"I cant believe I let you talk me into this, Kim," Marshall Mathers muttered under his breath as his wife straightened out the bright red collar of his Santas jacket.
"I can," Kim stifled a laugh as she stood back and grinned at him.
Marshall looked down at himself. He was wearing a big red Santa costume, complete with hat, fat suit and boots. He sighed, thinking he looked stupid. Kim had been bothering him about how Hailie was starting not to believe in Santa claus anymore, and even though Marshall didnt believe in Santa when he was 9 either, he took into consideration what Kim was telling him. It would make Hailie happy, to meet Santa, to believe in Santa, its a fun thing little kids do. So with much pushing from Kim, he finally gave in, and here he was, dressed up like Santa Claus.
"Seriously, Kim? Shes not going to believe Im Santa, I dont know why Im doing this. Shes too smart for us, remember when we told her about the toothfairy?" Marshall rolled his eyes, remembering the day she lost her first tooth.
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"DAD!"
Marshall raced through the house, hearing Hailie screaming for him. Out of breath, he ran down the hall, seeing her in the corner of his eye, sitting on the floor in the bathroom in front of the sink. He stopped himself, turned around and entered the bathroom, looking down at her, taking a deep breath.
"Whats wrong?" He asked, kneeling down on the bathroom floor beside her. She was looking at the ground, her cheeks were wet, from tears he assumed.
"My tooth came out..." She whimpered. "...and now my mouth is bleeding!"
"Your mouth is bleeding?" He raised an eyebrow, and she opened her mouth, pointing to where her top front tooth had once been. He nodded and she closed her mouth. He stood up and ran the cold water, reaching down and taking her hand, to pull her up off the floor. "Here, rinse your mouth out with the water. Wheres your tooth?" He asked.
"Here," She said quietly, unclenching her other hand, and holding it out for him to see. A tiny tooth sat in her hand, and he smiled.
"You know, if you put the tooth under your pillow, the toothfairy will come get it at night, and leave you money." He said, and she stopped rinsing her mouth, and stared at him, jaw dropped.
"No! Dad!" She exclaimed. "Theres no such thing as fairies!"
"Well, shes a TOOTHfairy, theres such things as that." He shrugged. "I know her personally!"
"Does mom know that you know her personally?" Hailie raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "I think your lying anyways. Why would she want me teeth?"
"She uses them, for her...castle." Marshall said slowly, being caught offguard. Hailie put one hand on her hip and looked at him with this look that made him laugh.
"You've got to be kidding me..." She huffed. He shook his head and grinned. This kid knew way to much for her own good.
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"Yeah, I remember, but little kids have to believe in Christmas, otherwise, its no fun!" Kim laughed as Marshall shook his head. "Alright, come on, put this on..." She had the big white curly Santa beard in her hand and he sighed.
"This is stupid. Shes going to know its me, she knows what I sound like!" He said, as she carefully put the beard over his mouth.
"You have to use a Santa voice, she wont know its you." Kim said, grinning as Marshall pulled at the beard she had put on his face. She tossed a Santa hat with white hair coming out of it at him, and he put it on and adjusted the beard once more, walked past Kim to the dresser, where he peered in the mirror at himself. He raised an eyebrow.
"Arent Santas supposed to have glasses, and be old?" He rolled his eyes, as she handed him a tiny pair of glasses that had come with the costume. "Damn, Kim, after this, I think I better use your tredmill." He said, standing sideways in front of the mirror, one hand on his stomach.
Kim grinned. "Thats the spirit, your Santa! Your fat and old! Be merry!" She laughed.
"Yeah yeah, alright." He clapped his hands together and looked to Kim. "Where is she? What if she sees me going outside and coming back in again?"
"Shes in the livingroom, she wont even get up from that tv, youll be all set, I'll walk you down, just incase." Kim said, leading him towards the bedroom door. They walked down the hall, Marshall behind Kim, descending the stairs, and stopping in front of the front door. Kim peeked around a corner to check on Hailie, who was laying on her stomach in front of the tv, her chin her hands, elbows propped up on the floor, her feet kicking the couch restlessly. "Go," She whispered, slowly and carefully opening the door, closing it as soon as Marshall stepped out onto the front step.
Marshall turned to face the front door, giving Kim a minute to walk away, before he rang the doorbell. He kicked at a peice of ice, that slid down the cement stairs, into a small snowbank. Hailie better believe in Santa Claus after this...
Ringing the doorbell and stepping back, quickly looking over his costume, while he waited for the door to open.
---
"I'll get it!" Hailie screamed, scrambling to her feet, running out of the livingroom, past the kitchen door where Kim was standing, smiling, and into the front hallway. She reached up and opened the large door, raising an eyebrow, and standing in the doorway, staring at "Santa" on the front step.
Marshall took this as his cue. "HO HO HO!" He said in his 'Santa Voice'. Hailie looked confused, and she bit her bottom lip, before apparently deciding to close the door on Marshall. He sighed.
"Who was at the door?" Kim asked, wondering what happened, walking into the front hallway.
"I dont know," Hailie shook her head, "But Im locking it!" She reached up and turned the deadbolt, and walking away from the door, into the livingroom, back to her tv.
