Twisted

by Jo Gibson

  “It’s pretty down here, isn’t it?” Jay’s voice was hushed.

  Diana nodded and she felt her heart beat faster, as Jay pulled off a piece of tinsel and wove it into her hair.

  “I used to crawl under the Christmas tree when I was a little kid. I loved to look up at all the lights. I remember falling asleep under there once, and my father had to pick me up and carry me to bed.”

  Diana’s heart beat even faster. She’d done the same thing, with one difference. Her mother had been the one to carry her up to bed. She turned to Jay and smiled. “I used to think that Christmas was magic. And I didn’t understand why we couldn’t leave the tree up all year long.”

  “Sounds like a good idea to me.” Jay reached out for another piece of tinsel and wove that one in, too. “Maybe we ought to start a tradition. We could buy a live tree in an enormous pot, and decorate it for every season.”

  Diana nodded. “We could put on red velvet hearts for Valentine’s Day, and little flags for the Fourth of July. How about Easter? Would we have bunnies?”

  “That would work. And we could mix in some of those fancy hand-painted eggs. There’d be Shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day, and a whole tree full of ghosts and goblins and jack-o’-lanterns for Halloween.”

  “Bat,” Diana reminded him. “You forgot the witches and the bats. But how about Thanksgiving? I’m not sure I want a tree full of turkeys.”

  Jay nodded and slipped his arm around her shoulders. “You’ve got a point. But we could string cranberries into garlands, and drape them over the tree. And we could drill holes in walnuts and hang them from the branches like ornaments. There’s only one holiday that’s really got me stumped.”

  “What’s that?” Diana snuggled a little closer. It felt good to be hugged.

  “New Year’s Eve.”

  “Oh.” Diana’s mind spun in circles. What could they use for New Year’s Eve? Party hats were too big, and champagne bottles were too heavy. Then she thought of it and she began to grin. “We’ll sprinkle the whole tree with confetti and hang party favors from all the branches. We’ll get some little silver horns, and wind-up noise makers, and long curly streamers made out of colored paper. It’ll look great! And when we have our New Year’s Eve party, everyone can grab something to use from the tree!”

  Jay hugged her even closer and bent down to kiss the tip of her nose. “That’s the best idea I’ve ever heard! Does that mean we’re all set for New Year’s Eve?”

  “Uh . . . New Year’s Eve?” Diana tried not to look shocked. What had she said?

  “The party. With the tree,” Jay reminded her. “We’ll set it up in the living room of my apartment, and invite everybody we know. You don’t have other plans for New Year’s Eve, do you?”

  “Uh . . . no, not exactly.” Jay raised his eyebrows, and Diana swallowed hard. She didn’t really want to tell him what she’d planned for New Year’s Eve, but some instinct made her blurt it out. “I always watch the Times Square celebration on television.”

  Jay smiled and gave her another hug. “No problem. We’ll do that, too. Our party’ll be lots of fun, Di. You’ll see.”

  “Yes. It will be.” Diana smiled, but she had her doubts. Jay said they’d ask everyone they knew, and that included Heather. It was a little strange, planning a party, and not knowing whether she was going to be Jay’s date, or not. But rather than bring up that question right now, she glanced down at the box on the floor. “Shall I open this now?”

  Jay nodded, and Diana picked up the box. It was a good wrapping job, and the package was even tagged. She opened the little gold foil folder to look inside, but it didn’t say “From The Crossroads Mall,” like all the other ones they’d wrapped.

  “What’s the matter?” Jay noticed her worried expression.

  “This box has a different tag.” Diana turned the box around so Jay could see. The tag read, “TO SUE, FROM SANTA.” “Do you think it’s a package for Sue Langer?”

  “Did I hear my name?” Jay and Diana looked up to see Sue standing by the tree. She was staring at them with an amused smile on her face. “You two look like you’ve been decorated, instead of the tree.”

  Diana blushed, and scrambled to her feet. “I know. We’ve been crawling around, looking for this package. It’s an extra one and we were afraid it was empty, but then we noticed that it’s got your name on it.”

  “My name?” Sue took the package and rattled it. “It sounds empty, but maybe . . . oh, my God!”

