I’ll Be Gnome for Christmas (Christmas Holiday Extravaganza)

1

Gigget handed off the bag to her latest customer at the Farmer’s Market. “Thank you,” she said. Weariness weighed her down. It was September but unseasonably warm. She tucked an errant hair behind her ear and spied an unfamiliar man at her table.

“Do you can your tomatoes too?” he asked as he held up a large round specimen.

“Yes. I cannot sell them here at the market though.”

He nodded. He was probably only an inch or two taller than her own short stature. His brown hair was thick and straight, and he wore a full beard. Viewing it made her even warmer in the heat.

He collected a few vegetables. “I’ll take these. I bet you make the best spaghetti sauce and salsa with the bounty from your garden.”

“It’s good enough my kids don’t complain,” she replied. “The total is five dollars.”

“That’s it? For all of this?” He handed her a ten-dollar bill. “Keep the change.”

As she took the money his fingers brushed against her hand and a current of deliciousness traveled up her arm and all the way to her toes. She blinked rapidly. Had he experienced it too? His cheeks were rosy, but it was unseasonably hot.

“Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.” She tucked the money into the waist pack that held her cash. Maybe not the most flattering fashion statement but being fashionable wouldn’t change the opinions of others when the whole town was aware of her husband’s shenanigans. She loathed the pitying glances. She’d thought after a year that everything would be in the past. Dead and buried.

Just like her husband.

Uncharitable thoughts got her nowhere and the man was still at the table, speaking.

“Oh, I’m sorry. This heat has made it hard for me to concentrate. You were saying?” she asked.

“I’d be interested in purchasing some of your canned goods too if you have any to spare.”

“I might be able to sacrifice a few.”

“Will you be here on Wednesday?” He took the bag she handed him with his purchase in it.

Gigget nodded.

A big smile emerged from under all that hair. “Awesome sauce. I’m Bingle Twinkle but you can call me Bing if you wish. I’ll definitely be here.”

“Thank you.”

“This is where you tell me your name.” He tilted his head a bit and that grin became a little cheekier.

Was he flirting with her?

She bit her lip before responding. “I’m Gigget.”

“Oh, like a celebrity? Just the one name?”

A chuckle escaped her mouth and she put up a hand as if she could shove it back in. “Nothing of the sort. Gigget Wicket.”

“Gigget Wicket. Well, it was a pleasure to meet you Gigget. You have a great rest of your day, and I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday. As many as you can spare without sacrificing your own pantry needs.”

“I’ll see what I can do. There are more tomatoes yet to be harvested. It was a good year for them.”

“Wonderful.”

With a quick pivot he sauntered away from her. The man might be vertically challenged but he was solid, and his jeans and suspenders spoke of someone who didn’t mind working hard. Even in this heat he wore work boots. Yet with all that, he didn’t seem to break a sweat.

She recalled his smile and the twinkle of his grey eyes.

“Mom!” Amorette called. “Djoni isn’t playing fair.”

“I was too!” Djoni retorted. He was older than his sister by one year but both were about the same height and were often mistaken for twins.

“Behave!” she admonished. Another customer was headed her way, and she wanted to groan. Not this man again. She noticed that the previous man, Bing, was only two tables down at another booth buying some cheese. Why hadn’t she kept him talking longer?

“Hey, short stuff, whatcha got cooking today?” the annoying man said.

“Fresh vegetables from the garden as usual, Mr. Ponderosa.”

“Come on, call me Fez. I’ve been begging you all summer.”

He’d been begging her for a lot of stuff, none of which she ever intended to provide. There was something about the man that creeped her out.

“What can I get you today?” She gave him a tepid smile. The portly man had nasty body odor and his crooked, yellowish-brown teeth looked as if they’d not seen a toothbrush in decades. She’d mistaken him for being homeless the first time he showed up, but surprise, surprise, he’d told her he was gainfully employed at a local factory. He always had cash to flash in front of her, as if he were dangling a worm and she was the fish.

This fish wasn’t going to bite.

“I don’t need nothing, darlin’, looking at you is enough to fill me. How about I swing by tonight and take you out on the town?”

She wasn’t an “out on the town,” kind of gal. “Thank you for your generous offer but I’m not interested.” The market would close soon, so she grabbed a bin from below the table to start packing some of the unsold food items. When she stood back up Mr. Ponderosa was leaning fully over the table, knocking tomatoes, onions, and zucchini onto the pavement.

He leered at her. “I refuse to take no for an answer.”

“That’s all you’ll get from me. Please pay me the seven dollars for the ruined produce and leave me alone.”

“Pay me the seven dollars for the ruined produce.” He sneered and shoved another tomato onto the pavement. “I’m not paying you anything until you go out with me.” He folded his arms and grinned as if he’d already won.

She shook her head and raised her voice, hoping someone would witness the exchange. “I said, no!”

~*~

Bing spied Fez Ponderosa at Gigget’s booth, and the grim expression on her face set off alarm bells. He made his way back to her. He stepped over the vegetables Fez had scattered onto the concrete. Bing sidled up to the table right next to the much taller bully. “Hey, Fez.” He patted the man on the back with a healthy slap. “Long time, no see. What happened to you on the line?”

The man turned his head and glared down on Bing with a scowl. “I got demoted to another area. It’s hot, and I hate it. What’s it to you?”

Shrugging, Bing waited a moment, deciding what he should do next.

“Oh, Bing, I’m so glad you returned. I would love to take you up on your offer to help us pack up for home now that the market is over,” Gigget said.

He nodded. “But of course; why else would I have returned?” He winked at her.

