The Christmas Prank

by Joannie Kay

Tally deliberately took the ink pen and drew a mustache and beard on the picture of the smiling woman. Then she added a couple of warts on her nose and shaded out the hair to give the other female a Mohawk. Satisfied, Tally used the same ink pen to carefully print block letters on a blank envelope, and then added a stamp. She put on her coat, picked up her handbag and keys and the envelope and drove to the next town, stopped at the post office, and mailed the letter. Smiling in satisfaction, Tally headed off to work.

As she drove, her temper simmered. Tally was famous for her temper and her retaliations, and none of her six siblings, or her parents, would be shocked to learn she was pulling nasty little pranks on her ex-boyfriend’s new fiancé. The woman was a blonde, for cripes sake! Eric knew how she felt about bubble-headed blondes. And this Corinne Peterson looked like a bubblehead! And, even worse, in Tally’s opinion, she didn’t have one damn freckle on her perfect face! Tally slapped the steering wheel, and grumbled out loud, “I’ll bet anything she had her nose fixed!” And so it went, all the way to work!

Once there, Tally turned off her personal life, and became the caring, competent nurse everyone loved. While a lot of other medical practices took a long weekend over Thanksgiving, the Doctor Tally worked for insisted on regular hours on Friday and Saturday. They treated the elderly, and she was convinced that they would get a lot of calls from patients. Both days were clear of routine visits, and the plan was to decorate the office and waiting room for the Christmas Holidays in between patients. They would order in lunch, and the spirit in the office was festive.

Tally loved Christmas, and she truly respected Dr. Clara Obermeir. Dr. Clara, as she preferred to be addressed by staff and patients alike, took pains to keep the office as pleasant and cheerful as possible, and if she even sensed one of her staff wasn’t sympathetic to the elderly, they didn’t work for her any longer. Geriatrics were her specialty, and they were never too rushed to take an extra moment for a patient who needed TLC. Tally loved her job, and didn’t mind working while the rest of the world shopped for presents to dole out. She liked to wait and savor her shopping, doing a little at a time. It was more fun that way. It was the one time of the year that she splurged shamelessly on her loved ones.

As usual, Dr. Clara was right. As soon as the office opened, there were a few calls. The patients who came in were given professional care from a staff who genuinely cared about them, and in between, a beautiful Christmas tree was set up in the waiting room and decorated with old-fashioned ornaments and lights. By the time they closed up for the day, there wasn’t one room in the entire office that didn’t have some sort of decoration, including the bathroom! Dr. Clara was pleased, and Tally left work with a satisfied, happy smile on her face.

As she drove home, Tally’s good mood evaporated. Eric really shouldn’t have looked so damned happy in that sappy engagement picture. Even though she was well rid of the man, it just made her angry that he’d moved on so easily after she called off their relationship! And to be replaced with a blond bimbo… How insulting!

Her youngest brother was home, and he and a group of his friends were in the kitchen, searching for food. “Tally, my favorite sister!!!” he grinned in welcome.

“I’m not falling for it, Snickers,” she deliberately called him by his nickname.

“Aww, please, Tally… We’re starving, and you make the best tacos in the world. Pleeeeease?” he gave her the puppy eyes, knowing full well it would work on his older sister.

“Pleeeaase, Tally,” Mike and Greg chimed in, doing their best imitation of Max.

Tally melted as she always did. “Okay… I’ll feed you… but I want something in return…”

“I’m not going to get grounded for the holidays, Tally,” Max said firmly, recognizing the look in her dark eyes as trouble.