  Jay and Diana stared at Sue in confusion as she began to blush. She looked excited and embarrassed at the same time.

  “What is it, Sue?” Jay looked curious.

  “Well . . . I think it might be a surprise package from Ronnie.”

  Diana nodded. Ronnie Knollwood had been dating Sue for the past three years, and everyone could tell they were wild about each other. “Don’t keep us in suspense, Sue . . . open it.”

  “I would, but I don’t think Ron wanted me to get it until tomorrow night. He’s meeting me here, and then we’re going out to celebrate our third anniversary. I met him at the Christmas dance, when I was a freshman.”

  “Do you think it’s an engagement ring?” Jay raised his eyebrows.

  “I don’t know. It’s too big for a ring box, but Ronnie loves to surprise me. He could have put the ring box inside a bigger box to fool me.”

  “Are you going to wait until tomorrow night to open it?” Jay looked disappointed.

  “That would be torture.” Sue turned to Diana. “Do you think we can rewrap this, if I’m really careful when I open it?”

  Diana nodded. “Sure. Ronnie’ll never know the difference. Go ahead, Sue. I’m dying to know!”

  “All right, but you two can’t tell anyone. I want Ronnie to think I’m surprised.”

  “It’s a deal.” Jay nodded. “Let’s get back under the tree and open it, just in case somebody else comes along.”

  Diana noticed that Sue’s fingers were trembling slightly when she opened the package, but she managed to slit the tape neatly with her fingernail and keep the foil paper in one piece. Then she lifted the lid of the white cardboard box, and frowned as she looked inside. “It’s empty!”

  “Are you sure?” Diana leaned over to peer inside the box, which was lined with tissue paper. She spotted a folded piece of paper, and pulled it out. “Here, Sue. It must be a note from Ronnie.”

  Sue unfolded the paper, but she looked very puzzled as she read the words that were written inside. “It says, You better watch out; you better not cry. And it’s not Ronnie’s writing. What does it mean?”

  “I don’t know.” Jay looked just as puzzled as Sue. “That’s a weird thing to write in a note.”

  “Listen to that!” Diana hushed them as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” started to play over the loudspeaker. “Those are the words in the note!”

  After the first verse had finished playing, Jay nodded. “You’re right. But why would anyone write down part of the lyrics and wrap them up a box?”

  “Especially those lyrics.” Sue looked worried. “You better watch out? You better not cry? That’s kind of scary.”

  Jay slipped his arm around Sue’s shoulder and gave her a little hug. “Relax, Sue. It’s obvious the package wasn’t meant for you. It’s probably a joke for someone else named Sue.”

  “That must be it.” Sue slid out from under the tree and stood up. Then she leaned down to grin at them. “You two look cute under there.”

  After Sue had left, Jay draped a friendly arm around Diana’s shoulders. “She called us cute. Nobody’s called me cute since I was four years old.”

  “But you are cute.” Diana giggled, and tossed some tinsel at him.

  “No, I’m not.” Jay picked up a strand of tinsel and wound it around his finger like a ring. “I’m handsome. My mother told me I was.”

  “But doesn’t your mother wear glasses?”

  They were both laughing, when they heard footsteps approach. Then someone call
ed out, “Hello? What’s going on under there?!”

  Diana froze as she recognized Heather’s voice. She turned to Jay with a worried expression, but he just grinned. A second later, Heather’s arm shoved aside a low-hanging branch, and her face appeared in the gap it had left. There was a very shocked expression on her face as she stared at them.

  “Hi, Heather.” Jay grinned even wider. “We’re just checking out the tags on the packages. Care to join us?”

  Heather put a smile on her face as she turned to Jay. “No, thanks. I have to get ready. The Night News team is coming out to do a whole segment on me. Why don’t you meet me when I’m through, and we’ll catch a bite to eat?”

  “I can’t, Heather. I already took my break.”

  Heather shrugged. “After work, then. I really need to talk to you.”

  “Sorry, but I’ve got other plans.”

  Jay was still grinning, and Diana noticed that he didn’t look the least bit sorry. Was he finally over Heather?

  “Okay. Catch you later.” Heather turned to Diana. “Sue wants you in costume. You’d better get over there right away.”

