Christmas Spiritless

"I'm not sure why I bother."

"Because it's who you are."

"But does it have to be? I mean, I think I've done enough. And nobody really wants me around anymore."

"How can you say that? You're still the face of the whole season."

"Shh, don't say that too loudly or you'll get the 'Reason for the Season' people all riled up."

"They can have their reason, doesn't change that you are the face. Go into any store and there you are."

"No, there he is. That's not me, you know I don't look at all like that."

"Okay, so maybe it's not exactly what you look like, but it's what they think you look like, and it's all you, baby!"

"But it's not me. It doesn't look like me, it doesn't represent who I am. They made me a representation of greed instead of good."

"Greed is good."

"I know you think that's funny, but no. Don't quote movies at me right now. Greed is greed. It's too much. It's grabby. It's rude. It deserves a lump of coal. And not glorious clean coal nonsense. A giant lump of coal, maybe lobbed against a head."

"Oh, hey now, don't let them change you. You aren't the lobbing a lump of coal kind of guy. You're the gentle reminder to do better. You're the embodiment of good will."

"I was. I should be. But nobody wants that. Nobody likes the good guys. They are all in on the villains now. Greedy, grabby, hoarders. They want to be like them instead of despising them. What am I supposed to do about that?"

"Keep trying? Keep reminding them that they can listen to their better angels?"

"Are you saying that because you believe they can be reasoned with or because you know you'll be out of a job if I shut this place down?"

"Look, I don't do this job for the pay. Or the location. Or the hours. I do it because, like you, it's who I am. I was born to do this. It's in my DNA. My family has been here making Christmas happen for centuries, and not just Christmas but my family has been in the midwinter business since, well, since the beginning. There have been Elvens since before there was a Father Christmas. I don't usually pull rank, but you're the face and the figure, we are the whole shebang."

"I know. I'm sorry. That was out of line. I'm just tired. It's been a hard year."

"It has. And I'd like to tell you it's going to get better, but I think we're in for a hard stretch. We've had them before. But that's the time you are most needed. Remember when they were at war with each other and you got them to stop and play football and sing carols?"

"And then the next day they went back to killing each other?"

"Okay, sure, but they remembered that moment. That time where they saw each other as people, and it helped when the time came to lay down weapons. You know it did. It doesn't seem like much to you right now, but they still talk about it. It still brings them hope."

"But is that enough? I mean really. They want the villains, maybe we should just let them deal with it."

"Can you do that?"

"Maybe."

"I don't think so. I think you know you are needed more than ever. A little joy. A little peace. A little hope. They need that now. The ones that will make the change. And maybe you can leave a few lumps of coal laying around to encourage a little lobbing as well."

"Now there is an idea. A little good will and little warning. I think I can manage that."

"I think you can. And I think you have to."

"Alright, you've convinced me. Load up. We're off to spread a little Christmas spirit. As much of it as they'll take. Let's hope it does some good."