CREEPY CARL
12th December
Bella had been pestering Molly relentlessly for days, asking why Santa hadn’t sent a new elf to replace poor Holly. She had given her daughter every excuse under the sun.
‘Santa must have forgotten. I’ll remind him tomorrow.’
‘Maybe the elf got lost.’
‘There might not be enough elves for all the children.’
Bella wasn’t buying any of it and eyed her mother suspiciously, clearly smelling a rat. Arriving home the night before, following the lost lay by debacle, Molly had spent two long hours dealing with a total meltdown before Bella finally cried herself to sleep.
She arrived at work and stepped out of the lift, quickly spotting Sam and Hannah getting rather handsy with each other under the reception desk. Molly smirked as she walked past. ‘Be careful, you two. Make sure Gary doesn’t catch you.’
Heading straight to Danni’s office, she closed the door behind her. ‘Hey. Here’s your coffee.’
Danni pulled her in for a hug. ‘Thanks. Are You OK?’
Molly slid down in the chair; her shoulders slumped forward. ‘I’m so sorry about my mini breakdown at the lay by counter yesterday. I’m so embarrassed. Absolutely every little thing seems to get on my last nerve lately.’
Danni had no idea what Molly was going through on a daily basis, but she quietly listened to her bestie vent.
‘I need to find a new doctor. One who will listen. For twelve months now, I’ve suffered through hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, and the raw rage you witnessed yesterday. Oh, and don’t get me started on my dry fanny. What does it matter, I guess. It’s not like Julian and I have a sex life anymore. I have begged to be put on hormone replacement therapy, but get told I’m too young.’
Molly stopped rambling and Danni jumped in. ‘It’s OK Mol. I still love you even though you’re a hormonal hot mess.’
‘I’m such a terrible friend. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own bullshit, I forgot to ask what happened with Sam’s hot brother.’
A crimson flush made its way up Danni’s neck. ‘I have to meet with Gary to go over last week’s sales data, but let’s just say we had an awesome night and I’ll be seeing him again soon.’
As Molly started up her laptop, Bella’s pleading little face once again took up residency in Molly’s cluttered brain. Unable to shake the image, she grabbed her handbag and headed for the lift. ‘Just popping out for a bit, Hannah. I shouldn’t be too long’
It seemed Hannah hadn’t really changed her ways after all. ‘But you just got here Molly.’
‘It’s an emergency.’
‘What could be so important that it can’t wait until your break?’
‘It’s really none of your business, Hannah.’
Folding her arms across her chest, Hannah pouted like an angsty teenager. ‘Why should you get to take off whenever you feel like it because you are a mother, and your best friend is your supervisor.’
Oh, Hannah, you have much to learn. ‘Well, let’s put it this way. If you don’t want Gary to find out about you grabbing Sam’s crotch under the desk, I’d keep your mouth shut if I were you.’
Was the blackmail being bitchy? Maybe a bit, but she had to see a shopkeeper about finding an elf and no one was going to stop her. As she reached the lift, she received a welcome text message.
Good Morning Mrs Tindale
I am delighted to inform you that we have located your lay by goods. Please attend in store to collect them at your convenience.
Regards
Marie Spicer
Lay By Supervisor
Molly breathed a sigh of relief as she made her way to the closest two dollar shop. After searching many other stores a few days earlier, it was clear most of the shops had sold out of elves. She crossed her fingers as she searched the cramped, cluttered aisles.
There was one elf left on the shelf. Pardon the pun. All on his lonesome. The cheap knock off resembled Holly’s the elf’s deranged creepy old uncle. She paid for the elf and hoped he wouldn’t give poor Bella the night terrors.
She called him Creepy Carl.
Unpublished Work - Hayley Walsh (c) 2024
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