The familiar stranger

On Christmas eve, that very eve as I sat there a -watching

that favourite film that I recall was pirates, oh, I was watching

As I sat to stare at dread locked hair and sword fights by the dozen

I heard a banging on the door and reluctantly went to open.

Could it be Santa waiting for me, come early and unexpectedly?

Whatever I was expecting, it was a sight, a sight to see.

A familiar stranger grabbed me by the hand and pulled me close to him

'Give me all the rum y'got luv I'll be needin' it that's for sure

And while yur at it some mince pies would be nice' he spoke as he stepped in the door.

Only then did I notice the bundle tied up outside. 'Hurry up or Santa gets it,' the slurred voice spoke with pride ' Don't take yur time luv, I've got to be goin,' just be quick okay?'

And with that I ran to the kitchen without any further delay.

I ran to the fridge for rum and to the larder for mince pies.

When I eventually got back to the hallway it was empty, no surprise.

A loud 'kaboom' came from next door as I realized with horror

I had left the TV on, I had left video running.

As I entered the room with baited breath he turned around to face me

'you've now nothin' to fear luv, Barbossa's dead, I shot 'im, shot 'im clean and dead.

Though how he got in here is a mystery to me, how did he get in that black box, I left 'im by the sea.

The Caribbean to be exact..' he stopped and looked my way.

' you got the rum luv, oh that's good and mince pies as well I see. Well Santa's safe for now at least, though he's still hostage to me...

Well now I must be goin love I won't be troublin' you again' he made his way to the door, rum and mince pies in hand and swaggered out of my house. He left me standing in the hallway with rubble trailed to the door, the destruction clear from his visit, still there from before. The stranger left me thinking, where did I know him from? Those familiar dreadlocks, those eyes and boots and gun.

I looked up from my thoughts as he swaggered across the road, watched as he banged on the door to wreck someone else's abode...