“It’s nothing bad,” she stated as she took ground beef from the freezer and put it into the microwave to defrost. “I just want some really smelly socks, and I’m willing to buy them. Ten dollars for the grossest pair you can find. And ten dollars to buy them from the one with stinky feet.” She saw her brother’s speculative look, and knew she had him. It would cost her double, of course, but that was to be expected. She took out a cutting board and large knife, and then started assembling the toppings for the tacos and bowls to put them in. They always served tacos as a do it yourself thing. Snickers didn’t like onions, and two other siblings hated tomatoes. It was easier this way. Tally also knew that the ‘smell’ of tacos would bring the rest of the Smith family on a run, no matter where they were or what they were doing. It was a standing joke in the family… but one that seemed to be true! Tacos were like a magnet! Tally let her offer hang in the air as she peeled and chopped an onion.

“Let me get this straight,” Max came over to stand beside her as she worked. “I can buy the socks, not steal them…?”

“I would never ask you to steal,” Tally smiled at him. “I don’t hold with that, and Dad would have both our hides.”

“He wouldn’t settle for just grounding us,” Max muttered under his breath, not about to let his friends hear that their parents were very old-fashioned and used corporal punishment when they felt it was truly deserved. “I can buy stinky socks, and pay the stinkee ten bucks for them?”

“Yes.”

“And get another ten for acting as a broker?”

“Yes. If the socks are really rancid, I’ll pay a bonus.”

“What are you going to do with them?” he asked, considering all the angles and how much trouble he could be in if their parents didn’t approve of his involvement.

“What I do with them is not your concern, Snickers. I promise that if there is any trouble at all, it will be on my head, not yours. I’m making a purchase from you, and that is all.”

“Okay. How soon do you need them?” Max grinned at his sister, knowing full well that she would keep her word.

“Not until after we eat,” she giggled. “We don’t want to ruin our appetites, now do we?”

Just like always, family members started appearing… one by one. When her Mom walked into the kitchen, she smiled in approval as she saw that Tally had things under control. Monica grabbed paper plates, and got out cans of soda, and by the time Tally’s father came in the door, they were ready to eat.

“I still think we should change our family name,” Max announced.

“The Taco Family sounds silly,” Nesie said with a delicate sniff.

“But, we all answer to the smell of tacos,” Max declared… and they all marveled once again that they all seemed to rush home when tacos were being prepared.

“Moni, did you get much shopping done?” Donald asked his wife with a smile.

“Some. The stores were packed. Nesie found some good bargains,” she winked.

“Nesie always finds some bargains,” Donald grumbled good-naturedly. Teasing his children was fun, and he did it well. “I’m sure the bargains were all for yourself…?” he winked.

“Daddy, I need clothes!” Nesie declared.

“And makeup and shoes,” Monica added dryly.

Nesie had to smile, but quickly changed the subject. “Were you busy today, Tally?” It was no secret that she admired her sister, and was thinking seriously of becoming a nurse, too.

Tally told them about decorating the office, and Monica promptly told Donald and her sons that she wanted them to bring down all the Christmas decorations from the attic. The guys groaned, but Tally knew it would be a fun evening as they spruced up the house together. Even her two older siblings were home for the weekend, and would pitch in to help. She loved everything about Christmas. It was a time for family and love… and for giving.

********************

Case opened the door of his office, and escorted his new client to the door, reassuring him that he would work hard to win the custody battle for him… once he verified the facts he’d been given. Case needed the business, but he also had his personal integrity to uphold… and that was the main reason he opened his own law firm. He rarely handled divorces, unless he was convinced there was no hope of reconciliation, and he did not defame a parent in a custody battle unless the child was at risk. If that made him judgmental, so be it! He didn’t care what people thought… He had to live with himself and his conscience. Case hoped his new client was telling him the truth. If he was, Case was sure he could help the man, and perhaps save a little girl in the process. He nodded politely as the man promised to bring in the documents he requested, and then Case shut the door behind him. His next appointment wasn’t for an hour.

One look at his secretary had him frowning. “Did you get another letter, Corinne?” he asked quietly, walking over to her desk.

“Yes! Look at this!” she held out the paper.

It was another copy of her engagement announcement from the newspaper, and like the last nine, Corinne’s picture was altered. This time her nose was made very long and she had a pair of glasses drawn on. “Do you have any idea who is doing this?” Case asked once again.

