Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Fright
Part 2
After what seemed like an eternity, Don Karnage's footsteps resounded along the hallway. He chuckled to himself, "It is truly a plunderful life," before stepping into his bedroom with another armful of stolen treasures. He shut and locked the door behind him. The pirate captain was still dressed as Santa minus the beard. He flipped the light switch.
Nothing happened.
He flipped it again.
Still dark.
"How can I see my presents if I cannot see?" He repeatedly flipped the switch, becoming enraged.
"Is this when we jump out and yell 'surprise'?" Wildcat said softly.
"No!" Baloo and Rebecca hissed simultaneously. The bearess clutched the mechanic's arm to prevent him from betraying their presence.
Too late. Karnage had heard their whispers. "Who is here?" he barked. "Show yourselves to me!"
From his position close to the ceiling, Kit turned on his flashlight and shone it on his flour-covered face. Wrapped in a white sheet and covered with flour, he uncannily resembled a ghost.
Karnage shrank backwards, tripped over his own feet, and went sprawling on the floor. "Wha...who?"
Kit couldn't resist one tiny, "Boo!"
The 'fearless' pirate whimpered. In futility, he tugged at the locked door handle.
Biting the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing out loud, Kit moaned and shook the chain hung around his neck. "I am the first of three ghosts who will visit you today. I am the Ghost of Christmas Past."
"G...ghost?" stuttered Karnage. Then, he recovered a shred of dignity. "Wait a minuet! There are no such things as ghosties!"
"Lower him!" hissed Baloo to Wildcat.
The pulley squeaked softly as Kit slowly descended towards the cowering pirate. His arms were spread as if he was flying. "Come closer," he rasped with an ominous chuckle, "if you are not afraid, mortal."
"Don K...K...Karnage, the t...t...terror of the four winds is not af...afraid of anyone or," he gulped, "anything."
Unexpectedly, Baloo sneezed from flour tickling his nose and let go of the rope. Kit plummeted towards the floor as the rope slipped through Wildcat's hands. Reflexively, the boy flipped off his flashlight, reached for his airfoil, fanned it open, and slid it under his feet. He glided to the floor. As fast as he could, he folded the airfoil and concealed it beneath his shirt.
Kit turned his flashlight back on. His heart was pounding. He hoped that Karnage hadn't seen his airfoil. While he said, "You are very brave. One of the bravest mortals that I've ever met," he tucked the hook underneath Karnage's waistband. Then, he slapped the pirate on the back.
Karnage puffed with pride at the praise. "You are very solid for a speerit." He suspiciously reached out a hand to touch the 'ghost'.
In the nick of time, Kit flew towards the ceiling, out of Karnage's grasp.
"Silence, mortal! Now, gaze upon your past." Kit chuckled eerily and blinded the pirate with his flashlight. "Spin him!" he hissed.
Wildcat and Baloo twisted the second rope on the second pulley. Then, they let it go.
Karnage spun on his rope around and around, faster and faster like a marionette on a string until he was just a blur. "Whoa-oh-oh-oh! I am not liking this, speerit!"
In one corner of the room, Molly and Duncan slid into position. Molly was in a frilly white dress. Duncan had on blue shorts and a scarlet waistcoat. Hanging on the wall behind them was a calendar decorated with a Norman Rockwelle Christmas painting. The date on it was December 1909.
When Karnage slowed down, he clamped a paw over his queasy stomach and one over his mouth.
Kit shone his flashlight on the scene. Luckily, in one of his rare confiding moments, Karnage had related this anecdote to Kit when the boy was a member of the air pirates.
Don Karnage, seeing the two cubs, chuckled with merriment. "Lookity-look! It is my fabulous little self!"
"He bought it!" whispered Baloo, grinning in triumph. He stifled another sneeze.
"Baloo, shh!" Rebecca hissed, giving her husband a little nudge with her elbow.
The children knelt on the floor, playing a game of jacks.
"Onesies, twosies, threesies," Molly chanted as she bounced the little rubber ball and scooped up an increasing number of jacks.
For no reason other than pure meanness, Duncan swiped his hand across the floor and snatched up all the jacks.
"Hey, don't do that, Dun...I mean, Don!" Molly cried.
Little 'Don Karnage' cackled in her face and took her bouncy ball.
Pouting, Molly pulled a candy cane from her pocket and unwrapped it.
