The Twisted Christmas - Part 1

ALL STORY LIST | PART - 2

"My goodness," Dannie mumbled under her breath, "It’s great to be free for a few hours. Unpacking and checking merchandise invoices sure can get old!" Her pretty face scrunched up, looking like she smelled something bad. But then she smiled thinking of her freedom for the entire afternoon, and the sunshine was back.

As she walked through the mall, she couldn’t help but notice the number of closed shops, and the signs in many others announcing, ‘Drastic discounts! Everything must go! Closing January 5!’ Even the mall Christmas decorations looked wilted and old, it seemed like half the decorative lights were burned out. About the only real cluster of customers was in front of the pizza place, and not a table was to be had. Dannie sighed as she got in the long line. She was hungry.

When it was her turn she ordered, "Two slices with sausage and mushrooms. And a medium Diet Pepsi please."

"No got Pepsi, Diet Coke ‘kay?

She answered, "Yeah, sure," as she stepped forward to pay the cashier. As she waited for her order, she noticed two people get up from a table; she was torn between claiming the table and waiting for her order. Before she could make up her mind, another girl who had been standing holding a tray of pizza and soda claimed it.

"Yo miss! Dis sausage mushroom yours?"

"Yeah, thank you."

Dannie claimed her tray and noticed no one had joined the single girl, as no tables were available Dannie walked up to her and asked, "Mind if I join you?"

The girl looked momentarily surprised, but answered, "No, please be seated." Dannie sat down and the girl continued, "To tell the truth I’m glad for the company, see that group of guys waiting in line, they’re always bothering me. Oh, and I’m Patti." As she extended her hand.

They shook hands and Dannie took a fast bite of pizza, and pulled it from her mouth even faster, "Damn! When will I learn to wait?"

She quickly took a drink of soda before swallowing the bite of pizza, and dribbled a little of it on her blouse. Patti couldn’t help laughing, "Sorry, I couldn’t help it. That has happened to me so many times. I’m so hungry it would have happened to me today, if I’d found a table right away."

She smiled saying, "Don’t worry, I should know better by now. By the way, I’m Dannie."

"Good to meet you, Dannie, you work in the mall?"

"Yeah, we are here today and tomorrow. You too?"

"For now, I work at The Limited, they are closing next month though. Maybe earlier, we didn’t have a dozen customers all morning, and after the weekend sale our stock is down to zilch, and tomorrow's Christmas Eve."

"Bummer, I hate it when it’s slow. Any nice things left in my size?" Dannie couldn’t think of when she had actually shopped, somehow it sounded like fun.

Patti looked at her appraisingly, "You’re about a four aren’t you?" Dannie nodded, "Actually we have quite a few nice dresses and suits in two and four, even a few in six. If you see something you like, I’ll give you my employee discount – over and above the sixty percent off going out of the business sale. I’m even buying two power suits for the job interviews I’ll have to be going on – sure wish I had some college. All the good jobs seem to require it."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I think I’ll stop by later. What's with this mall? It seems like it’s all closing."

"Just about. See those guys over there."

Patti moved her eyes to a large table four removed from theirs. It wasn’t really necessary to point them out. The guys were making a lot of noise as they rudely commented on all the girl's insight.

Dannie nodded yes, and Patti continued, "Too many gangs like that roving the mall, several customers were carjacked in the parking lot, and even more were mugged. The area around the mall sucks, it’s a zoo out there. About six months ago stories of the muggings were featured in the local paper after the editor's wife was carjacked. Mall business plummeted; the customers were not reassured by promises of more security - especially after another lady was killed in a parking lot mugging. This after the increased security was begun with much fanfare."

"Damn, I didn’t realize it was that bad here. I’ll be sure to watch out."

The two girls talked for a while longer as they finished their pizza. It’s strange how two people can bond in a short time, but both seemed to need a friend – and they just clicked. Soon Patti had to get back to work and Dannie agreed to stop by The Limited later, as it was back in the direction of her shop.

Danny walked to the end of the mall, she looked in Lord & Taylors, Macy’s, and Sears, but those stores were closing, and looked like they had been picked clean by vultures. She purchased soft ice cream and headed back toward The Limited enjoying her treat. All of a sudden, something hit her elbow ramming the remainder of her cone into her face. Ice cream splattered on her blouse and skirt.

The soft ice cream temporarily blinded her, and all she heard was the laughter of half a dozen or so boys. They pushed her from one to the other, feeling her up, as she tried to wipe her face. This went on for several minutes and only stopped when a pair of mall security cops chased them away. Dannie was livid – ‘damn that old man, a few months ago and those punks would never have tried that’ she thought. But she just thanked the security guards politely and wiped most of the ice cream from her face. The security men directed her to the nearest ladies' room.

On the way she noticed The Limited and decided to stop in first, maybe they had a restroom. And besides, she was almost in tears and needed a sympathetic ear.

"Oh, Dannie! What happened?" Patti ran up to Danny.

"A gang of those damn boys rammed the ice cream cone I was eating into my face. I got it all over myself, and then the bastards pushed me around. I’m so damned mad I could spit nails!"