“Eric thinks it’s his old girlfriend, but I really doubt it!” Corinne replied with a sigh. “For one thing, she broke off their relationship before I met Eric. It wasn’t like he was cheating on her with me. And, the envelopes are postmarked in Pearson. Tally lives here in town, and she works in Heywood. It’s completely out of her way to go to Pearson…”

“Why does Eric think it’s her?” Case asked, trying to get the full picture.

“He says she has a terrible temper, and that she loves to get even with people if they upset her.” Corinne shook her head, and smiled. “You won’t believe this, but he thinks Tally is doing it because I am a blonde! Isn’t that just ridiculous?”

Case snorted, and then chuckled. “I don’t buy that either.” He thought a moment or two, and then fixed his dark eyes on his secretary, “I want you to promise me that you are taking precautions, Corinne. Making sure your car doors are locked, that your apartment is locked at all times. If you start getting calls, you need to report them… Anything that seems out of the ordinary. I insist on walking you to your car when you leave here every day, and if you need to go out at noon, let me know where you are going to be, and carry a cell phone… Understand?”

“I’m not foolish, Case. I usually pack my lunch anyway, but it would make me feel safer if you walked me to the car after work. Eric will appreciate it, too,” she confessed. “He is following me here in the morning, and waiting until I am inside to drive on.”

“Smart man,” Case nodded in approval. “Let me know if you get any more letters, Corinne. This could be nothing more than a little joke, but I want to be kept informed.” When she nodded, he smiled and said, “Let me know when our next appointment comes in.”

Case went into his office and closed the door. He frowned as he tried to figure out who was tormenting his secretary. He took out his cell phone, and called Eric for some answers about his ex. The other man didn’t mind discussing Tally Smith with him, and seemed genuinely relieved to know that Case was concerned over Corinne’s safety.

“I almost hope it is Tally,” he stated firmly. “I know she won’t actually do anything but annoy us, but it worries me that Corinne might have an actual stalker. I can’t be with her every moment of the day, and if I take those pictures to the police, they’ll laugh. Nothing of a threatening nature about them,” he sighed.

“I’ll watch here at work, Eric,” Case promised. “I’ll make sure Corinne gets to her car safely when we leave for the day.”

“Thanks, Case. She’s to call me when she leaves, and then when she gets home to let me know she is safe, and the apartment checks out… but I can’t help but worry. I really do hope it is Tally.”

“Have you called her and asked her outright?” Case asked.

“Oh no! If it is Tally, she would never admit it, and if it wasn’t her, I’d be in more trouble than I can deal with. That woman is mean. I was lucky to escape with my life.”

Case couldn’t help chuckling at the other man’s description. They talked a few more minutes, and after disconnecting the call, Case found himself wondering about this Tally Smith. She was probably an Amazon, and in need of a man who didn’t back down; a man who believed in old-fashioned discipline!

Corinne buzzed him to tell him his next appointment had arrived, and Case put his mind to work matters. He took an immediate liking to the middle-aged man. He was single, never married, and had built up quite an estate. At his mother’s urging, he was reluctantly making up a will. He had a mother and two siblings, but he wanted to leave his estate, other than a few personal items he delegated to them, to his niece and nephew. Case could tell that his client had put a lot of thought into his decision, and he promised to draw up the papers and have them ready for his signature in a few days. The man nodded, told Case that it was a fairly painless ordeal, and then left, nodding politely at Corinne.

“He was referred by Bill Gray,” Case told Corinne. “Hopefully that is a good sign.”

The pretty blonde smiled. “You are getting busier, Case. I booked three more appointments today.”

