BlogFestivus: Tortuga
This story is the fifth and final installment themed “Tiny Tim” in a five-part series of 200-word stories for BlogFestivus, A Christmas Carol. Check out the links (at the bottom of this post) to all the participating “ghost” writers for this year’s challenge. We’re spanking the candy cane now. -BD
Tortuga
by Tom B. Taker
At the end of the room loomed a high-backed chair facing a large round window. The smell of mistletoe hung in the air. An end table was nearby upon which sat a glass of eggnog and a bouquet of red and white tulips.
Ominous symphonic music began to fill the air as the chair imperceptibly swiveled. It took a long time, but the occupant, finally, was revealed. He lounged, his wee feet extending just beyond the seat, his arms extended and resting on the arms of the chair. Atop a tiny head a festive pork pie hat had been donned.
“Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen,” he cackled.
“You!” shouted Scrooge.
“Yes, me. My production facility is state of the art. Candy canes are running at full capacity. Fruitcakes are ramping up and will soon be the perfect method for delivering your product. You’re out, Scrooge. Out!”
“Wait,” Scrooge stammered. “Dammit, Tim, wait!”
“Give me one good reason why.”
“I’m your father.”
“Noooooooooo!”
Scrooge, sensing a momentary advantage, tiptoed carefully. “My company has developed the black armor. I can still be of value to you.”
Tim smiled.
“Then, together, we shall rule the galaxy as father and son!”
—
Click on the links below for more takes on A Christmas Carol from our other BlogFestivus bloggers:
Linda penning at linda vernon humor
Steve from Stevil
Maria-Christina blogging at MCWhispers
Dylan of Treatment of Visions
Sarah from Parent Your Business
Dawn blogging at Lingering Visions
K8edid from k8edid
Dave bringing it at 1pointperspective
Eileen from Not The Sword But The Pen
Lindsey at RewindRevise
Kandy of Kandy Talk
Sandra writing at In Love With Words
Natalie from So I Went Undercover
Jen at Blog It or Lose It
Amelie from In the Barberry
Cee Cee blogging at Cee Cee’s Blog
Ashley from LittleWonder2
BD writing Blogdramedy
Give me the lights, precious lights
As seen in my neighborhood this year
When I was a kid on the Saturday before Christmas the family would load up in the car and drive around to view Christmas lights. It was always something we looked forward to. It was a special time.
Later, in my twenties, there was a neighborhood in town that was a surbuban block of family homes with only two entrances. Nearly every single house was decorated at Christmas. They even would hang a sign over the main entrance proclaiming the neighborhood to be “Starlight Circle.”
Cars from miles around would slowly cruise the neighborhood. Those willing to park could stroll along the sidewalks. Christmas music filled the air. Along the way residents would pass out things like candy canes and hot cocoa or hot apple cider to help take away a bit of the chill. I haven’t been there for years.
The last two years, though, I’ve been noticing a new phenomenon. Halloween lights. Last year the house down the street was brightly lit with orange lights. I surmised it took someone a very long time to take Christmas lights and swap in all of those little orange bulbs.
This year that house was decorated even more, and so was about half the neighborhood! Almost half, I think. Wow. Do we love our holidays or what?
Seriously. Halloween lights?
Then, driving through town last night, I noticed a house with the orange lights still up and I slowed to take a look. Yep, right there in the front yard. There it is! There sits the giant inflatable turkey. Turkey I say! (No doubt made in China.)
I’m going to need a scorecard soon to keep track of all the holidays that need lights. Christmas is so much fun why not spread it around the rest of the year? Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Fourth of July have obvious color schemes.
I predict someone will invent year-round lights that you simply leave out all the time, then a little control panel that can be used to illuminate them to the holiday color scheme of your choice. The ultimate in convenience.
Congratulations, humans. You found a way to make Christmas just a little bit less special than it already was.
The musical selection for this post:
Shouts from the Abyss 
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