Duncan stole it from her and stuck it in his own mouth, causing Molly to howl with some really over-acted fake sobs.
Karnage giggled with glee. "I remember that. It was the first time I ever stole-ded. So seemple, like taking candy from a sitting baby girl off a log."
Duncan ran away, leaving Molly to cry over her lost treat. The flashlight flipped off and the cubs hurried back behind the curtain.
Karnage stumbled about in the darkness only to fall face first into his pile of 'presents'. His muffled voice asked, "Where are you, speerit?"
Kit shone his flashlight on his own face. "Because you stole from that little girl, she never liked candy ever again."
"So what? I saved her from costly dentist bills." The pirate captain scrambled to his feet.
"So..." Kit hadn't the faintest idea how to answer that. The pirate had a point. "That one event began a life of crime."
"Crime is my celebrated career," Karnage stated proudly.
Kit rolled his eyes, murmuring to himself, "Spare me." Out loud, he said, "In a few minutes, another spirit more horrible than me will visit. Wait in the dark. Pay no attention to the voices. They are the voices of my spirit friends."
Kit flicked off his light and was lowered safely to the floor. He joined his family behind the curtain.
Don Karnage stood still in the dark. "I am just having a bad night dream. If I pinch myself, I will wake up. Ouch! Maybe that was a dream pinch. Ouch!"
Behind the curtain, Baloo wrestled with the wreath on his head. The crinkly bow scratched the back of his neck. "Help me with this doggone thing, Becky!"
With a fierce yank, Rebecca ripped off the bow.
Baloo stepped out from behind the curtain. A red rug was draped over his shoulders and the front door Christmas wreath was on his head. Like Kit, he was covered in flour. Flicking on his flashlight, he glided across the floor towards Karnage. In his best spooky voice, he said, "Ooo...ooo...I am the Ghost of Christmas Present."
Karnage's ears perked up. "Present? I get another present?"
Baloo tipped the flashlight up to shine in his face. He scowled. "Wrong-o, Karny, uh, I mean, Karnage. I am the Ghost of Christmas Now - at this very moment."
"Oh, that kind of present." His eyes narrowing with suspicion, he asked, "How come you don't fly like the other ghosty?"
"I, um...uh..." Baloo thought fast. "I haven't passed my flight exams yet. The Ghost Council is real strict on licensing."
Karnage bought it hook, line, and sinker. Then, like a fish, he twirled on his line. "Oh, no! Not again! My sacro-il-y-ac-ack!" He spun faster than a Hanukkah dreidel.
This time, Rebecca and Molly took their places on the floor in front of Karnage. They were dressed in their rattiest, tightest clothes with handkerchiefs tied around their head.
"Becky, yer earrings!" Baloo whispered.
"Oh!" Quickly, Rebecca yanked her handkerchief down over her ears.
As soon as Karnage ceased spinning, Baloo spotlighted the females with his flashlight.
"Woe are we," lamented Rebecca melodramatically. She clutched Molly to her chest.
Molly gave a half-hearted cough. "Why did Santa's elves take our presents, our food, and our coal, Mommy?" HACK! HACK! "I'm cold and hungry!" HACK!
"Because Santa is an evil, no-good, no-talent thief, honey," Rebecca replied, shivering.
Karnage giggled. "I assemble those remarks!"
Molly exclaimed, "I hate Santa!" HACK!
The flashlight flicked off. All was darkness.
"Encore! Once again!" Karnage cheered, applauding. He stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled.
"I think ya missed the point," Baloo growled, turning on his flashlight and holding it just under his chin. "Doncha feel bad, stealin' from those poor people?"
"No," Karnage replied insolently.
Baloo gritted his teeth. Under his breath, he muttered, "I'd like ta deck yer halls, Karny." Aloud, he said, "In a few minutes, the third ghost will visit ya. One who is truuuuly terrifyin'." He whispered to himself, "I hope."
The big bear flicked off his flashlight and slipped behind the black curtain.
Wildcat, the next 'ghost', was engulfed in Baloo's black bathrobe. His head and hands were powdered with flour.
"Remember, don't talk no matter what," Baloo whispered, securing the rope around Wildcat's waist.
"Got it!" Wildcat whispered back. Chagrined, he clapped a floury paw over his mouth and nodded. Baloo and Rebecca hoisted the 'ghost' to the ceiling.