Patti hugged Dannie. They stood that way for almost a minute while Dannie burst into tears. Patti finally said, "I know Dannie, they have done it to me and several of the other girls. They make you feel so helpless, I hate them!" And Patti began crying too. After a while, they looked at the mess the runny makeup made of their faces and began laughing.

"What’s so funny Patti?" Dannie asked with a straight face. And they both started giggling again. Patti took Dannie by the hand and led her to the small restroom at the back of the store. They scrubbed their faces clean, still giggling.

Patti said, "Take your skirt and blouse off, lets clean off the spots and let them dry while you try some things on. I’m alone here, so let's both of us have some fun."

While Dannie undressed to her panties and bra, Patti selected some things for Dannie to try. "We really have some nice things, so I brought you a pair of pantyhose and slips to wear – they will give you a better idea of how the outfits look."

"Great, I’ll try this LBD first."

Patti went out to the selling area and waited for Dannie. When Dannie came out, Patti whistled appreciatively, "Wow that looks great on you! If you don’t mind watching for customers, I’ll put something on and we can model them together."

A few minutes later Patti came out in a red dress of almost the same style. She also brought out two pairs of black high heels. "See if one of these pair fit, we keep them in the back so customers can see how the outfits will look."

Both girls modeled in front of a cluster of mirrors to the music of Ricky Martian - the loud music of Ricky Martin. Dannie was blond and had a cute finely featured face, it only took a minute for her to get into the mood to ape fashion models. Patti had dark, almost black hair and was a size ten; her features were courser than Dannie’s, but she moved well to the music, and they both looked damn good. Patti stayed and Dannie went back to change into another outfit, then Patti changed while Dannie watched the store. This fun went on for well over an hour.

Dannie was changing into a power suit, very professional red, with a skirt the fell just below mid-thigh. She couldn’t believe how great it made her feel. Then she heard Patti scream, she sounded terrified. Dannie ran out front to see a gang of boys clustered around Patti, one held her from behind while another was groping her. Dannie pushed the panic alarm Patti had shown her, and raced out to help her friend.

Dannie drove her shoulder into the guy holding Patti, the shock of the blow forced the much bigger boy to release Patti, and turn on Dannie. He punched Dannie hard in the stomach, and she fell to the ground. The boy who was groping Patti screamed, "Faggot!" and punched her in the face. She tripped over Dannie and both girls were on the floor now.

The boy screamed, "Faggot, she’s a lousy queer!" and moved in and began to kick Patti, the boy Dannie slammed into began to kick her. Then the other five boys joined in until they were all kicking the helpless girls withering on the floor. Mercifully, both girls were stunned by kicks to the head, and didn’t feel most of the blows.

Several Mall security guards converged on the store and broke up the attack, but they were satisfied with chasing the boys away, and did not attempt to catch them. In a few minutes the girls were sitting up, a female security guard had EMT training, and checked the girls over for broken bones. Her verdict was they would have a lot of bruises, but she didn’t think any bones were broken.

After washing up and vomiting Patti said, "I’m going to close up, I normally walk, but I really don’t feel well. Could one of you give me a lift home?"

The female security officer said, "Sure honey, you can file a report in the morning. I have seen those punks before, and the security cameras must have got them on tape. How about you Dannie?"

"I think my store is a few doors down, if you will walk me there I guess I’ll be alright." Dannie had gotten sick too, and really looked pale and shaken.

The three of them walked toward where Dannie’s store was. As they rounded a bend Dannie started muttering under her breath, Patty thought she was cursing some old man.

"Shit, he has gone already. The old bastard told me he would wait for me!"

"Can you get home?" Patti asked.

"No dammit, he was my ride, and we live way out of town. I’ll have to get a hotel room overnight, and catch him tomorrow. No real problem, I have my Visa card." Dannie opened her purse and shouted, "DAMN, Damn! Those bastards stole my wallet."

Patti looked in hers and looked resignedly, "They got mine too, let us stop at that payphone. I need to report my Visa stolen too, this will be a great Christmas!"

I was the third time this year Patti’s wallet had been stolen, so she had memorized the emergency Visa number and her credit card number. She handed the phone to Dannie, and Dannie looked confused at first, but then gave the operator her card number.

"Look Dannie, there is no need to stay in a hotel alone. I live with my mother in a small apartment, but there is space for you in my room. Please stay with me, it’s the least I can do for a friend."

"I’d like that, thank you."

Not much was said in the security car during the five-block drive to Patti’s house. Both girls still felt nauseous, although they didn’t get sick again. Patti hadn’t exaggerated about the neighborhood. It wasn’t very nice, although at one time it had been.

Patti’s apartment was in a three-story gothic style house that had been subdivided into three apartments. "Thanks for the ride Susan, we will be okay from here. The landlord is a retired cop, and the gangs steer clear of this place." They got out of the security car, walked up the porch, and Patti opened the door saying, "Our place is on the third floor, can you make it?"

"Yeah, I think so. Let’s take it slow though."

