Free Xmas Spirit by Tonya Hurley

headed?”
    “Just out to do some more Christmas shopping,” Charlotte offered, clasping her empty hands in front of her.
    The Wendys both nodded sympathetically, like she was trying to disguise a terminal illness or a pregnancy.
    “I’ll get right to the point,” Wendy Anderson spouted. “How would you like to earn a little extra Christmas cash?”
    “That would be so great. But how? Christmas is tomorrow.”
    “Can I tell you a total secret?”
    Charlotte felt as if she’d died—again—and gone to heaven. “Yes, please,” Charlotte said, putting her hand to her ear andleaning into Wendy Thomas.
    “We’re a little short on funds this year.”
    “I’m sure you can relate,” Wendy A. suggested.
    “Definitely,” Charlotte said.
    “So we’ve agreed to do some modeling.”
    Charlotte was thoroughly impressed.
    “It’s for the big funeral convention that is coming to town tomorrow.”
    “Cool,” Charlotte said.
    “You know about it?”
    “It was something for me to do on Christmas Eve.”
    “You poor pathetic wretch,” Wendy T. commiserated. “Talk about celebrating with a bunch of stiffs.”
    “So you don’t have any plans for Christmas?”
    “None that I know of,” Charlotte said, hoping against hope that The Wendys might have some plans for her.
    “Do you think you might want to model with us? We really need a third.”
    Charlotte was totally frozen in anticipation, unable to even speak. The Wendys were having a hard time reading her and continued their sales job.
    “You know what it’s like to be short on cash when you need to buy something special for a friend?” Wendy A. suggested.
    “I do!”
    The little voice in Charlotte’s head was screaming a warning, but it was getting littler, harder for her to hear. She knew these girls. How mercenary and selfish they were. How little use they actually had for her—or anyone, for that matter. But they were persuasive. And more sincere then she’d ever seen them. Maybe it was the Christmas spirit kicking in. Then again, maybe it was simply her for a change. Little old Charlotte. Modeling with The Wendys for money to buy something for Scarlet and a chance to do something special for Petula? Christmas miracles do happen, she thought. It’s more like I died and came back to life! Charlotte was beside herself. Like all good salespeople, The Wendys asked for the order, and then they went in for the close.
    “You can even sign your name on Petula’s card. Right below ours. Deal?”
    “Deal!” Charlotte agreed.

9
Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas

    Do You Hear What I Hear?
    Few things summon Christmas memories more powerfully than music. From heavenly hymns to “Jingle Bell Rock,” our favorites define the holiday for us. Tales of sleigh rides and snowmen, mangers and magi fill the air, briefly turning us all into kindly carolers, warbling our joy to the world. But as we sing our praises or rock around the Christmas tree for the one day each year, it is worth asking if the sound track of our season is in tune with our everyday playlist.

    “My turn,” Prue warned. “I’m am going to pick her up by the rat’s nest she calls hair and bring her back here if it’s the last thing I do!”
    “It might be,” Gary said meekly.
    “Might be what?” Prue snarled.
    “The last thing?” Simon and Simone added in unison.
    “One can always dream,” Maddy interjected.
    Prue was about to clock the undermining interloper when Mike and DJ stepped in to restrain her. The whole scene turned to bedlam as Dead Ed alumni turned on each other, taking sides, pointing fingers, pushing and shoving. Finally, a high-pitched and dissonant voice of reason broke through.
    “Calm down, everybody!” Pam trilled. “We might be dead, but we’re not killers.”
    The desperation in her voice mirrored the growing anxiety in theirs.
    “Yeah,” Green Gary concurred. “We need to conserve our energy.”
    “I can barely make a call,” Kim whined, tapping on