  Diana was frowning as Heather left. She’d been fitted for her elf costume hours ago, and Sue hadn’t said a word about needing her when she’d been here. Diana suspected that Heather was just making up an excuse to get her away from Jay, but it wouldn’t hurt to check.

  “I guess I’d better go.” Diana started to move out from under the tree, but Jay slid out first, and offered her his hand. He pulled her to her feet and dusted the tinsel off her hair.

  “Did you drive out here with Cindy?”

  Diana nodded. “We came in her car. Mine’s in the shop . . . again.”

  “Tell Cindy to meet me at Embers when we’re through. I’ll buy you both a burger.”

  “Okay,” Diana agreed quickly. She loved the burgers at Embers. But then she remembered what Jay had told Heather, and she frowned. “I thought you had plans after work.”

  “I do. I’m meeting you at Embers.”

  Jay was grinning as he walked away. So was Diana, as she hurried off in the opposite direction. Then Diana remembered the expression in Heather’s eyes, and her smile faded quickly. Heather had lots of influence at the college, and she was a dangerous enemy.

  Diana shivered and walked a little faster. When Heather had found them sitting under the Christmas tree, she’d stared at Diana as if she’d been a bug she wanted to crush. What would Heather do when she found out about the New Year’s Eve party that Diana was hosting with Jay?

  Three

  Diana’s suspicions were right. When she’d arrived at the costume area, she’d found that Sue hadn’t asked Heather to get her. But Sue had been very glad to see Diana, and she’d immediately put her to work getting the Santa costumes ready to wear.

  When the costumes had been brushed and hung on hangers, Diana and Cindy had started in on the wigs and beards. They had to be combed out and placed on Styrofoam heads so they wouldn’t get tangled.

  “Why did they rent four costumes?” Diana was curious. It seemed like an unnecessary extravagance.

  “They’re hot and heavy.” Cindy explained. “This way each guy has his own costume and it can air out between wearings. How far along are you?”

  “I’m all done with Jay’s.” Diana pointed to Jay’s wig and beard. She could hardly wait to see him in costume. “Who are you doing?”

  “I just finished Dave Atkin, and I’m starting on Hal Bremmer.”

  “Did it give you a thrill to do Dave’s?” Diana grinned at Cindy. Dave was a handsome sophomore.

  “Not really. Dave doesn’t know I’m alive. He’s going with a gorgeous girl in the drama department.”

  “How about Hal?” Diana was curious. “Do you know him?”

  “Sure. He’s in my history class. I’m not sure if I like him, though. He bumped my grade down to a ‘B’ when he aced the last test. Our professor grades on a curve.”

  Diana set Larry Fischer’s wig on its stand. Larry was Jay’s best friend, and they shared an apartment. “Is Larry going out with anybody right now?”

  “He’s dating some girl from Duluth, and Jay says his share of the phone bill is astronomical. He always calls after the rates go down, but . . .”

  “Get into your elf costumes, quick!” Sue came racing into the costume room. Her face was flushed, and she looked excited. “The crew from Night News is here, and they want to tape all the elves, skipping around the mall!”

  “They want us?” Diana was surprised.

  “That’s what they said. Come out to the Christmas tree the second you’re ready. I’ve got to round up the rest of the girls!”

  The door banged closed behind Sue, and Diana turned to Cindy with a puzzled expression. “I wonder what happened? Heather told me the Night News crew was going to do a whole segment on her.”

  “Maybe they couldn’t get her on tape.” Cindy laughed. “Isn’t there some old superstition that says you can’t take a picture of the devil?”

  “Once more, gang!” Sue shouted out. “Twice around the tree and then gather in front of Santa’s throne.”

  Diana did her best to keep the smile on her face, but it wasn’t easy. They’d skipped the length of the mall twice, and now they had to skip some more. She hoped that the cute cameraman was getting good footage, because there was no way she could do it again. Even Sue was beginning to get slightly breathless.

  As Diana skipped past Santa, she tried to figure out who he was. He was sitting on his throne, so she couldn’t tell anything from his height, and the beard and mustache covered his face. She couldn’t even see the color of his eyes behind his gold wire-framed glasses. But then she noticed that Santa was wearing a tinsel ring. It was Jay!

