This story takes place a year after the events "The Jedi Save Life Day"
"Places, everyone! Places!" Teatra shouted through her megaphone. "Showtime is less than forty-eight hours away!"
Vince was looking around the stage for something. He was dressed in raggedy brown pants with suspenders. Very different from the usual sports attire or designer shirts he wore.
"Has anyone seen my jacket?" said Vince.
"The one for your costume or your varsity one?" Comedia asked. She was dressed in red robes and had a wreath on her head.
"My costume! I know Bob Cratchit's poor, but I'm pretty sure he had a jacket."
"I found it!" said Myra, getting out the jacket and putting it on her boyfriend.
In his mind, Vince thought it was more than fitting that Myra was playing his wife for this production. In case you hadn't guessed, Walker Prep was doing "A Life Day Carol" (or A Christmas Carol, as you may know it) for their big play before winter break.
Something really special about this particular play was that it wasn't taking place in the school's theater, but a real big theater in the city because this play was also a fundraiser. For this play, instead of a ticket to get in, you brought a toy, winter clothes, or at least ten credits, and those donations were going to be sent to orphanages and homeless shelters across the galaxy so families and orphans could have a merry Life Day.
"Teatra," said Boba, coming in his costume. He was playing Scrooge's nephew Fred. "Runo got tangled in the chains again."
Teatra face-hoofed.
"Belinda Cratchit!" Teatra called.
"Yeah?" Omega answered.
"Marley needs help with his chains."
"Again?" Omega rolled her eyes. "I'll go help him."
Just then the curtains closed.
"Benni!" Teatra said. "If you're gonna move the curtains, you're supposed to shout out 'curtain check'!"
"Sorry!" Benni said.
Everyone was really excited for Life Day this year. Like most families, everyone had their own plans for the holidays. Myra and Vince were excited that this was their first Life Day as a couple, but the latter was excited because this would be his first peaceful holiday with his dad. So, the Halls and the Monroe and Windu families were going to meet and gather for the holidays, which naturally had the two a little nervous.
Vince was getting his stuff from his locker before he would be going out to hang with his friends today.
"I gotta warn you, my grandparents can be hard to please." Myra said.
"Try my grandparents." Vince rolled his eyes.
"I thought you said they were coming for the holidays."
"They are, but… I haven't seen most of my family since… you know."
Myra knew it all too well that Vince hadn't seen any of his family from his father's side since his former stepmother entered the picture. He got a card every year on his birthday from them, and usually some money, but those cards usually were an invite for him to move in with them to get away from Tatiana.
"I don't know why I never took the offer though. But I was just a kid at the time." Vince said. "Still… I kinda worry about Jacob."
"Why's that?" But then Myra realized the answer. "Oh, 'cause of his mom."
"Yeah. It's like my dad's generation is cursed. Somehow, he only seems to marry women who get murdered or abandon their kids."
"That's dark."
"It's not just that. I mean, not surprisingly, for the last four years, he always gets coal in his stocking."
Last Life Day…
T'was the night before Life Day, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. But across the galaxy, the Jedi and the Bad Batch were flying amok with many sleighs and their horses to assist Santa in delivering gifts to all the good girls and boys everywhere.
Mariverde set the deliveries back halfway, which meant deliveries needed to be done faster than ever so Santa wouldn't miss a single home.
The Jedi split into teams.
Myra and Omega got to the houses on Coruscant, and among the houses they went to was the Hall Mansion.
"We're at Vince's house." Myra said quietly.
Omega checked the data tablet to make sure they left the right gifts at the right house.
"Vince is on the Nice List?" Omega said confused.
"Let me see that!" Myra looked at it.
But they didn't have time to debate. Quickly, Myra and Omega put the presents under the tree and in the stockings. Some candy for Vince, but in Jacob's stocking, a lump of coal because he was on the Naughty List. Of course, the girls didn't neglect to help themselves to the cookies left.
The next morning…
Vince was sleeping, when a little voice shouted through the halls, "WAKE UP! IT'S LIFE DAY!"
Jacob ran amok, jumping on his parents' bed, demanding they get up so they could open presents.
Jacob Hall, being a child, looked forward to one thing every year on Life Day morning: Presents from Santa.
Jacob was quick to search under the tree for his long list of presents, except… there were a few gifts under the tree, some from Santa, but none of the ones from Santa were for Jacob. He only found presents for his older brother Vince.
Vince opened his gift and was ecstatic when he found an autographed baseball and a new varsity jacket inside the box.
"Just what I wanted!" Vince cheered. He tried on his new jacket. "Perfect fit!"
Jacob kept looking around and saw nothing else under the tree.
"Where are my presents?" Jacob asked worriedly.