Once inside the door, along the narrow staircase led upstairs. It was an obvious addition to the house to permit breaking it up into apartments. In fact, Dannie could see it was outside of the original house’s walls. They trudged upstairs, both girls regretted leaving their heels on at the store, and commented dourly that their pantyhose was ruined.

As soon as they entered the apartment, it was apparent to Dannie that it had been crudely fashioned from the previous attic. They walked into the small living room. Dominating the room was a large polished walnut dining room table with eight chairs. It was definitely out of place in such poor surroundings, a large matching hutch only made the room seem smaller. Patti walked over to a curtained off area, and pulled the curtain back to reveal a small refrigerator, stove, sink and open pantry under the eves.

"Like some hot chocolate?" Patti asked

"Sure, but I’d really like to take a hot bath or shower first."

"I’ll go run your water in the tub, please keep an eye on the teapot."

Dannie looked around, and noticed the hutch contained a nice Limoges china service for at least twelve. On the other wall were a couch and two small armchairs with a TV on a small table. Off in the direction Patti was running the bath, was a small bedroom with a double bed and an open closet. The bed was made neatly and from what she could see of the closet, it was nicely ordered too. Patti went into the bedroom, stripped off her clothes, and put on a terry robe and slippers. She looked at the skirt and jacket they had just taken off saying, "Two of the seams need to be seen, but there doesn’t seem to be any other damage. How did your outfit fare?"

Since there were just the two of them, Dannie took off her shirt, blouse, and jacket. "There doesn’t seem to be any rips or anything, but it definitely needs to be cleaned. Hell, I haven’t even paid for it yet – I hope my things will be safe in the store."

"They should be, those bastards left my keys when they stole my wallet. I had almost thirty dollars cash in it too, I’ll never see that again. It’s a good thing I did most of my Christmas shopping – at least they won’t ruin our Christmas."

"You live here with your mom?"

"Yeah, just the two of us. She won’t be home until after midnight."

"Is it safe for her to be on the streets at that hour?"

"Not really, but she works at the Marriott and the airport van brings her home at night. She works from three to midnight on the desk, so that works out well for her. Whoops, the teapot almost boiled over." Patti turned the gas burner off, and the pot stopped whistling, then she ran to check on the bath. "Okay, if you want to take your bath, it’s ready – I put some bath salts in for you."

Dannie walked into the bath and stripped, then slowly lowered her aching body into the hot water. "Ahhh, that feels good!" She smiled saying, "See you sometime tomorrow."

"Don’t get too comfortable, that water looks mighty good. You are going to have some bruises by the look of those red marks; I have some Ben Gay to rub on them. Oh, by the way – leave the water in the tub when you are done, there probably isn’t enough hot water to draw another whole bath."

As Dannie nodded, Patti shut the door. Dannie soaked until the water started to cool, and then got out. It was difficult, as her bruised muscles didn’t want to move. ‘Where is that damn old man when I really need him?’ She thought with a scowl. Before she dried off, she started the hot water. "Okay, if you want to use the bath again, I just started the hot water to warm it up." She said with a shiver, the apartment was drafty after a warm bath.

Patti entered the bathroom, handed Dannie another terry bathrobe, and stripped off her panties prior to entering the water. "My God, but that feels good! Your coco is on the table, and please stir the stew every few minutes. There is some nice rye bread heating in the oven, kind of keep an eye on that too."

Dannie stuck her head back in and said, "No problem, I get to do all the cooking for the old man and me. Just enjoy your bath, I’ll watch everything out here."

Dannie puttered around, washed the container the stew had been in, and stirred it a few times. As it began to simmer, she tried it.

"Hey Patti, this stew is great!"

Dannie’s jaw was too sore to support shouting, and since Patti didn’t respond, Dannie walked ten feet and opening the bathroom door, she repeated her comment. Patti was just getting out of the tub and Dannie caught a glimpse of something that shouldn’t have been there. However, Dannie didn’t comment on it, and just closed the door. She walked thoughtfully back to the stove and stirred the stew again. Patti walked into the kitchen, and Dannie prepared two bowls of stew and brought them and the hot bread to the table. Both girls sat down and began to eat.

They were almost through when Dannie said, "This is a really great stew, and you must give me the recipe."

"Sure, I’ll write it down for you. We have it every week, twice a week so I guess I know the recipe by heart." Patti paused for a moment and then said, "You saw it, didn’t you?"

"Yes, but otherwise there is no doubt that you are a girl. What happened?"

"It’s a long story, do you want me to call a cab for you – I’m sure my mother can find you a room for tonight. I have some money here I could give you until you meet up with your friend tomorrow."

"That won’t be necessary, does it work?"

"Only to pee, it hasn’t worked for anything else in four years. The hormones my mother gave me were an overdose. I grew great boobs as you can see, but they also chemically castrated me. I’m neither fish nor fowl. My DNA would say I’m a boy, I look and act like a girl when dressed, but I’m not a girl and can never have a normal life like a girl."

"How did it happen?"

"Sure you really want to know?"

"Wouldn’t ask, if I didn’t"

"I’ve never told anyone before… Please don’t laugh at me."