“Best to hide under the nose of the enemy, I suppose,” I said. “Must have passed ten department stores on my way here.”
She glanced up from her tea. “The doctors go where the sick people are”.
“So how’s the plan going, anyway? I’m still seeing lots of commercials blaring ‘buy stuff’ and nothing seems different.”
She held up a device. “As soon as I press this button, cell phones will go out for a hundred miles in every direction.”
“That works. I already took care of Amazon,” I said.
“Good. Let’s finish ruining Christmas.”
———
I held commercialism in contempt when I was younger; back when thinking like that was cool and I didn’t really know anything about the world anyway. Now it’s even more oppressive. It’s worked its way even into my own thoughts and desires. The worst is to watch as my daughters look around themselves and absorb it without knowing any different. Anyway…Every Friday, writers from all around the world write 100 word (or thereabouts) flash fiction based on a photo posted that Wednesday on Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ blog.
I welcome constructive criticism; without it I cannot grow as a writer. The weekly photo that inspired this story is below (courtesy Marie Gail Stratford).
glossarch 
I’ll admit the Christmas decorations/trees that showed up in Lowes before Halloween put me off a bit. Otherwise I will sometimes go out of my way to see a Christmas show or listen to carols lest I miss the season completely.
Dear Danny,
I don’t know if anyone can actually ruin Christmas…I think that’s already happened. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Ho ho ho! It wouldn’t ruin Christmas for me–might help revive what Christmas is really all about 🙂
Christmas is what you make of it – some good, some not so good. Neat story, though. I am interested to read that you’re a volcanic buff – I did a lot of research in your field for my book – hope I got the essentials right.
Bah humbug!
Good old Scrooge. He is back !!
These creatures are bound and determined to ruin Christmas – even Scrooge would be impressed. Clever story!