SF Chapter 145: Christmas Eve II
All the kids showed up dressed - Manny, Luke, Jake, Haley, and Alex.
Dani grinned as he saw them all. "Great! Everyone is nicely dressed for the occasion!"
"Wait, why did you rush us when you're not even dressed?" Haley asked, staring at him.
"I'll be ready in a minute," he dismissed her complaint.
"Why am I the one dressed as an Christmas elf?" Alex complained as well. "They're shorter than me," she pointed at the boys.
The rest of them were dressed as reindeer. Haley was wearing a Mrs. Claus outfit.
"Oh, hello," Prudence approached and introduced herself. "I'm Prudence," she said with a smile.
The three boys were left wide-eyed, while Haley and Alex glared at their uncle.
"Okay, you can get to know each other on the way," Dani said, ignoring his nieces' looks.
"What is happening? Can you say now?" Prudence asked, tilting her head.
He revealed, "This is our family Christmas Eve tradition: We buy toys and donate them to homes that care for underprivileged children."
"So I'll be wearing a Santa Claus outfit," he added.
[Claire Commentary]
Claire was wearing a festive Christmas outfit.
"This is a tradition we started because of Dani," she commented about the donations to children on Christmas Eve.
She began the story. "When he was little, one Christmas Eve he came carrying a big red sack on his back, dressed as Santa Claus."
"'Sis, I read that if you want something, you need to give something in return. So I'm donating my toys to underprivileged children!'"
She went on with her memory, "It was a little selfish idea - he even added, 'I'll get an awesome wife! And be the best painter in the world!'" she said with a small scoff.
"But he really did donate some of his best and favorite toys."
Claire then told how it was the first time.
(Memories of when little Dani visited the orphanage)
One of the children asked, "Why are you so short, Santa Claus?"
"No way!" little Dani denied. He was comically wearing a long white beard and some padding on his belly.
"In fact, I'm almost six feet tall. I have a power that lets me shrink, so it's easier to go down chimneys."
"But you came in through that door," one of the little girls pointed at the entrance.
"I didn't want to scare you," Dani lied. "Now, let's go get the presents." He quickly got everyone's attention.
Soon there were cheering and happy smiles on every child's face.
(Memories end)
[Commentary ends]
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After a few minutes, Dani and Prudence came downstairs, both dressed as Santa Claus. They soon joined the others outside the house, near the street.
Haley frowned at the sight. "Why are you wearing a Santa Claus outfit too, Prudence?"
Haley was already judging the girl for what she was wearing. The brunette had padding to look chubby and was even wearing a white beard.
"I like it," Prudence replied without any shame, even if she looked a little dorky.
She added casually, "Besides, the other costume Dani had was way too tight on me."
"It was Haley's second option," Dani pointed out.
"Eh," Haley exclaimed, a bit annoyed. She glanced down at herself, remembering that one had been a little loose on her.
"What are you smirking at?" Haley snorted, noticing her sister's mocking expression. She then glanced down at Alex's chest, which immediately made her sister expression change.
Little did she know that Alex would be very blessed in that area in the future.
Mitchell walked up to them, his mouth slightly open as he saw what had just arrived. "Are those trucks?"
"And trailers?" Phil gestured toward the two vehicles that had pulled in behind it.
"Yes, and yes," Dani confirmed. "I got trucks loaded with toys. We have a lot of work to do today!"
He then pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and unfolded it, revealing a large map with several red circles marked on it.
"This is our treasure map, with all the homes cares and orphanages," he revealed.
"Why the trailers?" Claire inquired.
Dani turned to her. "Sis, we need a comfortable place to rest while we move from one location to another."
Alan, Berta, Charlie, and Lisa also appeared, with Lisa wearing a very proud expression as she looked at her fiancé.
Charlie also had a grin - not really because of the good deed he would help with, but probably because of the 'reward' he expected to get that night.
"Okay," Jay called for everyone's attention. He and Cam were also wearing Santa Claus costumes, but unlike Dani and Prudence, they didn't need any padding on their bellies. They were natural.
"So we can get everything done, we'll be divided into four groups," he instructed. He was, of course, the one in charge of logistics and operations. Dani was too useless at that.
What followed was a bit of a mess as the groups were sorted out, with everyone pitching in their ideas.
Meanwhile, Dani headed toward the trailers.
In one of them, the door opened and Lexi stepped out. Dani had instructed the driver to stop by her house. Leonard, Bernadette, Howard, Raj and even Sheldon and Ramona were also in the trailer.
Lexi immediately hugged Dani and kissed him on the cheek.
"Sorry for mocking you. It wasn't a dumb idea - I think it's awesome!" she said genuinely, now that she knew what it was about.
"You know it wasn't all for goodwill, right?" Dani didn't hide it. "At first, I was thinking about getting an amazing wife and becoming the best painter in return."
"Even now, it's not entirely for altruistic reasons either," he admitted.
"Yeah, I know you," Lexi said, not surprised. "But I actually prefer people like you."
"There are a lot of people with 'high moral standards' and good intentions who don't do anything. Completely useless," she snorted, making a rare harsh comment.
She had always believed that results mattered far more than intentions.
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