Santa at The Polar Bear Express

The little minx was throwing daggers with her eyes. Smiling under the long beard, Seamus eerie eyes twinkled. Always Abigail had all but forced Sabrina to let her use The Polar Bear, after he’d made his suggestion.

She’d kill him for this. This was all his fault. She’d been amused as the women had circled him as he stood fuming dressed in the Santa suit. Just that fast he’d turned the tables or more effectively Always Abigail and her crew on her and now she was playing host to almost the entire town on Christmas Eve.

She’d planned to spend this evening sipping hot peppermint tea with her grandmother and Jasper while the tree wrapped presents. Instead she was stilling at her bar nursing eggnog as Seamus played Santa Claus. Raising her glass to him she hoped one of the little kids pissed on his knee.

“The boss is pissed to.” Sabrina turned to see Iles standing next to her with a wide grin on his face. Looking up at him Sabina watched as he signed Rafe the bartender for another cola.

“I am sure he is IIes. But it serves him right for turning Always Abigail on me.”
“He only did it to get close to you. If you’d just forgive him then he can move on and we can leave this place”.

Sabrina looked at IIes and grimaced. She wanted to explain to him that is was more to it than just forgiving IIes. She’d done that long ago. Seamus was a weakness she could not afford to indulge in. Before she could speak IIes was out of his seat headed towards Courtney Benjamin.

IIes and Courtney were sworn enemies are so the rumor mill aka Always Abigail said. But Sabrina had noticed the two watching each other when no one was watching.

The Polar Bear Cafe

“Oh, Seamus you are going to make the perfect Santa. The kids are going to love jus love you.” Clapping her hands again Always Abigail left Seamus standing in the middle of the underground train station while she chatted with the other ladies about preparations for the Christmas party.

“Silver, you have to make your famous gingerbread cookies. I can come over and help decorate them.”

“Always Abigail, I think that you should be in charge of this event.” Silver shouted clapping louder than Always Abigail if that was at all possible.

Seamus frown as a shadow caught his eye. It was Sabrina. Standing next to the underground station office with a grin on her face Sabrina watched the women and Seamus. Waving at him she threw her head back with laughter.

Seamus grinned back at her promising retribution.

Seamus turned to Always Abigail and motioned for her to come closer.
“Always Abigail I think I have the perfect place for Santa to set up. We can use The Polar Bear Café. Sabrina has a beautiful tree already decorated and there is a nice big fireplace. I just saw Sabrina over by the depot office you might want to ask her.

Rushing over to the platform Always Abigail and her crew moved with lightening speed to where Sabrina was talking with friends.

“Sabrina, I have a favor to ask. Zach is ill and can’t play Santa this year. We were going to use

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

“Seamus, I think it fits perfectly.” Always Abigail exclaimed as she all but poured him into the jacket. Seamus stood still as Always Abigail push, pulled and poked at the jacked.

“Seamus, I think you will make a fine Santa. All we need to do is stuff a few pillows under the jacket and we have our Santa.”

Seamus grimaced as Always Abigail called other ladies over to watch him model the Santa jacket. Murmuring as he stood in the middle of a circle of women Seamus wished he’d never left home this morning.

He’d awoke this morning to the sound of Iles screaming about women’s lib. The rest of his crew was about to go stir after being trapped for two days inside. Dressing they all decided to use the underground train system to go to local stores.

The underground train system was one of the things that he loved about the city. Winters were harsh, in Centralia often they lasted close to nine months. Because the town was located high in the Green Mountains the snow often made it impossible to travel the streets. The Town Founders had installed an underground train system when the town was established. Every house, store or building that was build had to have an entrance in their cellar. As the town had grown so had the train system, it now stretches to other cities on the mountain. The system allowed the town to function even when it was covered for months with snow.

When the local mall was built in the eighties the town council had insisted that apartments be build for residents to use if the winter was especially harsh.

Santa Baby

“Dude, you look like Santa”

Iles voice served to irritate Seamus as he synched the belt on the Santa suit. It had been three days since he accepted the invitation from the town busybody, Always Abigail. How the woman had talked him into dressing up like Santa was beyond him.

“Seamus, Seamus O’Brian” the voice calling out to him was familiar. It Always Abigail town busy body. Most of the town folk avoided the woman like the plague. He wanted to continue walking but, he also was gentleman enough not to want to hurt her feeling or anger his mother who was one of her friends.

“Ms. Abigail, how are ya.” Tipping his imaginary hat he bowed low as the warmth of the underground train station enveloped him.

Reaching up, Always Abigail hugged him tight. “How is your mother, Seamus? Have you been home lately? How is Siobhan and that handsome father of yours. I saw your Aunt Sophia a couple of days ago.

Seamus stood still as Always Abigail prattled on and on never allowing him to get a word in. The only thing he could do was nod at the appropriate moments and hope she stopped to catch her breath.

“Seamus, Zach is sick, so we need someone to play Santa for the kids this year. I think that you and he are about the same height so his suit should fit you.” Pulling the suit from the large bag she was lugging, Always Abigail all but forced it on him.

Baby It's Cold Outside

Seamus stood outside for a few minutes debating what he should do next. The winds were shifting as the sun started to hide behind the trees. The cold air was freezing his breath midair. The debated raged in his mind as the war claimed his feet. Shifting back and forth he did stop starts until he was all most a foot away from his destiny. If he went to The Polar Bear what would he do next.

Shifting again he turned and looked down main street and realized all most all the curtains including his own were opened as everyone stared at him. Everyone was watching and wondering if he would cross the street.

Cursing Seamus determined this was not the day or the time to confront Sabrina

Seamus O'Brian

“I have five on the boy”

Laughing Sara Sullivan peaked out the side of the window that was not occupied by her companion. “He’ll never give up. I like that about him. He is determined to tame that spirited granddaughter of mine.”

“I don’t know Sara, Sabrina is a hard case. I think she’s still smarting from that shooting and before that her mother’s death.

Jasper sat in the chair next to the window pulling Sara into his lap.
“You worry too much Sara. Sabrina is going to be fine.”

“You didn’t see her when she first came here Jasper. Her Judd and I were scared that she would never come back to use. There was a sadness there that would not go away.”

Sara sat content in her new lovers’ arms. Thinking of the past..

Seamus O'Brian

The risk was great if he carried through on his plan to walk across the street. For one he knew Sabrina would not open the door. Second the wind chill was so low that he might not make it to her door, more than likely he would freeze to death before he ever made it to the door.

Taking his chances Seamus headed to The Polar Bear in.