“A Christmas Story Of Sorts…”
by Mike Plume
On the afternoon of December 24th, 1991, I was making my way home to Bonnyville from a gig somewhere in Alberta.
Probably Barrhead.
It had been a long year and I was looking forward to getting home for the Holidays.
As I was passing through Edmonton I figured I’d stop and do some last minute shopping.
Downtown Edmonton was crazy with the hustle and bustle of other last minute shoppers like me.
It was snowing.
Elvis was having a Blue Christmas.
Bing a White Christmas.
Marilyn Monroe was singing to her Santa Baby.
Or was it Eartha Kitt’s version?
I don’t remember now…
Anyway, it was complete Norman Rockwell and after a couple of hours I had almost everything I’d come for.
But I had one more stop at the Brick on 107 Avenue and 101 Street.
There was a full length mirror there that my Mom had mentioned she liked and so I figured I’d pick it up for her.
As I was walking into the store I noticed a suspicious looking character sniffing around the parking lot.
He had a look like he was maybe looking for something that might not have been his.
Anyway, I went into the store and browsed around for a while.
I found the mirror that I was looking for and also some baskets that I thought my Mom would like.
The salesman was a nice guy and in the spirit of Christmas gave me a hand hauling and loading my purchases into my car.
I opened up the passenger door and oh so carefully and gently positioned the mirror in the passenger seat.
I took my coat off and used it as another layer of protection for the mirror.
I thanked the salesman, shook his hand and wished him a Merry Christmas.
I locked the passenger door and slammed it shut.
My keys!!!
Fuck, there they were on the dash.
Now what?
It was 15 below zero and there I am locked out of my car without my jacket.
What a tit!!!
What’s first thing you do when you lock your keys in the car, boy?
Get a coat hanger.
That’s right, I don’t know why, but you just do.
Maybe it’s so you can gouge your eyes out while wait for a tow truck to come and open your door for you.
The salesman and I went back into the store and got a coat hanger, untwisted it and started to, or should I say, “attempted to” pick the lock.
It didn’t take too long before we realized that neither of us had a clue as to how to pick a fucking lock.
I’d never learned how to pick a lock.
It had never crossed my mind to learn such a skill.
It was something I never thought I would need.
Like a diploma.
We stood around the car for probably 15 minutes, each taking turns trying to jimmy the lock.
I was freezing.
The salesman went back in the store to get his jacket.
I continued working away with the coat hanger.
When, all of a sudden, a voice behind me says,
“You need some help?”
I turned around and standing there was the guy who I’d seen slinking around the parking lot earlier.
“Yeah, man, I locked my fucking keys in the car…”
“You need one of these…” he said and with that he slipped a “Slim Jim” out of his sleeve.
If you’ve never seen one, a “Slim Jim” looks like a metal ruler.
They’re about an eighth of an inch thick, an inch wide, maybe around 15 inches long, they have a hook on the bottom and apparently work like a charm.
They are also illegal as all get out and are only used by people who are either tow truck drivers or guys breaking into cars.
I didn’t see a tow truck around so I figured out pretty quick what this guy was up to on this Christmas Eve.
He stepped up to the car, slid the slim jim in between the door and window and in less that 5 seconds the door was open.
“Hey, thanks man.”
“No problem, Merry Christmas.”
“Yeah, man, you too, Merry Christmas.”
“Hey, if anyone asks, you didn’t see me out here… alright.”
“Alright, yeah sure, you bet, man. No problem, thanks.”
And like that, he disappeared into the falling snow.
Suddenly, to me, in my eyes, this guy was like Robin Hood.
You know, breaking into cars and stealing gifts from the rich to give to the poor down at the mission on Christmas Eve.
At least, that’s the way I felt about him.
A hero to the downtrodden.
He was like Pretty Boy Floyd.
But, at the end of the day, I think he was looking for a little good karma.
That’s all he wanted for Christmas…
A little good karma.
But I wonder…
Over the years, as the holiday season approaches, I find myself thinking about that day.
I’m not even sure what the moral of this story is.
But it’s a story alright…
And a good one, too.
It was my mother’s last Christmas.
and it was dec 22, why were we here
I always like reading your stories. Memories get triggered by all sorts of things…
Happy New Year ~ Take care ~ All the best to you and your family!
Great story Mike. Years ago I was into almost the same situation. Left my keys in the locked car. I called the cops but they didn’t dare to try to open the door. After they left, some guy who has parked his car next to mine, wanted to help me. He looked for some stuff in the back of his car. He got back with this iron thing, put it next to the door, pulled and moved a bit and click, the door unlocked. He didn’t say a word, put his finger against his lips to make me shut my mouth and he left. It looked as if he had done this many times before. It was such a weird situation. Anyway, I could get into my own car again…
Such a great story. I’m sure it was your mom’s best Christmas..
It also goes to show that even those without the best intentions do still care enough to help out those in need.. Have a great Christmas to you Jenny and Ruby
Mike have a great Christmas. I liked the story. It reminds me of when as young men we are on the outside still struggling to make it. There may be something illegal that we have stashed underneath the seat ourselves. Judgement is not supposed to overtake us, survival is what bonds us together. Have a great Christmas!
If there was ever to have been a movie…I would’ve liked Paul Newman to play my part.
Sounds like a movie to me.
Hicks,
Sweet story! I just got in from walking up my street; had some car troubles of my own this COLD snowy evening, but no robin hood came to my rescue! maybe next time…
Merry Christmas Hicks! and tell your girls I say hello!
Miss you guys!
… Oops… Merry Christmas, Mike!
Thief with a heart of gold?
I had a boyfriend who went shopping on Xmas after a few (lot) too many, fell asleep on the subway and was wakened hours later when the train pulled into the rail-yard. All his gifts were gone and he had to call his father to come and pick him up…
Mike;
That is a very cool story.
Merry Christmas.