Disclaimer: I don't own them. Don't have money or I might try.
Thank you: to my loverly beta Heather and yes I'm working on it.
Archiving anywhere is great. Just tell me where. (I know about the list archive)
Feedback is more than welcome.
This is for the letter Z in the song fic challenge. "Zat You Santa
Claus?" as performed by Louis Armstrong. And this is not really a
Christmas fic even though the song is.
The house on Maplewood Drive was dark, all except one room. Amanda King was busy wrapping the presents she had bought during the day while her mother, Dotty West, was out picking up both of Amanda's sons at various activities.
Amanda was just adding a bow to one of the boxes when she heard a voice. A very distinct voice. She remembered it from when she was a little girl. It was Louis Armstrong!
She picked up a small box to stuff into one of the boys' stockings. Suddenly she snapped bolt upright. Why was Louis Armstrong singing? She was the only person home. Something was wrong and she wasn't going to sit back and wait to find out why.
Gifts I'm preparing for some Christmas sharing,
But I pause because,
Hanging my stocking I can hear a knocking.
`Zat you, Santa Claus?
Amanda looked around the room for some kind of protection. She had a lamp, a bag of chocolates, and a roll of wrapping paper that looked the most menacing out of all of the objects that were scattered about her room.
She decided that taking the lamp would give her the best advantage. She knew the layout of her home, even in the dark. If there was anyone else in there, she would bet her life savings that they wouldn't be able to find their way around. As it was, she would have to remember where all of the decorations were laid out.
Sure is dark out, ain't the slightest spark out.
`Pon my slackened jaw!
Who's there? Who is it stopping for a visit?
`Zat you, Santa Claus?
Amanda slowly opened her bedroom door and crept down the stairs. She kept her back pressed as close to the wall as her body would allow. The lamp was raised over her head in one hand, the other hand in front of her to feel for obstacles.
There was a slight noise. A creak. It could have come from anywhere. But just to be on the safe side, she very cautiously worked her way over to where she thought it originated from in the living room.
She forced her eyes to focus on the shadows that surrounded her. As she looked at each silhouette she had to recall what each one was. The tree was easy, but a few of the decorations threw an ominous shape on to the wall. She panicked for a split second while she moved closer to find out what it was. As she reached the nativity scene in the corner, she laughed at herself for the fear she had felt wash over her over a few ceramic figurines. But she still didn't know who or what was in her house playing that music.
Now that she thought of it, she didn't have that song on tape. Whoever this was had come prepared.
Are you bringing a present for me,
Something pleasantly pleasant for me?
Then it's just what I've been waiting for.
Would you mind slipping it under the door?
She moved out of the living room and up through the front hall. She checked the front door that was still locked. Then she nearly screamed. She heard a new noise. A whistling, it was coming from the kitchen.
She slowly crept her way into the room…
Cold winds are howling, or could that be growling?
My legs feel like straws.
My my oh me my, kindly would you reply?
`Zat you, Santa Claus?
She looked around first at the refrigerator because she had felt a chill, but it was shut. She looked over the island and on to the opposite wall and saw the back door was slightly ajar.
Tip-toeing across the room, she ever so gently closed the offending closure and looked around. There was nothing out of place. She would swear that she hadn't closed it completely if it weren't for that music.
Hanging the stocking, I can hear a knocking.
`Zat you, Santa Claus?
I say, who's there, who is it? Are you stopping for a visit?
`Zat you, Santa Claus?
"I know someone is here. I am not helpless and before my family
comes home I will find you," Amanda stated with more courage than
she
felt she possessed at the moment.
Oh there, Santa, you gave me a scare.
Now stop teasing cause I know you're there.
We don't believe in no goblins today,
But I can't explain why I'm shaking that way.
Thump! There was no mistaking where that noise had come from. Amanda
rushed to the doorway of the den and tried to keep her composure
knowing that someone had the nerve to sneak into her home. She braced
herself for what she had to do.
Bet I can see ole Santa in the keyhole.
I'll get to the cause.
One peek and I'll try there; oh oh, there's an eye there!
`Zat you, Santa Claus?
She snuck a peek around the corner hoping to see how big her
adversary would be. There was a hunched form that looked to be
examining a hurt shin from Amanda's view.
She knew this was her best chance to catch the intruder by surprise. She ran up behind the figure and smashed it over its head.
"Ouch!" A male voice cried and fell to the floor.
Amanda ran to the light switch to find out who had the gall to come into her home and potentially harm her family.
Please, please, pity my knees!
Say that's you, Santa Claus!
She was a bit nervous as she turned on the lights. She didn't
know whom to expect. As the lights came up, her anger rose from the
pit of her stomach.
"Lee! What are you doing here, and why are you listening to that song?"