"I'm sure there's something here, Baby." Tatiana had said. "I'm sure Vince just read a label wrong and these are for you."
But Mr. Hall checked the presents after she took them from Vince and confirmed they were for Vince.
"Check your stocking, Jake. I'm sure you'll find something in there."
So, Jacob did grab his stocking, and inside he found…
"Coal?!"
"Uh-oh. Sounds like you were on the naughty list." Derek said.
"Derek!" Mr. Hall scolded. "Don't be upset, Jacob. We have gifts for you."
"But Santa's supposed to give the best ones."
Jacob got so upset, he threw his coal across the room, breaking a window. For once, that was an accident.
"Oops."
Present…
"And then Tatiana told him I was playing a joke on him, and that Santa isn't real."
"Well, she's wrong in both those things. He's real alright. I know this for a fact." Myra said.
"And she's right." said a new voice.
Myra turned around to see a familiar redhead she hadn't seen since last Life Day.
"Holly!"
Myra gave Holly a big hug.
"This is awesome! What are you doing here?"
"It's kind of a tradition in my family. Now that I'm sixteen, my dad said I could go on patrol."
"Patrol for what?" Vince asked. "Are you a cop in training or something?"
"Sort of."
"Oh! Holly, this is my boyfriend-"
"Vincent Hall. Last year, you asked Santa for a baseball signed by Byron Judson and a varsity jacket, boy's size extra large." Holly recited.
Vince was freaked out by that. His dad had dealt with stalkers before, but this was the first he was becoming aware of for him.
"How do you know all that?"
"Probably because her dad gets a ton of letters with everyone's lists every year." Myra said.
Vince's jaw dropped when he pieced together what Myra just said.
"You mean, her dad is…?"
"Yup. But don't tell anyone."
"Trust me, you don't want that kind of attention." Holly whispered.
"We're just heading out to the mall with some friends," said Myra. "Wanna come?"
"I'd be holly jolly to."
Holly joined Myra, Vince and their friends at the mall as they were hanging out.
"So…Santa's really real?" Benni said.
"Who did you think was leaving you all those treats every Life Day? Or why that Mokko fellow found his home filled with coal?" Holly pointed out.
"I always thought he had a coal mine somewhere, and I thought my mom was leaving those gifts every year." Benni shrugged. "Guess I was wrong. Now I feel bad we never got to leave proper treats for Santa."
"It's not your fault. Wouldn't be the first time a family couldn't afford to leave cookies. Besides, graham crackers are perfect for s'mores."
"So, what's it like living at the North Pole?" Vince asked. "What planet is it on?"
"A planet called Earth. Very far from here, and the last place anyone thinks to look for us. On that planet, they think magic is nothing but a myth. As for your first question, it's okay, I guess. A lot cooler there, though."
Holly began fanning herself. As far as she could tell, she was the only one wearing a simple Santa dress and shorts. Coruscant was a lot warmer than at her house.
"Colden feels the same way whenever he comes to visit." Boba said.
Holly was really excited to be out of the North Pole. According to her, as Santa's heir, it was time for her to be part of his patrol now that she was old enough. Part of her patrolling involved checking in with Santa's agents across the mall to make sure they had an update on every child's Christmas wishes. Sometimes kids sent a letter then changed their minds on what they wanted, according to Holly. So, she was one of many on patrol keeping tabs on Christmas wishes.
"That's what Life Day is called on Earth." Holly explained.
"I know it's not really my business, but how did Vince make the Nice list last year?" Myra said. "Need I remind everyone, that was before we were friends?"
"Well, I probably shouldn't say, but once he stopped bullying, all the extra work he did at the animal shelter really earned him a lot of points."
"Really?" Vince said, a bit surprised.
"Yup. Someone who's such a softie to cute little animals can't be totally naughty. And feeding Comedia that day she forgot her lunch and your dedication to your schoolwork definitely earned some points too."
Comedia felt kinda hesitant to ask but…
"If you're wondering about your list status," said Holly before Comedia could ask. "You all made the nice list so far."
"Yes!" Omega cheered.
"But I'm not saying what anyone's getting, or Dad might put me on the naughty list."
"That can happen?" Boba said.
"Yup. Ever heard of Krampus?"
"So he does exist?" Comedia gasped. "Firework's not gonna be happy about that."
"Don't worry, he's not as vicious as you think. Not unless you're really naughty. He's actually my uncle Clement. He never liked being called that though. Believe it or not, he was a bad egg when he was a kid. But he grew up. However, he's got strong opinions about bad children who don't learn their lessons."
"How come Brittney hasn't seen him by now?" Myra said.
"Oh, she did once at age fourteen. Usually, Uncle Krampus only needs to attack once and then the kid starts to clean up their act."
