He hated the holidays, from the first time he didn't get that red bicycle, he hated everything about it, the cheer, the singing, and especially the bright lights. He watched the young girl bundled in her winter outfit, the bright scarf as disgusting as the rest of the cheerful colors. Her hands full of gifts. Gifts for people who would get what they wanted. He closed his eyes remembering that christmas morning.

He got up early, sneaking down in his superman pajamas. He dreamt about riding the bike, all the boys had bikes, but him. His mother had said she'd talk to Dave about it. He thought that maybe Dave would have one day to be like a father. He hated Dave too, why did he have to marry his mom?

He stood before the tree and felt his heart sink, there was no bike, no boxes, just a wooden dump truck? That was all, no stocking for him, nothing that he knew the other boys would get. He spent all year being extra good. Cleaning, not crying when Dave would beat him, not telling his mom about the neighbor Dave would have over while his mother worked. He hated his mother for saying she would get him a bike, but then didn't why did Dave have to ruin everything. He pushed the wooden truck, becoming more upset that the bucket didn't even move. It was nothing an unpainted piece of wood that rolled.

He opened his eyes moving quickly as the girl turned a corner, he shoved by a man ringing a bell wearing a bright red santa suit. He came to despise the illusion parents pressed upon them about some non existant man bringing them everything they wanted if they were good. He was good, why didn't that stupid red man bring him anything?

He stopped and watched as she stood admiring a group of singers, some carol about a bastard child and his whore mother. He imagined what it would be like to kill them all, their pretty voices screaming shrill and sharp as he showed them what real singing was. He scurried pass them, feeling his head throb, a young cheerful girl in the group catching his attention briefly, she smiled at him, inviting him to enjoy her, but she was with others, he couldn't enjoy them with others, he turned his attention back to the girl in her scarf. He'd enjoy wrapping that around her wrists.

He stopped watching her walk up some steps, setting down her packages digging in her purse, removing keys, fumbling with them before shoving open the door, he licked his lips watching as she picked up her packages and stepped inside, shutting it behind her. He stood there imagining her removing her winter clothes, exposing her small body. He closed his eyes thinking of her drinking egg nog while wrapping gifts, a soft lullaby carol playing in the background. Again he closed his eyes, remembering the christmas before Dave.

It was just him and his mom, he got what he wanted that year, toy soldiers and a large tank, he spent the morning drinking eggnog, eating cookies and playing with his soldiers, his mom sat and watched him, smiling humming a soft song. It was his last happy christmas, until she met Dave, but He showed Dave.

He continued to stand, feeling the cold slowly creeping into his bones, he shifted slightly observing the surroundings of her town house, he slowly began to work his way closer, making mental notes of the windows. He squeezed throught the narrow space between the two buildings, again noting a few windows, but nothing that would allow him entry. He cursed silently, working his way to the back. He smiled seeing the cold steel stairs that led to the back of the building and up to the top story.

He proceeded to look around, carefully searching the back of the building for an ideal hiding spot, someplace he could sit and observe, until he discovred which of the windows was hers, he hated this part of the game. The rest was easy but the waiting and watching, he never was a patient person.

Finally spying some bushes in the very back of the tiny yard...