Thursday , March 28 2024
Santa lashes out against Valentines Day in a bid to expand his empire.

Santa Gets Mad

Dear World,

This is Santa Claus.

You may have heard of me or my work. You know, those presents under your tree each year?

Last February I grew tired of seeing ads at stores for Valentines Day specials.
I am writing this year to negotiate.

Resolve two issues I have and I will continue to deliver presents each year.
Don’t address me and there will be no more ho, ho, ho-ing only oh, oh, oh-ing.

Issue 1. Pay.

Recently the elves and reindeer began to unionize and demanded more pay.
And as we dealt with this labor problem and pondered whether to bring in scabs, I realized something – I am not getting paid.

No wonder I am having trouble paying my employees each year, let alone bringing home enough bacon for Mrs. Claus. This operation is bleeding more money than the average dot.com.

So I think someone owes me money. I dont care if I am paid by the United Nations, Ted Turner or Bill Gates. I just want someone to share Christmas joy with me via currency.

Issue 2. Temp work.

I’ve noticed that some of my help only comes in during winter. They take other jobs the rest of the year. It got me thinking. Why cant I work other jobs? Some say its a gift economy. I know gifts.

Maybe I can set up a Web site and help pick peoples presents not just on Christmas, but on birthdays and Valentines Day. On the latter, the greeting card industry owes me big bucks for stealing that idea, which I wrote while playing reindeer games with Rudolph.

Think about my questions, please.

And keep this is mind during the negotiation. This time, Ill be the one counting the days.

Santa

—————————-

Dear Santa,

Hi. This is Scott.

Since I have been a fan of your work for some time, I have tried to assist you.
Following is a proposal:

On issue 1, I have two options for you. One is a tentative agreement with malls across the world to charge a Santa tax. You would receive 2 percent sales tax from every Christmas-related purchase during the holidays.

Second, some scientists are fascinated with your historical residence in the North Pole and would gladly pay several million dollars for it. They have also offered to buy you a residence of greater size somewhere else. How about Florida?

On issue two, I may have devised a way for you to make enough money so you dont need a second job and can spend more time with your family. That Internet job might be a good hobby. On your behalf, Ive filed a class-action suit with the greeting card industry. They are unfairly making a profit off your work. Its time for them to pay. I have a tentative agreement. You get 20 percent of their profits.

Meanwhile, people who are not in relationships have filed a separate suit against the greeting card industry, arguing that Valentines Day forces them to either have fake intimacy, or feel negative emotions such as shame or guilt for being alone.

These people have agreed to share 20 percent of the money won in the suit to thank you for not being as discriminating. As long as we leave you cookies and milk, you come, regardless of whether were single or in a relationship.

Between those suits, I think we can solve your financial woes.

Merrily yours,

Your new secret, oversized elf,
Scott

About Scott Butki

Scott Butki was a newspaper reporter for more than 10 years before making a career change into education... then into special education. He has been working in mental health for the last ten years. He lives in Austin. He reads at least 50 books a year and has about 15 author interviews each year and, yes, unlike tv hosts he actually reads each one. He is an in-house media critic, a recovering Tetris addict and a proud uncle. He has written articles on practically all topics from zoos to apples and almost everything in between.

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