Christmas Day

The kids were awake at 4am, racing downstairs to see if Santa had been. The lights went on and the children screamed.
A man in a red suit was lying on the linoleum floor of the kitchen in a pool of blood.
Did this mean there were no presents?

Christmas Eve

The shopkeeper closed and locked the door and headed back into the darkness of the shop.
There was a loud knock at the door behind him.
He turned.
"I need to buy a present," pleaded a man through the glass.
The shopkeeper shrugged and headed into the room behind the counter.
The banging on the door continued.
The shopkeeper reached for his rifle.

Cheers

He loved coming to this place. The people were friendly. It was a home from home for him.
He finished his drink.
"Same again please."
"What were you drinking?"
"You know me!" he laughed.
"I don't. What's your name?"
He sighed. It wasn't as good as he thought.

Noise Pollution

"Hello, I'd like to report a crime."
"Certainly, madam, what has happened."
"My neighbours are listening to music."
"Is it loud?"
"Not really, I can barely hear it."
"Then what's the problem?"
"They're playing Phil Collins."
"We'll have two units there ASAP."

Not Many Left

The newspaper seller stood next to his huge pile of papers. He glanced at them. He would never sell this many.
He took a bottle from his bag and poured it over the papers.
He struck a match and dropped it on to the petrol-soaked papers.

Zoo

Her son wouldn't stop crying.
He'd begged for weeks to come to the zoo and now they were here he was making a scene.
"I'll give you something to cry about."
She picked him up and threw him over the wall into the gorilla enclosure.

Man Overboard

"HELP!"
He ran to the back of the boat and saw the other man in the water.
He was prepared to dive in or do whatever it took to help him.
But then he saw who it was and turned away.