last 14

on the list to be delivered, then in the bottom of the sack you would go. If you were first, then you would be on the top. Sure there was some jostling and moving around, but for the most part the toys stayed in their respective spots. Once everything was done the men found their way back to their respective homes. It would have been nice to see those smiles and joys of each and every kid, but in this world you moved quick and you moved fast. Oh, I forgot. I didnt mention this. That each man was wearing a Santa suit at the time. They had stopped off at a local gas station a little more than half way back to the neighborhood. It was set up like the toy store, cleaned out, and locked. Mike had stashed some more food and water along with some Santa suits. They didnt have to wear them, but each man did. I wonder what it would be like to see three gun toting zombie killing Santas with a pack on their backs running down the street popping off zombies and delivering presents. I am sure; it would be a sight to be seen. When the men made it into their homes, their stories went like this. Jim checked himself to make sure he wasnt bit, stripped naked, cleaned up, and then crashed out in a cold dark house after downing a full bottle of whiskey. He didnt bother to turn on the kerosene heater, and he didnt bother with food. He just wanted to drink and sleep. He pulled a blanket over himself and slept deep into the next day. Fred didnt bother with checking himself for bites. He instead went into his living room and turned on some loud heavy metal Christmas music. He left the Santa suit on as he drank beer; head banged around the room, and just got wasted. At some point, he just passed out, sleeping most of the night and into the morning flat on his stomach, beers littering the living room. 15

Mike crashed down in front of a roaring fire and fell asleep with the picture from the mantel in his hand (he left the suit on as well). The Christmas tree was splashing and sparkling all over the room as he slept the peace of a man who had just done a great task. His dreams were filled with Christmases gone by, happier times and happier days. The picture he held in his hands showed him his two sons, and his wife just before it all happened. They had taken a Christmas photo together, and they all were so happy together. No one knew at the time the picture was taken what this particular Christmas would be like. At least it was a happy image frozen in a happier time. No one could ever change that. DECEMBER THE 26th A knock on the door the next afternoon woke Mike up. He put down the picture in the frame and went to answer it. Jim was standing there holding a shoe box full of paper. The zombies were few in number behind him, and Jim wasnt even paying them any attention. He didnt even have a gun in his hand. It was still in the holster. He was only holding his box. Another box was lying at Jims feet. Mike picked it up. Thank you notes. What? Somehow they gave us all thank you notes. Jim and Mike went in and took a seat. They began to go through the boxes. How did they do this? They didnt have time. I guess it is a Christmas miracle Mike or maybe Santa really is hanging on just like the rest of us. 16

Yeah, maybe just maybe. Both men froze and looked up at the ceiling, towards the sky. They both then looked at each other. They didnt speak, but their looks said this. Did I just hear bells jingling above the house? Did I hear what sounded like a sleigh sliding off the roof? It couldnt be, they thought at the same time, and shook the impossibility away. The men turned to their own boxes and began to look at the notes. Most of them were scribbles, drawings, and thank yous all done in a childs hand. It brought tears to their eyes. This was a true Christmas miracle and a Christmas that none of them would soon forget.

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