Happy Holiday!

It was a lovely winter evening. The main shopping street was full of colourful lights, snow flakes dancing in the air, laughter and hubbub of the pre-Christmas rush. Nothing seemed to be able to disturb it.

Santa Claus was full of energy. He was rubbing his hands with excitement and rushing his legs while approaching the town centre with its beautiful shopping street. This year he couldn't stand waiting for, as they called it jokingly in his Lappish headquarters, the Great Final so he left a few days early and decided to see what's happening in the city. Yet he was not fully prepared for the amazing view that appeared when he took the last turn. He could not help but to stop and gasp with amazement. The street was richly lit and decorated, Christmas trees were placed everywhere, colourful stars were looking at him from shopping windows full of wonderful presents. Beautiful music could be heard from all the directions. Most of people wore red hats with white pompoms, children were screaming with excitement while dragging parents from one shop to another or to one of a plenty of man dressed like... him. He didn't notice it at first but the street was full of fake Santa Clauses, sitting next to Christmas trees with huge heaps of colourful boxes with presents. Well... it certainly couldn't put him off. He was the real one, and so he had nothing to fear from his wishy-washy competition. He readjusted his huge backpack and walked with confidence to one of few empty places, that were not used by ubiquitous disguise wearers. Now he just had to wait for his beloved children that will soon surround him with laughter, delight, rhymes, and happiness.

Yet something was wrong. Not quite as he expected. Children seemed not interested in him, while still gathering around the other red-dressed men. What was going on? A small girl was running just next to him - 'Hey little girl, Merry Christmas!' - he shouted. She didn't even slow down or look at him. 'Hey boy, yes you! Merry Christmas! What, don't go there, come to Santa...' Too late, the boy was gone. 'Hey miss, do your children want to see Santa?' No response. '祝圣诞节快乐！' - tried desperately towards a Chinese lady passing nearby. Still no luck. WTF? He looked around once again. A nearby shopping window reflected his statue. And then he realised. His old dress that served him for so many years was a bit dim and worn-out. Nothing to compare with the fresh and vivid redness of the fakers (or should he rather say f...ers?). He didn't have colourful boxes. His toys were all the best quality, hand-made from real Scandinavian wood, best for children development. Yet they didn't look so catchy. He definitely needed a promotion. 'Ho ho ho!!! Merry Christmas Everybody!!!' shouted with his loud and deep voice. Several people looked at him. 'Merry Christmas!!!' repeated even louder. Some people looked at him with disguise. And then rushed even further from him. 'Merry Christmas!!!' - the last try. Same reaction. One guy even tapped his forehead. So it was a time for the change of plan. He took several toys out of his backpack. 'Hey boy, want a toy?' Stretched his arm holding a wooden reindeer towards a little boy. All he got was a shrug of the shoulders. 'Merry Christmas to you'. 'Hey girl a doll for you?' - asked a girl dressed in pink. The girl stepped closer, looked at the doll and then said - 'That's not a Barbie. Thanks, but do I look like I collect wooden trash? Happy Holiday, grandpa'. And she turned her back.

Suddenly someone tapped his arm. He looked back and struck down. A couple of policemen - a young woman and an older man - were looking down at him. 'Hey old man, get up'! 'What is it, officer'? - he asked. 'Several people complained that you were shouting offensive words'. 'Me???'. 'Yes you. Were you not saying Merry Christmas'? 'Yes, but, for God's sake, what's wrong with that??'. 'What's wrong with that???' - the young officer looked like stung by a wasp. 'You hurt religious feelings of some of our citizens, that's what's wrong!'. 'But my dear child, I just said...'. 'We know all too well what you have said! Such a lack of thoughtfulness and disrespect to other religions! You should have said Happy Holiday! And if you call me like that again you will be charged for sexual harassment with a tendency to pedophilia!'. 'What? Sexual harassment? Pedophilia? But I am the Santa Claus... and it is not just a holiday, it's Christmas!'. One look at her face was enough to realize that now he have evidently said too much. 'Enough!' - said the lady. 'You have admitted to the hatred speech and now you will go with us' - she reached for the handcuffs. 'Hatred speech, give me a brake...' - he whimpered with the last remaining of his suddenly disappearing energy, his voice was thin and quiet. 'Yes, we know people like you. It starts with disrespect and offending people of other religions, and then it goes to criticism of the most fundamental human rights and values, like euthanasia, abortion, marriages of same gender and their right to the adoption of children. I am glad we have prevented this, you fascist!'. Then they took him under his arms and dragged him to the police car, which slowly moved towards the road and soon disappeared. It was a lovely winter evening. The main shopping street was full of colourful lights, snow flakes dancing in the air, laughter and hubbub of the pre-Christmas rush. The peace was back. Now really nothing and nobody could disturb it.

....

Strong light dispersed the darkness of the forest road and soon the police car stopped near a small clearing a few hundred yards from the border of the city. The massive steel door moved aside with long creaking. A man's voice broke the silence. 'Uncuff him!'. 'But Sir, he has just...' - a female protested. 'Uncuff him!' - repeated the man with voice that demanded full obedience - 'That's an order'. And then the man said quietly with much warmer tone 'I used to love when you came to me during Christmas' - the tone of voice got even warmer towards the end of the sentence, as if the man smiled on this memory. 'But now Santa, please just go. And stay away from troubles'. Soon the car turned around and disappeared in the night leaving the old man alone with his heavy backpack and thoughts.