What Christmas Means To Me

Day 1

Kenny the postman has been delivering mail on Whistle Lane for seventeen years. With his ancient grey duffle bag trailing by his side and his matching grey fur dirty and unkept. Kenny has never had a break; he delivers mail every day, even on Christmas. But this Christmas season was going to be his first break. Kenny had been looking forward to this moment and it was here at last. Now for the final round of mail: some flyers for what seems to be a play. Kenny picked one out from the stack and it read ‘ The Twelve Days of Christmas, in Summer ’. Intrigued, Kenny read on, ‘ Now hosting auditions for the role of Santa Claus .’ Kenny had never acted before; he never had any time. But now, he was finally free. “Hey Parker!” he calls out. The rickety door creaks open, barely held on by its rusty hinges. Parker waddles out, his brown fur doused in sweat, his white singlet stained brown.

“Yo, Kenny, my man. What’s up?” he calls.

“I’m finally on my break! Seventeen years without a single day off, even on public holidays, weekends, and special occasions - but I’m finally done!” Kenny’s smile beams from ear to ear, which is quite the achievement for a koala.

“Good job dog, I’ve been busy too,” Parker mumbles, his yellow coffee-stained bill, glinting in the red afternoon sun.

“Parker, all you do is sit around all day and mess with computers! Tell me what have you even achieved?” he questions with a hint of anger in his voice.

“I’m a hacker. It’s what I do, man. Look, I get that you might not think I do much, but I’ve got a big project on the way.” he argues back.

“Well so do I! Today I delivered a flyer in the mail about a play which needs someone to star as Santa Claus. Why not give it a try? I’ll spend all afternoon practicing my lines.” And so, he did. Sitting by the warm fire, he practiced as the possums clawed on the roof and the floorboards creaked with age. Tomorrow was the audition, and Kenny was going to make it count.

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