The high-end apartment building sat vacant; its windows were shattered and parts of the building broken by flying debris in the storm. They were a sad sight. Next to them was an open parking lot where the tenets would rest their cars for the night. Only a couple of cars sat in their spots at the moment, but the rest of the lot was no longer empty.
A grand display of several Christmas Trees surrounded the center of the lot. Lines of twinkling lights bobbing in the light breeze hung between the trees to frame the open area in the middle. Tables waited with colorful paper table cloths. On the tables, stacked high, were dazzlingly Christmas themed tins brimming with candies, cookies, fruits, fudges, and nuts.
The disheveled and disheartened members of the small town approached this scene. A blossoming look of joy setting into the eyes. Smiles slowly replaced tired faces. Children burst into mad dashes toward the sweets while their parents met in friendly hugs and handshakes. A young man set up an old boom box and tuned it to a local radio station that was playing Christmas music round the clock.
Old friends who hadn’t seen them in a few weeks met the family who had just arrived back in town. Their little girl running to play with friends she has been missing.
Santa smiled and said, “Have you ever seen a more beautiful sight?”
Dragonborn, standing next to him, muttered, “Yeah, in the mirror this morning.”
“Truly, you bury your feelings behind such a facade of ego that you cannot allow yourself even the smallest joy in the moment. Come, let’s see if we can find that elusive Christmas spirit and feed it a cookie before it starves to death.” Santa walked with him toward the crowds.
Dragonborn walked with him over to a table covered in treats. People greeted them like family all the way and the cheer was bristling in every smile, happy eye, and light step.
Barb, the woman they first met at the storefront, met them with a big grin on her face. “Glad you could join us. This is… more festive that we thought we’d see this year.”
Santa said, “It is nice. I’m glad you indulged that Christmas spirit.”
“We needed it. Steve and I thought it was just not possible to have anything like this. You can’t imagine what this place was like before the Hurricane. Every church had a pageant. Lights and decorations adorned the old homes up the hills. We had a parade, and there was a street festival every Friday leading up to Christmas. It was the best time of the year. I thought we lost it.”
Santa smiled and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Not lost. Just set aside for more important matters. It will be there when you look for it. Like now. This may not be four weeks of celebration, but it certainly has all the spirit.”
“You’re right. This is exactly what we needed. Oh, Steve needs me. Excuse me. Enjoy yourselves.” She hurried away.
Dragonborn walked up to Santa, a tree-shaped cookie in one hand and a critical gaze in his eyes. “One little party is hardly a season.”
“It's enough to at least brighten a dark time.”
Looking at the cookie and then around, “So, I thought you said you didn’t give gifts, just brought Christmas spirit... whatever that is.”
“Christmas spirit is this, and that is exactly what I brought. I didn’t conjure up all this stuff in a twinkle of my eye. I’ve been at work for weeks now, getting people in the spirit of the season. A nice little church in Morristown, Tennessee, wanted to do something nice for these hurricane victims. I inspired them to consider sending along a Christmas celebration.”
“These people need warm homes and hot food, not tinsel and cookies.”
Santa’s warm smile grew. “I see you care about their needs.”
“Quit pivoting from my point when I say something! These people need a hot meal, not cookies and candy.”
“Feeding the spirit, encouraging the soul, is so important in times of sorrow and grief. They have lived this pitiful life for months now. This time of the year, they need this more than another bowl of chicken noodle soup. There is plenty of food in that pantry to help these people through the weeks. Don’t worry about them.”
Dragonborn looked up at the night sky, a streak of light zoomed by. “Was that a hero?”
Santa looked up, “Yes. I believe that was Crimson Star. She patrols this area now and then.”
“They have a league this far in the backwoods?”
Santa said, “No assigned league, just a few Rangers. They have little villain activity out this far, but it can happen.”
Dragonborn asked, “What happens if a villain attacks and no one is present? These people could be in grave danger.”
Santa said, “It hasn’t happened yet, so we don’t know. But, hopefully, someone will be near enough to assist.”
“Let’s hope someone is nearby.”
Santa said, “That almost sounded like you care.”
Dragonborn snorted and walked back toward the cookie table. “I just don’t want to be caught here in Hillbilly Hell if some bad guy shows up and causes trouble.”
“Sure.” Santa had a glint of a clever look in his eye as he touched the side of his nose.
A new song boomed out from the radio that had hot techno beats and a wall of bouncy sound.
Dragonborn frowned and looked back. “I love this tune.”
“A Christmas song?”
“What? No, this plays at my favorite club back home.”
Santa said, “Vilhelm Bulldozer is a Christmas music group. They just have their own take on the classics.” He watched Dragonborn’s shoulders moving. “Why not go out to the dance floor?”
“No… I can’t. I mean, I could show these bumpkins how a real dancefloor looks.”
“You do that. Take this hoedown up a notch.”
Dragonborn smiled and said, “Think they can keep up?” He walked toward the center of the four trees.
Santa picked up a cookie and watched as Dragonborn strode out to the middle of the floor. Only a few daring people were indulging the beat. The hidden hero among them took his place and struck a pose. The dance was a choreographed movement that all the trendy kids knew and could throw down at the first beat of this song. Dragonborn was perfect in every movement, every beat. However, to his surprise, he wasn’t alone. High School kids and a few adults joined him and were moving at the same pace. Soon, younger kids jumped in and tried to follow. The song kept going, longer than expected, and more people joined. Dragonborn was in the center of this dance party and he was in his element.
As the song continued on, Dragonborn lost himself and found someone else. He was laughing, moving, and having fun with these people. The little girl he had met kept following his movements around the floor and he would even stop to show her how to do it better.
When the music stopped, the crowd erupted in applause and more than one person rushed over to thank Dragonborn for getting them started. The next song had far more people jumping into dance. He had sparked a sensation and everyone was bouncing to the rhythm.
Dragonborn had the little girl following him off the floor and nearly running circles around him, as she was so excited.
“THANK YOU! THAT WAS FUN! CAN YOU SHOW ME ANOTHER ONE! I LOVE DANCING! I TAKE BALLET!”
Her parents came over and retrieved their ecstatic child. They thanked Dragonborn profusely for being so nice and then left to get some hot cider.
Santa met Dragonborn with a smirk. Dragonborn said, “Don’t say it. That was just… a thing.”
“Can’t you admit you enjoyed yourself? Can’t you accept that joy can be found where you make it?”
“Can you not be so cryptic all the time? Sheesh! Fine, so maybe these people aren’t all ignorant dolts and I was too harsh. There, I said it! Are you happy now?”
“Almost. I still sense a part of you would flee this place for the nightlife in a big city if I let you.”
“In a heartbeat.” Dragonborn stated.
Santa watched the little girl bouncing around and still trying to do the dance moves to the song that ended. “Still, you grew just a little a moment ago.”
“Not much. Wow, can you make this illusion around me thicker? I’m freezing.” He held his arms around him and shivered.
“The magic only is illusionary. I’ll see if I can find you a real coat. I think there were some inside in the donation box. You can borrow it for the night.” Santa went back to the building.
Barb walked over and said, “The cold sets in pretty hard as the night goes on. We’re starting a bon ire over in the next lot if you want to go warm up.”
“Thanks.” Dragonborn walked away.
The little girl rushed over to him. “Where are you going?”
“To warm up by a fire.”
“Can I come?”
He shrugged, “Sure, why not.” While he walked, the bubbly girl followed on his heels.
Santa stepped out with a coat and saw Dragonborn and the girl in the distance. “Oh, no.”
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