Wildcat clicked his flashlight on, but he pointed it at the floor.
"Face!" Kit hissed. "Flashlight! Face!"
The mechanic whipped the flashlight up to his face, bonking himself on the nose in the process. He was in excruciating pain, but he didn't make a sound.
"Who are you?" Karnage demanded in annoyance. These spirits were getting on his nerves by taking up valuable 'present' examining time.
Wildcat just dangled there. He didn't say a word.
"Ah, the strong silent night type. Get on with your spooking and get out."
The third 'ghost' was lowered towards the pirate. Even friendly Wildcat appeared scary in his costume.
"I...I mean, if you please, speerit, get on with your spooking," Karnage whispered, shrinking away in fear. Once again, the pirate captain was spun on his rope. "I am getting sick from this!"
Baloo and Kit got into position for the final scene. They wore suit jackets and ties. Both still had traces of flour on them. No amount of brushing and shaking could get it out of their fur. Behind them were cardboard cutouts shaped like tombstones. Molly and Duncan shone flashlights on them.
"This is kind of fun," Kit remarked, tiptoeing through the 'graveyard'.
"Yeah, for once yer teacher gave ya a good assignment. What could be better'n collectin' interesting grave rubbings for history class?"
"Doing it during the day?" Kit said wryly.
They stumbled upon a grave stone.
"Don Karnage," the boy read, putting the emphasis on the first syllable of 'Karnage'. "Who's that?"
Baloo made a big show of scratching his head and shrugging. "Dunno, son, never heard of him."
"Aah!" Karnage cried, incredulous as he stared at the tableau. "I cannot believe what my ears hear!"
Baloo continued as if he hadn't heard Karnage's remarks. "Musta not have been an important person. His tombstone is so tiny, you can barely see it." He shook his head sadly.
Kit was finding it hard not to laugh at Karnage's astonished face. The pirate captain's jaw almost touched the floor. "Poor guy. He must not have had a single penny when he died. Oh, there's John Doe. Let's get his grave rubbing."
The flashlights turned off.
Sinking to his knees, Don Karnage gave a strangled cry. "I'm p...poor? I die without a trillion dollars or a nickel?" His voice rose to a shriek. "THEY DON'T KNOW WHO MY BEAUTIFUL SELF IS! HOW COULD THEY NOT HEAR OF THE FEARED PIRATE DON KARNAGE?" He grabbed hold of the hem of Wildcat's robe. Since the 'ghost' was still suspended in mid-air, he swayed from side to side. In desperation, he asked, "Speerit, how do I prevent this terrible misunfortunate from happening?"
Wildcat shone his flashlight on the pile of stolen stuff. He then pointed a floury finger towards Cape Suzette.
"Give the presents back?" Karnage squeaked.
While he was being lowered to the floor, Wildcat nodded furiously.
"Yes! Yes! I will give them back right this very second." Karnage unlocked the door, flung it open, and bolted from the room, screaming at the top of his lungs, "Halt the present pillaging and the gift gouging!"
Everyone stepped out from behind the all-concealing curtain.
"We did it." Kit exhaled a sigh of relief. He, Molly, and Duncan exchanged high-fives.
"Ow-how-how! He stepped on my foot!" Wildcat wailed. "Oops, I talked."
"You can talk all ya want to, Wildcat." Baloo clapped the mechanic on the back. "Good job, guys."
"Let's get out of here," Rebecca said, gathering up props, "before Karnage comes back"
Higher for Hire
That Evening
Baloo was slumped on the sofa, looking at his Christmas present from his children - a bottle opener with a magnet on the back so that he could stick it to the Sea Duck's control panel. It was one of the most thoughtful gifts he had ever received. To fool their father into thinking it was something really big, the cubs had filled the box with rocks. Was he surprised when he turned the box over and out poured pebbles! He poked the bottle opener into his shirt pocket and patted his big belly, which was a little bigger than usual. "Boy, that was one good bird."
Kit, sitting cross-legged on the floor, examined the pieces of his new model. He started to laugh.
"What's so funny, Li'l Britches?"
"It was funny how Karnage yelled over his loudspeaker, 'Remember that it was the glorious, beneviolet, really nice Don Karnage who is giving all your nifty holiday presents back!' before the Iron Vulture took off."
"Yeah, ol' Karny never ceases ta amaze me," Baloo said with a chuckle. "He won't pull the Santa stunt again."
