After nearly choking Jimmy, the parrot, to death, Santa started a serious conversation regarding the preparation of Christmas.
*Ahm* "Jimmy, I need an earnest group of helpers this year. Strong-willed, stern, and sober reindeers. Speed is the priority as always." Santa said.
"Boss, the team of last is the best in terms of speed. And it is also the same this year," Jimmy rubbed his neck with feathers and told the obvious.
"Those long horn reindeer; I hate them. Those reindeer nearly destroyed my reputation last year." Santa took his seat.
"Brownies... They got swayed by BROWNIES*Ahm*. And they were not even grandma's brownies. Some fucking kids mixed cocaine in those brownies, and my reindeers couldn't fly high enough. I have to change them mid-way in Las Vegas."
"And the fucking second group turned out to be drunkards. They dumped me right after reaching Russia. At least the third group was a bit satisfactory. Give them more priority." Santa instructed.
"Whatever you say, Boss. I will make the necessary preparations. I will call some old fellows to assist me." Jimmy nodded and took his goodbye in a hurry.
After reindeer, it was time to go through the most sophisticated job. Santa had to go through all the letters sent to him by little children. Bad handwriting, difficulty understanding words, and out-of-the-word wishes.
Who the hell asks for a pony with Ariana Grande's voice, Harry Styles's hair? While threatening with an angry pony picture.
And a kid wanted a dog that poops ice cream.
The kids are getting worse and worse. They wanted to meet some celebrities, new mobile phones, and money in cold hard cash. And who the hell teaches children to draw knives and guns in wish letters?
Santa read through all the letters, sweat running down his forehead. He didn't manufacture anything mentioned in the letter. The rate of unorthodox wishes has increased by 25%. 'Looks like my job will be extinct in a few years. Not that I have a problem.'
Santa still had to go through the nice and naughty kids list.
*sigh*
*Snap* Santa used a little bit of magic to filter the document names. Kids who genuinely wished for toys and items manufactured in the castle appeared at the top of the lists.
*Whoosh* the second window in the room opened. The papers floated one by one and exited from the window.
Cars, trains, dolls, Legos floated in the rooms according to the items on the list. The wrapping paper, tape, and scissors on the table floated and began to work.
One by one, the wrapped gifts took their turn to enter the red bag lying beside his chair. With every minute passing, the wrapping process escalated. It was hard to follow up with eyes.
Santa immersed himself in the list of unorthodox wishes and began thinking about resolving the issue. "Maybe I should leave them like last time."
...
Till next morning, the process of wrapping gifts continued. The bag was still the same size.
*tang**tang*
Jimmy knocked on the window again. Santa opened the window.
"Boss, everything is done. I have got the speediest and disciplined reindeers for the job. Some might be a tad bit old, but one-night flying is no problem." Jimmy said.
"Good job. Oh, and pull out the biggest sleigh from the warehouse. The white rabbit will be following us too." Santa sighed.
"WHAT? That damn rabbit..." Jimmy flew straight out of the window. Santa just watched him fly away in irritation.
The work continues.
...
It was Christmas day.
On the surface, the iceberg opened a pathway. A man and a parrot came out. The parrot was sitting on the shoulder of the man.
Following Santa and parrot came out six reindeers, three on each side pulling an enormous sleigh. The sleigh had three divisions; two in the front made into the bench for sitting, and the back was an area for red bags and gifts.
"When is the damn rabbit coming out?" Jimmy chirped near Santa's ears.
"This damn rabbit is out. Do you have anything to say, puny parrot?" A husky voice like someone pressing on his neck reverted from the passageway.
A rabbit with the height of Santa and the size of a bear emerged. Wearing a gray waistcoat, the rabbit carried a basket covered with a handkerchief.
"So, Mr. Santa, I hope I am in said time." the rabbit looked at Santa.
"Yes, right in time. Let's get moving. We will be taking the usual path." Santa hurriedly climbed in front of the sleigh and sat. The rabbit followed and sat on the second bench.
Jimmy flew in front of the reindeers, "Everyone, it's time to move out. Follow the path I have instructed before. Make me proud."
With the instruction from Jimmy, the reindeers stomped their feet and started floating in the sky.
"Mr. Santa, it's been a long time we have worked together like this, right?" the rabbit leaned forward.
'Oh shit, it has begun sooner than I have anticipated.' Santa's only friend was sitting on top of the front most reindeer.
"Yes."
"Sister Shion asked to keep me a close eye on you. She doesn't want any mistake happening this year too," the rabbit chuckled.
'You don't have to fucking tell me how to do my job.' Santa looked straight, trying to keep his face out of rabbit sight.
"I will try my best."
"*Sigh* I hope I will have no problem doing my job following you. Kids nowadays don't appreciate good eggs." The rabbit looked to a far distance in the sky as he mumbled, "I hid so many eggs this year too, but alas..."
His complaints ranged from difficulty finding good clothes to the amount of work he put into coloring his eggs.
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH. You damn furball, I will roast you right here in sleigh if you don't stop that mouth." Santa turned around with red eyes.
The bunny looked blankly at Santa's red eyes, trying to figure out what he did to make him angry.
"Don't give me that innocent look. Just shut your mouth and sit there."
Mr. Bunny tilted his head, not understanding why Santa was screaming at him. He had done nothing wrong. However, he slackened back on the bench and remained silent.
The silent returned to the sleigh for one minute. Santa decided to bear with the torture.
When the reindeers picked up speeds, Santa put on his windproof goggles and ear warmers. The ear warmers or any ear buds wouldn't stop the rabbit.
Santa started hearing the voice of the rabbit directly in his head.
Amidst the ranting, the first piece of land appeared in Santa's vision.
The first country to get gifts was none other than Greenland. He had to finish the entire western hemisphere before the night cycle ended.
Without giving a damn about the rabbit, Santa gestured Jimmy to descend. In the outer regions of Greenland, there were elaborate decorations on houses for Christmas.
The multicolored houses near the shore with gable roofs shined in decorations. As Santa parked his sleigh slightly above the roof, he walked towards the chimney with the red bag in hand.
The gift distribution has finally started.