  Jay seemed to know she’d recognized him, because he gave a little wave. And when they had skipped around the Christmas tree the last time, he motioned her over to sit directly at his feet.

  “Cut!” A guy in a Night News sweatshirt motioned to the cameraman. Sue had told Diana that he was the field director. “Is Tracy ready?”

  “I’m here.”

  Diana stared in awe as Tracy Thomas, the Night News anchorwoman, walked to a spot in front of the Christmas tree. She was just as glamorous in person as she was on television. She nodded to the guy in the sweatshirt as he cued her, and then she began to speak.

  “We’re here at the new Crossroads Mall at the intersection of Highways Twelve and Fourteen. The mall doesn’t open until tomorrow morning at ten, but there are over a hundred employees here today, getting ready for the opening. Night News is going to give you a sneak preview of this lovely new shopping area in the Morrison County countryside, so tune in at ten for all the details.”

  Tracy fluffed her hair as the cameraman panned the mall. Then she flashed a smile as the camera focused on her, again. The field director gave her a signal, and she started to speak again.

  “Here we are at the new Crossroads Mall, and Christmas is definitely in the air.” Tracy began to walk over to the group around Santa as she continued her speech. “The mall was completed only last month, in a cooperative venture by three Minnesota cities, Prairie Falls, Portersville, and Two Rivers. And I’m told there’s plenty of fun in store for the shoppers who attend the grand opening. Let’s find out from the man himself, Santa Claus!”

  Tracy stepped up to Santa’s throne and smiled at Jay. “Hello, Santa. Can you tell us about some of the activities planned for tomorrow?”

  “Ho, ho, ho!”

  Diana grinned as Jay gave his merriest laugh. His voice was so deep, she might not have recognized it if she hadn’t seen the tinsel ring on his finger.

  “Mrs. Claus has been very busy in the kitchen, and she’s made cookies and punch for everyone who comes to the grand opening.”

  “I’m sure the mall will be very crowded tomorrow.” Tracy smiled at Jay. “Will parking be a problem?”

  “Ho, ho, ho! Not at all.” Jay laughed again. “Just pull up to the
valet sign and my helpers will park your car for you. Then hop on Santa’s sleigh-ride shuttle and we’ll bring you right up to the main entrance.”

  “That’s very convenient. How many stores will be open, Santa?”

  “The Crossroads Mall has twenty-four stores that are opening tomorrow, with another fifteen planned for the first of the year. There’s a wide variety of merchandise, and each and every store has a complimentary gift for you. And if you attend the grand opening and enter the winter sweepstakes . . .”

  “Yes, Santa?” Tracy looked excited.

  “Just come with me.” Jay stood up and gave her his arm. “The grand prize is right over here.”

  Jay and Tracy walked over to the two shiny, red snowmobiles which were displayed on podiums. When they got there, Tracy clapped her hands. “This is the grand prize?”

  “That’s right. If your name is drawn, you’ll win this pair of his and her snowmobiles, generously donated by the Crossroads Mall Corporation!”

  “I’d love to win those!” Tracy smiled at the camera as they began to walk back. “You just convinced me, Santa. I’ll definitely be here. But how about my little niece and nephew? Will they get a chance to meet you?”

  “Yes they will, Tracy. I’ll be right here in Santa’s Village, and I’m looking forward to meeting all the kids.”

  Tracy nodded. “Now, Santa . . . I don’t want you to give away any secrets, but one of your elves told me there’d be a surprise for the kids at the Tree-Lighting Ceremony tomorrow night.”

  “Oh, ho! That’s right, Tracy. And I know exactly which elf told you. It was this cute little red-headed imp right here, wasn’t it?”

  Diana giggled as Jay pointed to her, and then she blushed as the cute cameraman turned his lens her way. She slapped her hand over her mouth, and managed to look comically distressed.

  “That’s all right, little elf.” Jay reached down to pat Diana’s head. “I was going to tell them anyway. Do you kids at home see all those presents piled under the tree? If you get your mommy and daddy to bring you out to the Grand Tree-Lighting Ceremony at eight o’clock tomorrow night, you’ll get an early Christmas present from the Crossroads Mall!”