Mr. Claus 2023

“Did you send a car to pick up Leroy?” asked Mr. Claus.
“Of course. He’ll be there before us,” said J.J.
“So why are we going to Sedona again? It’s about as far from hillbilly as one can get. I don’t know anybody who is down to Earth and willingly has a photo taken of their aura,” said Otto.
“We are probably being led on some sort of wild goose chase, but until we know more about who we are dealing with then we need to follow along,” said Mr. Claus.
“I haven’t picked up anything yet. It would help to know some names,” said Otto.
“How hard can it be to find three cowboy nisser?” asked Mrs. Claus.
“My guess is that they are more urban and trying to look rural,” said Otto.
“Urban, hillbilly, cowboy, rural, whatever. They harm one hair on William’s head and they are going to be six feet under,” said Mrs. Claus.
Their Volvo slowed down as it made its descent into Sedona and everyone was quiet.

###

Leroy was waiting for them in front of the Sacred Light of Sedona. He wasn’t sure if there was a “the” in front of the name as maybe Sedona itself was full of sacred light. It was at least full of stores offering crystals and aura photographs. He wasn’t really into all of that, but the scenery was magnificent with huge rock formations all around.
He saw the Volvo land in the parking lot and walked over to it.
“Hey Leroy, hope we didn’t spoil your holiday season,” said Mr. Claus as he got out of the old blue station wagon.
“I was just surprised that a few days went by before you called. I could just as well move to Berkeley- or wherever you are at these days- on the first of December,” he said with a smile.
“So we got some nisser- hillbilly nisser- that took William and now are leading us around by our cajones,” said Mrs. Claus getting down to business.
“That sounds unpleasant. Let’s find them and get William back- pronto,” said Leroy.
“We are supposed to meet them here,” said Mr. Claus.
Just as he was done speaking his phone pinged and a text message came up on his screen,

Dear Santa Claus,
Please follow the instructions in the Rudolph doll by the light post in the parking lot. You have two hours. William is fine and will continue to be so as long as you follow along.
-Bubba

Leroy strolled over to the doll and picked it up not worrying about a booby trap. It looked like it was bought at the local grocery store and had a saguaro cactus gift tag hanging around its neck. On the tag was written,

The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. Park. Fountain.

He read it aloud to the group.
Mrs. Claus was the first to speak, “That sounds like a Catholic Church. But it can’t be in Assisi.”
“True on both accounts. It’s in the old part of Santa Fe,” said Leroy.
“So you know Santa Fe- or what?” asked Mrs. Claus.
“You know me- I’ve been around,” answered Leroy.
“Ain’t that the truth,” said Mrs. Claus with a smile.
“Off we go. We need to get to Santa Fe and find us some nisser,” said Mr. Claus.