"Could you tell Firework that?" Boba said. "Gabby told me that Obi-Wan told her that Peppermint told him that Firework is even more terrified of Krampus than ever since that incident last Life Day."
Holly facepalmed. "Not another one."
As you might've guessed, this wouldn't be the first time Holly heard of a youngling being afraid of Krampus. Even children who were never on the Naughty List were afraid of him sometimes. All it took was their parents using Krampus as a threat, reading about him in folklore tales, or seeing a scary Krampus movie and the kids became terrified to do anything bad, and not even for the right reason.
"You can probably see why my dad works in secret. If everyone knew where to find him, he'd be hounded with complaints. And someday, that's gonna be my job."
"Sounds like a lot of pressure." Comedia said. "You never wanted to do anything else?"
"No. Since I was little, I've wanted to do what my dad does, and that's making people's wishes come true. Plus, you've seen the view from the sky. Who wouldn't love a job where you travel everywhere in one night and get free cookies? I mean, plus, Dad only travels for work once a year and is always home the next day for us to celebrate."
Holly pulled out a picture of her with her whole family. In it was Holly, her parents, a man dressed in darker robes with a woman beside him, two little girls younger than Holly, and Mrs. Claus was holding a baby boy.
"See? There's my mom and dad, my uncle Krampus and Aunt Grayla, and over here are my sisters Joy and Faith, and my new baby brother Kris."
"You have a new baby brother?" Omega gasped happily. "How old is he?"
"Almost two months. Everyone loves him. You should've seen the pile of gifts Mom got at her baby shower. I think they made enough baby toys for at least the next three holidays."
Holly took another sip of her smoothie. Eating cold stuff was not something she did often back home despite being accustomed to the cold. Plus, she tried once, the smoothie turned into an instant popsicle and her tongue got stuck for over an hour.
"You have no idea how good you guys have it, being able to eat anything of any temperature any time of the year."
Holly decided she was going to get a refill, when she accidentally bumped into someone.
"Hey, watch where you're going, Red Head!" Brittney, who Holly bumped into.
"Sorry about that." Holly said.
Brittney eyed Holly's outfit and scoffed.
"Trying to look hot around here? You're wasting your time."
"Let's just see how much time you've spent on good deeds this year."
Holly looked into a little book she held. It had a red cover with a symbol of two letter N's on it. One letter N was golden as sunshine, while the other was black as coal.
"Hmm. Ah, Brittney Parisia. Ooh! Your list of offenses is extensive. Pushing a girl into the boy's locker room, cyberbullying, pouring a smoothie on a homeless man, telling the whole school another girl's boyfriend had a special night with you…ugh. I wouldn't get my hopes up about getting that new Jade Stain bag you asked for this Life Day."
"First of all, I asked for six Jade Stain bags this year and the new E-Phone, only some of the many gifts I deserve, and second, what I do with my time is my business. And how would you even know anything I've been doing since I can't even make a post?"
It was true. Even though Brittney's six month ban from social media was over, her parents didn't give her back her old phone. For the last eight months, Brittney had a phone that could only make phone calls, and the only time she was allowed to use a computer was for doing homework. So, she had to write her letter to Santa by hand, which gave her writer's cramp, given how long her list was.
"Let's just say I have my ways. And I'd get a headstart on watching the attitude if I were you, unless you want another stocking full of coal on Life Day morning next year too."
Brittney laughed and said, "You're really playing the Naughty List card? Do I look five years old to you?"
Brittney then deliberately drenched Holly in the coffee she was holding, which had all Holly's friends gasping.
"Maybe you oughta ask Santa for some fashion sense this year. Or at least a towel."
Myra immediately got up to help Holly clean up.
"Oh, you've done it now, Brittney!" Myra said. "If you weren't on the Naughty List before, you're definitely gonna be now."
Comedia, on the other hoof, took Brittney's designer purse and chewed on it like a dog chewing a shoe.
"Hey! My new purse!"'Brittney tried to take it back, but Comedia put up a fight. "Give it back!"
"Alright." Comedia said, then she let go, sending Brittney falling into a fountain.
"Looks like you really made a splash, Comedia." Boba joked.
Cue rimshot.
Comedia rolled her eyes, though she had to admit that was clever, but she was more concerned about Holly now.
"Are you okay, Holly?" Comedia asked.
Holly managed to wipe off most of the liquid, but it left a nasty stain on her dress, especially the white parts.
"I'm fine. Luckily, that coffee was cold. Aww, but I'm gonna need a new outfit. Too bad. Garland made this so well."
Holly waved her hand and changed from her red and white dress to a green one with a reindeer on it.
"That's better."
Brittney squeezed water from her clothes and cried in dismay when she saw her new purse was drenched. And then she saw Holly and the others leaving.
"Hey, where are you going?! You owe me a new purse!"