********************

Tally had to admit the socks were rank! She seriously worried that the kid Snickers bought them from had a serious health problem and should see a doctor, but when she mentioned it to Max, he’d laughed and said the socks were his friend’s father’s… and he was a doctor… with smelly feet! Tally giggled, and paid her brother the money she promised. It was well worth the price. She put the socks into a small box, and sealed it tightly to hold in the odor. She already had Christmas wrapping paper, ribbon, and bows, and took her time making the gift look pretty. She put it in a plain box for shipping, addressed it, and made another trip to the Post Office in Pearson. She was told the package would be delivered within a couple of days, and Tally wished she could be a little mouse and watch as Corinne opened the box.

She put Eric and Corinne out of her mind, and went shopping for her family. Her youngest siblings were easy. Nesie, at fifteen, was all about clothes and make-up. Tally found it easy to find gifts she would love. Max was next, and anything electronic was sure to please. Rich was in college, and he was harder to buy for. Tally looked and looked, but nothing seemed right. She decided to change her focus for a bit, and shop for gifts for her co-workers and Dr. Clara.

After making a few more purchases, Tally found herself standing in front of the book store in the mall. She told herself it would be a huge mistake to walk in there, but then justified doing so by telling herself she could pick up a really nice cook book for Sam. Since he started Culinary College a few months ago, he had a list of books he wanted, and he would really be thrilled. Tally found exactly the book she was looking for, and ended up buying a few mysteries for herself. She simply couldn’t resist. On her way to the cash register she stopped in her tracks, and a mischievous smile lit up her face. The little book was simply perfect. She made arrangements to have the book sent to Corinne, and paid cash for her purchases. She did not want the ditzy blonde to be able to trace the naughty book to her. Giggling, Tally left the book store and went to the food court.

Once she had her veggie sub and a fruit smoothie, she pulled out her cell phone and called Andy. He was the eldest of the Smith siblings, and climbing the corporate ladder in New York City. Of all her brothers, he would know exactly what she should get for Rich… and for Rob. When he answered, Tally asked, “Is this a bad time for you, Andy? I don’t want to interrupt you if you’re busy…?”

“Actually, I’m sitting at my desk having leftover pork fried rice from dinner last night. What kind of trouble are you in, brat?” he asked, and she pictured him grinning at her.

“I’m not in any trouble,” she immediately denied.

“Yeah, right. I know you too well to fall for that line,” he teased, and Tally was glad he couldn’t see her. With her red hair, her pale skin colored easily, and Andy would know immediately that she was up to something, and being Andy, he wouldn’t let it rest until she confessed to pranking Corinne…

“I’m trying to get some Christmas shopping done,” she began.

“What did you buy me?” he asked over a mouthful of rice.

“Nothing yet,” she giggled. “I’m not having any luck choosing something for Rich… and since you see more of Rob than we do, do you know of anything in particular I could get him?”

“Rob needs a shrink,” Andy promptly replied. “He thinks he’s in love again.”

“Not another blonde?” Tally groaned.

“Nope. A redhead who’s as much a brat in need of a spanking as you are.”

“Andy!” she protested. “I’m an adult!”

“No woman ever gets too old for a good spanking,” he announced, then added, “I’m giving you a paddle for a wedding present.”

“I’m not getting married!” she said, growing exasperated. “Are you going to give me some serious ideas, or not?”

“Well, Rich hasn’t told the folks yet, but he’s not planning to live in the dorm next semester. He and a couple of friends are getting an apartment off campus. He’s going to need a microwave real bad, if that’s not too much…?”

“They aren’t all that expensive, Andy. But, Mom is going to ask what I bought, and I don’t want to be the one to break his news.” The parents weren’t likely to be happy. They wanted Rich to get a good education, and not be partying all the time. She could well imagine that their Dad would pull the trump card and refuse to pay Rich’s share for the apartment, but since Rich was holding down a full time job, he could pay for it himself, and would likely do as he pleased. The microwave was a good idea.

“Just get it, have it wrapped at the store, and tell Mom it’s a secret,” Andy suggested. “As for Rob, I’ll fish around for some ideas.”

“Thanks…”

“So, what kind of mischief are you into, Tally?”

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