Christmas This Year
by Matt Rowan

FOR Christmas this year, Santa Claus is a reptile, a holiday reptile. Holiday or not, he is a reptile. We know this for certain. We have definite proof. Children were the first to realize it. They went to the mall to sit on Santa’s lap, to tell him about all the many things they’d like for Christmas.
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The Police Officer furiously unzips the backpack. A steaming pile of grease on cloth awaits him, and although contempt of legal establishments displays emotion, rarely do Police Officers and officials act as a single organization. They cover facets such as coldness, their faces, while simultaneously crossing cultures with joy, contempt and whining. Chester Patton had no identification with these blue knights, with their controlling take, and whether or not the Police Officer does accept payment, the origin of their evil species is uncertain.

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I hadn’t read the document all the way through. I only knew, at the time, that his name was Jerry, he was five-foot-two, owned a BluRay player and fifty related discs, had his own furniture, and loved the band Jack’s Mannequin. These were all acceptable factors, although to be honest I could have done without the Jack’s Mannequin part. He applied via my Craigslist ad and had been the only seemingly normal one to do so.

the hot pink clouds my vision
as I race ahead to the continuously moving finish line.
Cheshire cats grin from ear to ear,
their sallow smiles taunting my footsteps
as if daring me to intrude on
their wonderland perfection.