Kim watched her go, before she unlocked the door and looked outside at Marshall, who looked pissed.
"What happened?" Kim asked, looking at Marshall like he did something wrong.
"I dont know! I was just standing here and she closed the door, she probably thinks Im some freak...." He sighed. Kim gestured him to come into the house, and he stepped inside.
"Hailie!" Kim called to her, shutting the door behind Marshall. "Why didnt you tell me Santa Claus was here!?" Kim said, walking into the livingroom, followed closely by "Santa".
"Because hes not?" Hailie said, with attitude.
"Sure he is," Kim grinned and patted Marshall on the back. "He came kuz its almost Christmas!"
"Yes, thats right." Marshall said in his santa voice again. "Merry Christmas! I came to see if you have been a good girl this year!"
"If your really santa, why didnt you come down the chimney?" Hailie raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
"Because," Marshall racked his brain for a reply. "Santa had to many McChicken Sandwiches this year, and he cant fit down the chimney, anymore!"
Kim pointed to the couch. "Here, Santa, why dont you sit down, and Hailie can tell you what she wants for Christmas?"
"Thats a good idea," Marshall said, in mock excitedness, walking over to the couch, and uncomfortably seating himself, and looking at Hailie, who stood in front of him, her expression plainly stating 'I dont believe one minute of this'. "Come here little girl!" He patted his knee, thinking, he should have used the bathroom before he got dressed up.
"Wheres Dad?" Hailie said, ignoring Marshall, and looking at Kim expectantly.
"Uh, upstairs, why?" Kim asked nervously. Hailie wasnt falling for this. "Hes napping..."
"Yeah right...." Hailie narrowed her eyes. She walked closer to Santa, and peered into his eyes, trying to figure out who he was.
Marshall cleared his throat and reached an arm around Hailie, pulling her towards him. "Little girl, if you dont tell me what you want for Christmas, how can I have the elves make it?"
"I dont believe in elves!" Hailie chirped, allowing herself to be put on his lap, and glaring at him. "Who are you really?"
"Im, Santa!" He said, and tried to convince her with his Santa laugh again. "Ho Ho Ho!"
"Fine. Santa. If thats your real name." She rolled her eyes. "I want new barbies, and also I want a new baby kitty."
"Didnt I bring you a kitty last year for Christmas?" Marshall said, raising an eyebrow.
"That one grew up, I want a new BABY kitty. Not a cat." Hailie said, folding her arms in front of her.
"Well, Santa will do what he can," Marshall sighed. Damn, it was getting kind of hot in this suit, he thought to himself. "So have you been a good girl this year?"
"No, yesterday I took Whits binky away from her." Hailie said defiantly.
"Well, why would you do that?" Marshall fidgeted slightly. This Santa thing wasnt fun now that she believed him.
"Because Mommy took mine away from me remember?" Hailie huffed.
"Thats because you turned into a big girl," Kim pointed out. "Whits still just a baby."
"Well, Santa has some other kids to visit," Marshall bit his bottom lip, he really fucking had to piss, and she was leaning right into his stomach, and - "Okay, Hailie. I will see you on Christmas, then..."
Hailie hopped off his lap and shrugged. "Okay..." Marshall stood up, made eye contact with Kim briefly and started out of the room, Hailie and Kim following behind him.
"Merry Christmas, and Happy Birthday, Hailie!" Marshall said as Kim opened the front door for him, and he turned to Hailie and winked at her. "Now you be a good girl, alright Hailie? No more torturing Whitney, and be good for your Mommy and your awesome, and not to mention handsome, Dad, okay?"
Hailie nodded, watching him wave. "Bye." She said shortly.
"Bye!" Marshall said, stepping outside. "Hailies mom," He started, turning around. "Do you think you could walk me to my ca-sleigh?"
"Uh, sure," Kim smiled nervously at Hailie, and stepped outside, closing the front door behind her.
"This was stupid. She didnt believe me..." Marshall rolled his eyes as they stood on the front step, talking quietly.
"No, well not at first, but she believes you now... I think you did a good job!" Kim grinned.
"Thanks." Marshall shifted his weight to the other foot.
"Its so cold out here," Kim shuddered and Marshall nodded. He reached out and pulled Kim up against his coat, hugging her and rubbing her back. "MMmm, your warm," She whispered, burying her face in his neck.
"Yes," He nodded. "But Kim, I really have to piss, so if you could like, get Hailie somewhere so I can go in and get out of this costume, and go to the bathroom, itd be really helpful."
"Okay," Kim grinned up at him and kissed his lips quickly. "Wait here."
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Hailies eyes widened as she peered through the window, that looked out on the front step. Her mom was out there, hugging the so called "Santa", and, Hailie squinted as she saw her mother kiss him - on the lips!
"I knew it!" She said quietly, when "Santa" pulled his beard down, and she could see it was really her father. "They think Im stupid!" Hailie said, shaking her head. Oh well, she thought, as she stepped away from the window quickly, seeing her mother getting ready to come in the house.
She would let them think she believed in Santa Claus, if they went through all this trouble. Maybe Christmas wasnt fun for grown ups unless they were tricking little kids into believe in some fat man from antartica, with flying reindeer, that come into your house once a year in the middle of the night and leave you a bunch of presents?