He had been waiting for this.
Arobati looked at the empty space under the Christmas tree with deadly calm while his caretakers exchanged nervous glances.
They had promised and some swore that Santa would visit him this year, Now none of the gifts bore his name.
He didn't spare them a second thought. He went to the dining table and had breakfast.
His parents noticed his sour mood but didn't ask any questions, nor did he make any moves to speak to them. After all, they were always very busy.
"Arobati, would you like some pudding?" Mrs Ameria, the head chef offered.
"No thanks." He swiftly declined the offer, he wanted to remember the taste of disappointment.
Santa's absence wasn't new. There had been numerous Christmases where his stockings were left empty or filled with coal. Those Christmas mornings waking up to nothing but the humid heat and a too sweet pudding.
This year, he decided to be nice, so he too can partake in the joy of Christmas.
So he began. He joined the Boy Scouts. Helped every old woman he stumbled across cross the street. He even gave his younger brother the last piece of pie.
He climbed the Nice List carefully—he earned his place.
Now as he climbed up the steps he could see his Junior brother happily unwrapping his gift in the living room and his anger grew hotter.
Quickly he locked himself in his room, turned on the laptop and sent a simple command to the group chat.
"Do it."
This group consisted of four boys with the same problems as Arobati and they all had the same plan.
He looked at his watch and nodded, the time was 9am, so only Brian, in the United States, would be able to execute the plan.
The plan for this year's Christmas was simple.
If Santa doesn't give us gifts, he isn't going back to the Pole.
Ten minutes later, Brian replied with one word;
"Noted."
It was dark.
He woke struggling, ropes biting into his wrists and his mouth was gagged.
What happened? All he remembered was coming to drop the gifts under the tree, then he ate the cookie—
"Seems you're awake."
A voice drew all his attention now. It sounded young. A child?
The tape was pulled away from his mouth, taking a reasonable tuft of hair.
The shout of pain that followed came from his soul.
"Who in the frosty peaks are you?"
"We're the kids who were forgotten."
A second voice. Calm, close..
"Brian, please remove his blindfold."
The light poured into his eyes and it took him a few seconds before he could see clearly again.
He looked at the boy who stood looking straight in his eye.
He was Brian with his chestnut hair, freckles, American flag pajamas. He's about fifteen, he was visibly sleepy and very angry.
The second boy was on a screen, clearly in another country due to it being brighter there and his light clothing.
"Good Morning Mr Claus."
"What is this?" Santa Claus asked the boy on the screen.
"Where am I?" He asked again struggling against the binds.
"All good questions, but I have an even better one... Where's my gift Nick?"
"Your gift?"
"Don't play coy with me, you jolly old scam!"
"I don't know what—"
"I was nice." Arobati began cutting him off. "Helped Grandma cross the road, had my junior brother get the last bite of pie because I wanted to get gifts this year."
"Now it's 7pm on the 25th evening and no gifts have been received."
"Wait... You're telling me you kidnapped me because of a few gifts missed?"
"A few missed gifts start it, then next year it's coal for everyone."
"We deal with you now! You're not leaving here until you pay what you owe" The boy said banging his fist on his table
Santa looked at the boy on the screen then he realized.
"Kiribati?"
"What was that?" Arobati asked
“Kiribati?” Santa said. “That’s where you live.”
"So you do know the boy who you left out." Arobati asked.
"I remember all children, especially one that has been as good as you."
He looked at the rope that bound his hands...
".... has been good."
"If I was so good, why then has my gift not yet been delivered?" Arobati asked, confused.
"Your country is an island state and your house roofs don't have chimneys, so nothing for me to slide down through." Santa Clause explained
"So instead of everything appearing magically, your gifts are coming by post."
*"Master Arobati, a package is waiting for you...
Arobati ran downstairs to check on the package his maid invited him to see.
It was his gift. The note said;
"From Santa, Great job at being Nice."*
Slowly he walked upstairs and sat at his monitor squaring face to face with the Jolly Fatman who he had kidnapped.
Brian had slept off, so it was just two of them awake, conscious and staring in awkward silence at each other.
"I assume it was your gift that just came in; The Green Toyota Quad bike."
He nodded and Santa nodded back..after a few minutes of silence Santa spoke.
"I believe my time here is up." He stood up and snapped his fingers. Arobati watched in disbelief as the rope around his body melted off.
"I would have scolded you, but you guys have made me severely off schedule in my deliveries."
Santa picked up his gift bag and walked towards the phone, picked it up and held it looking straight at Arobati.
"You have managed to win a full lifetime of being in the naughty list, I hope your present is all you ever wanted.
Merry Christmas.
Header image was gotten from here and edited using Canva.
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