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Photo Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
The disheveled homeless man on the street looked familiar. When recognition dawned, it hit me hard.
“Kris, is that really you?”
“I’m afraid it is.”
“What happened?”
“Long story. Homeland Security arrested me at the border. Lost the place up north to foreclosure. The wife ran off, elves went on strike, and PETA took the reindeer.”
“That’s terrible. What are you doing now?”
“Ringing a bell in front of Walmart. Seven dollars an hour. Better than working for milk and cookies.”
“But who’s going to deliver the gifts to the children?”
“Not to worry. It’s all privatized. Big brown truck.”
bridgesareforburning 
Good one, Ron (although not for Kris.) I guess he should have joined the union. Love your PETA remark!! I just hope UPS doesn’t try to come down the chimney, especially in the truck. (Could be hard on the roof, too.)
Love it! Poor old Santa…
next will be outsourced to a red truck with gold stars, hammer, scythe. well done.
Well done, I wasn’t sure whether I should laugh or cry. I like PETA and the big brown truck.
This was just too adorable. Poor Santa.
Great political Christmas statement. Bravo!!!!!!
This story is witty, yet frightening and the comment by Rich gave me shivers…considering the direction our country is taking. Love your stories, Ron.
Dear Ron,
A perfect story for the bleak nature of that photo. I like that through it all Kris remains upbeat and continues to look ahead. A little retraining and he can get a job with the new delevery company, rise to the top and resume his old position in warmer headquarters.
Aloha,
Doug
Big brown truck….love it…this is so creative. Well done
As usual, your writing made me grin. PETA took the reindeer ~ tsk tsk tsk
Brilliant! Truly exceptional – what wonderful satire, uncovered step by step, laugh by laugh, until the last l…well…its not that funny…its serious – the references are sheer briliiance.
You, Sir, are horrible! – in a good way!
Great!
Scott
Mine: http://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/friday-fictioneers-8/
Nicely done Ron; a tongue in cheek take on the prompt that made me smile.
Loved it Ron. Poor Santa.
The pace of your story is fascinating. For me, i get my kick from well paced storylines and am thankful you gave me one today! Enjoy!
Funny and poignant–and entirely believable. Good job.
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/tis-the-season/
really good story! I’ve seen some ups drivers I wouldn’t mind see coming down the chimney. haha! 🙂
Oh. Kay. So even Santa can’t cope with the modern world. Well, it’s hardly a surprise 😉
Good modern update on an old tale 8^)
In my neck of the woods PETA stands for People Eating Tasty Animals. The thought of kids sitting on the lap of a man wearing brown shorts is a little unnerving. “Here comes UPS, here comes UPS, right down UPS lane.” The good news is we can track the packages on the internet.
Coming from a country were we eat reindeer.. I can think of better uses of Rudolph, a brown delivery truck makes sense.
I can recommend smoked heart of reindeer, very tasty.
Had a little trouble coming up with a comment after reading about Bjorn’s smoked heart of reindeer (above). Good story, pace and dialogue, Ron–sad for us kiddies, though–we’ll miss the old guy!
Oh, I love it, Ron! I’m laughing but it’s true and sad. Poor Santa. Overtaken by the brown truck. Nicely done!
This one makes me grin and giggle, Ron. Very creative! My red fuzzy hat’s off to you.
shalom,
Rochelle
Great story Ron. Very enjoyable if a litte ‘bah humbug’. 🙂
good one, as for working for milk and cookies, as long as they were the pinwheel cookies, it wouldn’t be so bad. Enjoyed this.
This was great! Poor Santa.
Cleverly done, Ron! Times really *have* changed, haven’t they?
Great stuff Ron! This explains why I’ve found myself stuffing stockings for the last quite a few years.
Oh my! I love it! Love it, love it, love it! This piece is bloody brilliant. Poor Santa and his reindeer.
I liked Doug’s observation. Loved that Kris was still upbeat in spite of the turns his life took. Outsourcing will be the death of all of us, I think.
Very funny piece and a modern day Miracle on 34th Street.
They grabbed him at the border. PETA took his reindeer. Russell reclaimed his beard.
All funny stuff!
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Very funny.
Nowhere to run from modernisation(?).
Well done.