"Or the ghosts will return," Kit said. He hopped onto the sofa beside his father.
Baloo affectionately wrapped an arm around Kit's shoulders. "Pay no attention to that ghost behind the curtain...booo!"
"Dishes are done, Daddy." Molly sprinted from the kitchen and pounced on her father's stomach, inciting a pained "Oof!" from the big bear.
"No thanks to a certain bear who will remain nameless." Rebecca glared at her husband.
Baloo once again patted his bulging abdomen proudly. "Hey, I did my share. I saved ya from eatin' leftovers for a week."
"I'm the one eating for two, not you, flyboy," Rebecca retorted.
"What can I say? I'm a growin' boy," the pilot countered.
Rebecca snickered. "Growing out, you mean."
Wildcat came through the front door carrying a thin book. "Guys, lookee what I found. It's a book with a picture of a jolly fat man on the cover."
"Well, it's not Baloo," Rebecca said sarcastically with a smirk
"Gee, thanks, Becky," Baloo muttered morosely.
"It's about Santa. Read it, Wildcat." Molly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, gazed at the bright picture of Santa Claus in his sleigh pulled by eight reindeer on the cover.
Wildcat settled in the easy chair. Molly scrambled onto his lap so she could look at the pictures. Rebecca nestled beside Kit on the sofa. Baloo slung his arm around both brown bears, murmuring, "This oughtta be interestin'," with a wink.
Wildcat read, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore."
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a c...cr...
"Creature," Molly supplied softly.
"Oh, yeah, Mollycat. Creature."
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
"Do you think the mouse was stirring his little cocoa with an itty-bitty swizzlestick?" Wildcat speculated.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicolas soon would be there;
"Does he give out nickels?" said Wildcat.
"St. Nicolas is another name for Santa Claus," Kit explained.
Wildcat's eyes lit up with misunderstanding. "Oh, I get it! St. Nicolas is his real name when he's not being Santa Claus."
"Somethin' like that," Baloo chuckled. "Keep goin'."
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
"What's a sugar-plum?" asked Molly.
"Candy," answered Rebecca.
"Stop a second, Wildcat." Racing to her pile of presents under the tree, Molly selected a candy cane, and returned to her place on the lion's lap. "Okay, keep going."
And Mama in her 'kerchief
"Gesundheit!" said Wildcat.
Baloo groaned.
And Mama in her 'kerchief and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
"If it goes clatter-clatter, it's a busted wing-ding, but if it goes eerk-eerk, it's a cracked clinkenheimer," said Wildcat.
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter,
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave a luster of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my won...won...
"Wondering," Molly mumbled around the candy cane in her mouth.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
"Are they called reindeer, 'cause they're deer wearing reins?" Wildcat pondered this for a while before continuing.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet! on, Cupid! on Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!
"What if we don't have a porch?" asked Wildcat. "Where do the reindeer land?"
"On the roof, I guess," Molly suggested. "Santa is magic. He can land anywhere he wants to."
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
"If there's a hurricane, the leaves wouldn't be dry. There's always lots and lots of rain with hurricanes," Wildcat said.
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
"Poof! The hoofs are on the roofs," Wildcat said.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound
"Hope the fire was out. Otherwise, that would have been a hot landing," Wildcat pointed out.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tar...
"Tarnished," said Molly sleepily.
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
"Ashes and soot would be easier to wash off than grease and spoons," Wildcat added.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes - how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
"Like a bow tie? How's he do that?" Wildcat puckered his lips comically, causing Kit to giggle.
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
"Like the wreath Baloo had on his head today?" asked Wildcat.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
"Baloo's belly is kinda like that," Wildcat remarked.
"Watch it!" Baloo grumbled.
"If you'd only stick to your diet, Baloo, you wouldn't have a belly like jelly," Rebecca said airily, prompting an indignant scowl from her husband.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk,
And laying a finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
"How's he do that without getting stuck?" Wildcat wondered.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
"Whee! That would be fun!" Wildcat said.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"
"Thanks, Wildcat, that was...different," Rebecca said with an amused smile.
Kit commented, "I'll never think of that poem the same way again. I kinda liked it."
"Me, too," said Baloo.
Molly didn't say anything. She was fast asleep on Wildcat's lap. The mechanic removed the sticky sweet from her paw and carried her up to bed.