Fez bristled at this. “Why didn’t you ask me? I’d have helped. What can this little man do that I can’t?”

“Treat a woman with the respect and honor she deserves,” Bing whispered.

“Huh?” Fez asked.

Gigget’s cheeks grew rosy as she turned away her face. She’d heard him just fine.

“Oh, nothing that would make any sense to you, Fez. It’s time for you to get going. We need to pack up before they reclaim the street for cars.”

Fez turned to face Bing. “Are you insulting me? I don’t get you. So tiny and yet you carry yourself as if you could actually take me on. I’d really like to see you try.”

Bing raised his eyebrows as he faced the much taller and bigger man. “I don’t think you want to do that.”

“Ha! Why not?”

“Because it is not proper to fight in front of a lady.” Bing wanted to spare the sensibilities of the cute woman and the children he assumed were hers.

“There’s no lady here.” The man shot a fist at Bing’s shoulder, but Bing was quicker and dodged it, knocking the taller man off balance. An uneven spot in the concrete finished the task and Fez collapsed to the ground.

Bing stepped away, grabbed a box by the curb and brought it to the front table. He loaded some of the food.

Fez struggled to his feet, growling. “I’ll show you,” he said as he lunged toward Bing who again dodged to the side. The momentum from Fez’s rush sent him on a collision course with a large garbage can on the edge of the sidewalk. This time he didn’t fall down, but he stood there for a moment with two little kids, a boy and a girl, gaping at him.

“What do you want?” Fez yelled at the kids.

The children took a few steps away from the man.

Fez side-stepped the trashcans and headed down the sidewalk as fast as his now-limping body could take him.

Bing continued loading the box and stifled a chuckle.

“You really don’t need to stay to help,” Gigget said. “I appreciate you returning and getting me out of a tough spot.”

“It’s no trouble, and since I’m here I’d be a cad not to pitch in. Would you also be so kind as to introduce me to these two little ones?”

The children came to stand beside Gigget. The tow-headed youngster grabbed her hand. His tilted head and twinkling blue eyes indicated that the child didn’t miss much. The young girl, a tad shorter with blonde braids, clung to her mother’s pants. Perhaps a little more bashful than her brother but wide blue eyes indicated her curiosity.

“These are my little gnomes, Djoni and Amoretta. Djoni is in second grade and Amoretta is in first. Children this is Mr. Twinkle.”

“Hi.” Amoretta gave a shy little wave and sweet smile.

Djoni crossed his arms. “How did you manage to fight that man without touching him?”

Bing leaned forward. “Being alert and quick on my feet,” he whispered.

“He said mean things to you and was mean to Mommy,” Amoretta said.

“He’s an unhappy man. Sometimes unhappy people don’t want others to be happy either,” Bing said.

“So, he’s trying to spread it around like a cold?” the young man asked, his arms now at his side.

Bing nodded, “That is definitely one way to look at it.” He resumed packing things up.

“You spread something else.” The little girl stepped closer although the table was still between them.

“Perhaps I do, but can you tell me what it is?” Bing asked with a smile.

The little girl shook her head.

Gigget grinned. “I’d say he is spreading a helpful spirit right now. Can you two catch it?”

“Yes!” The kids grinned, ran to grab boxes, and loaded up other leftover vegetables.

“Thank you again for your help,” Gigget said as she began to fill her own bin with vegetables.

“It’s not a problem. I’m not afraid of working. I’m sorry to say that Fez is probably walking away with a wounded ego and might return at some point to harass you again.”

She nodded. “He’s faithful to do that. He can’t understand the word, ‘no.’” She paused. “I am impressed as well that you didn’t need to fight him. Cleverly done.”

Bing shrugged. “I could have if I needed to. I didn’t think it would be necessary.”

“I’m glad you didn’t need to get hurt. He could retaliate against you as well in the future.”

Bing picked up his box, headed to the hand-truck on the sidewalk, and then set down the box.

Djoni brought his box and stacked it. “Will you have to fight him?” Djoni asked.

“I hope not. It would only make things worse I think.”

“Why?” Amoretta asked.

He was now behind the table, so he dropped to one knee to be closer to the kids. “If I fight him and win, he’ll only be angrier and want to try again. If I lose, he’ll continue to try to show me how strong he is. Fighting will only ever lead to more fighting.”

“I thought losers gave up,” Djoni said.

“Some do, but I believe Fez is more angry that I got in the way of him harassing your mom. Since I would always want to protect her from harm, I would always be in his way.”

“Maybe I need to fight him. I am the man of the house.” The little boy flexed his bicep.

“I’m sure you are, and your mom appreciates your help.” Bing stood and grabbed another box. “Maybe we should get back to work?”

Soon the produce was loaded, and the tables collapsed. Bing hauled them to Gigget’s truck and helped her load them.

“I was capable of doing all that,” Gigget said. “But thank you anyway.”

“Not a problem. I’m sure you are more than capable. Just because a woman can do something doesn’t mean a man shouldn’t help when he is able and available to do so. I should get going. It was a pleasure meeting you and your children.”

“Thank you for not encouraging Djoni to fight.”

“Raising a son on your own can’t be easy. At some point he may need to fight for what’s important, but I agree that fighting for the sake of fighting is not a good habit for a young man to engage in. Have a good afternoon.” He’d noticed she wore no ring, and had hazarded a guess she was single.

“You too, Bing,” she said as he walked away.

She’d not refuted his comment. Was there hint of wistfulness in her voice? He hoped so because more than anything he wanted to see Gigget Wicket again.