A/N: (gasp!) A non-Angel fic!
I know, I know. Little Maureen just seemed like the perfect child for this one, though…
Skipping happily alongside her mother, Maureen glanced up, flashing her a wide, toothy grin.
"Mommy?"
"Yes, dear?" Nancy Johnson smiled down at her daughter.
"Do you think Santa is here? I wanna give him my list. I wanna talk to him myself…"
"Well, he is rather large. He wouldn't be that hard to miss…" Maureen's father chuckled good naturedly.
"Ooooh! Ooooooh!!!" The pint sized diva's eyes popped open suddenly. She stopped dead in her tracks and slipped her hand out of her mother's grasp.
"What is it, Maureen??" Mrs. Johnson raised an eyebrow, quite perplexed at her child's behavior. "Do you see Santa Clause…?"
"Mommy, look over there! That's a boy I know…his name is Benny! We are in the same grade…"
Her parents followed her gaze. Through the sea of people, they eventually spotted a tall, handsome black man… his little boy standing at his side. They were just inside an aisle, backs turned. They were looking at toy cars.
"I wanna sing a song to him…" Maureen looked up at her parents, faking shyness. "I think he'd like it…"
"Here??" Mr. Johnson glanced around, unsure. "But…"
"Come on, Ed!" Mrs. Johnson pleaded. "It'll be so cute!"
My little girl was born to be a star…
"Please, daddy?! I'll make it real quick…" Maureen pouted up at him, her eyes large and shining.
"Well, okay…" He sighed heavily, giving in. After all, the puppy love was adorable. "Just not too loud…"
"Thank you so much!!" Maureen squealed, bouncing a little in excitement. Squaring her shoulders, she took a few steps forward…then stopped. She cleared her throat.
Her parents looked on, smiling proudly…
Maureen took a deep breath and began to sing in a piercing, shrill voice:
"Joy to the world
Benny is dead
We've barbecued his head
What happened to his body??
We flushed it down the potty!
We watch it go 'round and 'round
We watch it go 'round and 'round
We watch it go 'round and 'round!!"
By now, many people have stopped to stare and laugh. Mr Coffin had turned around, too. He was regarding Maureen with an angry scowl. Benny was sticking his tongue out at Maureen.
The little drama queen stuck her tongue out right back at him.
Enraged, Mr. Coffin began stalking his way over, dragging Benny along with him as they weaved their way through people.
"Look!! He's coming this way!" Maureen pointed, giggling. Then she turned back to her shocked and embarrassed parents. "Benny has cooties!"
Wordlessly, her parents seized her…each gripping onto an arm. They raced down the aisle. Maureen's feet were barely touching the shiny, linoleum floor as they pulled her along.
"Hey!! Wait! I didn't even get to look at the Barbies yet!" Maureen protested as they dragged her.
"Don't worry, sweetie. We're just playing a game…" Mrs. Johnson glanced over her shoulder nervously.
"Really?? What?" Maureen perked up at this.
"Hide and Seek…"
THE END