Kit yawned, grinning up at the big bear who was patting him on the head.
"Did ya have a good Christmas, Li'l Britches? Get everythin' ya wanted?"
Like Rebecca, Kit thought that his best present was his family. But the other stuff was nice to have, too. He cast a glance at his pile of presents beside the tree. "Yeah, I feel like Karnage with all this loot. Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Papa Bear." He hugged each in turn.
"You're welcome, sweetie," Rebecca said, kissing the boy on the cheek.
"Can I get a plane next year?" the boy asked hopefully. "I'll be fourteen. Pleeeeaaaase?"
Baloo met his wife's eyes and laughed. "Keep dreamin', kiddo."
"How rich do you think we are?" Rebecca shook her head. "Save your pennies."
"Aw...it'll take me years to save enough."
"Good. Gives me a chance ta learn ya a thing or two or three." Baloo hugged the boy again and whispered in his ear, "Better scoot ta bed."
"Okay." Kit went over to the tree, took a piece of chocolate from Molly's pile, and put it in his stocking. Before Rebecca could scold, he explained, "She took one of mine this morning." He hurried up the stairs. "Night, Papa Bear. Night, Mom."
"Goodnight, Kit." Rebecca rested her head in the crook of Baloo's arm with a contented sigh.
Baloo flipped off the lamp beside him. They sat there in comfortable silence, enjoying the lighted tree covered with mismatched ornaments. There were more on the bottom half, because the cubs had decorated that part. The faint aroma of spicy apple pie and turkey mingled with the fragrance of the pine tree. The grandfather clock slowly ticked the seconds away.
Finally, Rebecca said, "That was a memorable Christmas. Not quite what I had in mind when I was rudely awakened this morning," a scowl briefly crossed her face before turning to a smile, "but it was fun."
"Yeah? Did ya really have fun, boss lady?" The big bear squeezed her arm with an affectionate grin. "There's hope for ya yet."
"Never a dull moment with you, is there?"
"Stick with me, Becky. I'll take ya places. Just think, sweetheart, next Christmas we'll have another little one runnin' around here."
"Not exactly running. Crawling, maybe." Rebecca rested her hands on her stomach.
The pilot put a large paw over both of hers. "How'd I get ta be such a lucky so-an'-so?"
"Stick with me, and you'll go places, Baloo. Speaking of going places..."
Baloo groaned at the all-too-familiar gleam in her eyes. It betokened hard work, a get-rich-quick scheme, or... "Oh, no!"
"Oh, yes! Clearance sales start tomorrow bright and early."
Baloo reminded, "But, Becky, someone's gotta watch the kids."
"Kit can watch Molly," Rebecca replied calmly.
"The flour shipment?" Baloo said in desperation. He'd rather fly a cargo hold full of boa constrictors to the treacherous land of Ill Booten Gotty on the other side of the world than go shopping. That was how much he hated to shop.
"I'll have to call the Pillsberry Dough-Boy Company and explain what happened. The only place you'll be going tomorrow, flyboy, is with me. I need your strong arms."
"All the better ta carry heavy packages," Baloo grumbled under his breath. Then, he spied something out of the corner of his eye; something that he'd wanted to do all day. He grabbed her paw and pulled her to her feet. "Come here, Becky. I wanna show ya somethin'."
Rebecca giggled as she followed him.
Baloo threw open the door. Outside, the moonlight shimmered on the waves and reflected off of the Sea Duck. The sky was spattered with millions of stars. The holiday sounds of Cape Suzette floated across the harbor. A refreshing cool-but-not-cold breeze brushed against their faces and ruffled their hair as they stood in the doorway.
Leaning against her husband with his arms securely about her waist, Rebecca said softly, "Beautiful night. What am I looking at, darling?"
Baloo pointed up. A sprig of mistletoe hung above them. He grinned knowingly down at her.
"Oh," Rebecca murmured. A slow smile spread across her face. "I guess we have to, Baloo...tradition and all."
After sharing a kiss, Baloo sneezed. "Ah–ah-ah-ah-choo!" He sniffled and wiped his itchy nose on his sleeve. "Still got flour up my nose."
"God bless us, everyone," Wildcat said sincerely as he sidled past the two bears.
Baloo and Rebecca laughed, smooched again, and went inside, shutting the door behind them with the merry tinkle of jingle bells.
The End