Mick's Mall Madness - A Christmas Mini One-shot (G)

[MickLifeCrisis]

Just in case anyone was planning to go shopping this weekend. (I wrote this last year.)

Thanks, Tink, for bouncing this around with me!


Mick's Mall Madness

Mick got up from the mall bench for what seemed like the hundredth time and paced agitatedly in front of it.

What could possibly be taking her so long?

Normally, a shopping mall full of humans wasn’t a problem for Mick. But Christmas time was different. Crowds of people; the myriad of smells; the sounds. The sounds were the worst part. They assaulted his sensitive hearing. The ever present throbbing; the pulsing; the rhythmic pa-pum, pa-pum.

Mick’s eyes started to flash silver and he sat back down on the bench. Resting his face in his hands, he closed his eyes and tried to cover his ears without being too obvious.

I wish it would stop.

“Okay, Mick, I’m ready to go.” Beth stood before him laden with packages.

Without a word Mick jumped up from the bench, grabbed her elbow, and practically dragged her out the nearest exit.

“Mick! Mick! What’s going on? What’s the matter?”

“Sorry, Beth. But if I had to listen to 'Jingle Bells' and ‘The Little Drummer Boy’ one more time, I would have torn somebody’s head off.”

[darkstarrising]

MLC,

I feel the very same way....the mall is the last place to be this time of year

[francis]

Short and sweet and I can so relate. Thank you for bringing this over.

[fairytoes]

Poor Mick! Lovely little story MLC!

[MickLifeCrisis]

Thank you dsr, francis and fairytoes! This one still makes me giggle!

I'll have some Christmas MickBeth next week!

[jen]

Poor Mick.

I can relate. While I adore Christmas carols and the holiday is such a joy to me, I can remember when I was in college working in retail part time during the Christmas holidays and they played a tape of the same Christmas over and over. It took a long to get to the point where I could listen to those carols without cringing.

Then there were those silver ornaments that sounded like a singing bird. They sounded lovely for the first few minutes...

Thanks for this!

Jenna

[MickLifeCrisis]

Gotta hand it to the employees who have to listen for hours on end.

Thanks for the reread, Jenna!

[allegrita]

Oh, how did I miss this last year?! I sympathize with Mick. A vampire would be driven craaaaaaazy by all the mall madness.

[MickLifeCrisis]

Glad you found it this year, Allegrita! Thanks for commenting!

[Lilly]

Gee, somehow I missed this last year too.

I love this little stocking stuffer, MLC! Naturally, I expected that Mick was bothered by the crush of humanity -- the "pa-pum" of all those excited heartbeats. But, in a delightful twist, we find out it's really just a couple of the most overplayed Christmas carols that are driving him to distraction.

Nicely done!

[SharonC]

Poor Mick , I can so sympathize, thank god for the internet, perhaps Beth should be introduced to it and pronto, thank you sweetie for the fun

[maggatha3]

If we all sympathise Mick's Christmas feeling, then how come it is still like that in malls all over the world?Thanks MLC.. it all sounded too familiar..

[jen]

There is just something universal about malls and repetitive carols.

The sound of fingernails on a blackboard come to mind...

This is darling!

Thank you!

Jenna

[MickLifeCrisis]

Anyone planning some last minute shopping?

[Marigold]

This was cute, MLC!

Thank goodness I'm done all my shopping. Malls and stores this time of year drive me crazy, even with my dull human senses. I feel for Mick - his senses must have been on overload! Hopefully Beth will leave him at home the next time she goes Christmas shopping!

I have to wonder how Mick does his shopping. Does he shop early in the season, or does he order from the internet or from catalogues? Hmmm...

Thanks!