From: nitadee@aol.com (Nita Dee)
Newsgroups: alt.tv.x-files.creative
Subject: The Non-Believer 1/1
Date: 19 Dec 1995 10:46:50 -0500


Disclaimer:  The characters of Dana Scully and Capt. "Ahab" 
Scully belong to Chris Carter and 10-13 productions, in association
with 20th Century Fox Television.  Sorry, guys, no Mulder this time.

This is X-Mas mind candy while I contemplate the sequel to
"Descention."

Christmastime, 1972
Mobile, Alabama


     It was the last day of school before Christmas.  Dana Scully,
her red pigtails bouncing off her shoulders,  ran out of the school.
In her arms was the Christmas present she had gotten from the girl
who had drawn her name.  It was a Santa Claus doll.

     "Hey, 'Red' Scully, whatcha got there!"  Hollered Tammy Nelson.
Dana didn't like Tammy because she teased everyone.  Laura because
she was chubby, Amy because she wore glasses, Janie for no particular
reason, and Dana because she had red hair.

     "A Santa Claus doll.  Lookie, if you press his tummy, he plays
"Jingle Bells"". Dana said.

     "Stupid, only babies believe in Santa Claus."  Tammy laughed.

     "What did you say!" Dana said, Irish temper rising.  No one called
her a baby.  Her two brothers had bruses for months when they did.

     "You're a baby, Red!  Don't you know that Santa is just your
parents?"
Tammy said, ready to fight.

     "SANTA IS TO REAL!  AND I'M NOT A BABY!"  Dana and Tammy
began fighting.

     The principle, Mrs. Harper, had to break the fight up.  She dragged
both girls into her office and called their parents.

     Mrs. Nelson came first.  She held the sobbing Tammy in her
arms and called Dana a "damn Navy brat".  Capt. Scully arrived
shortly after Mrs. Nelson and was strict with Dana.  He made her
apologize for picking the fight with Tammy.

     Mrs. Nelson and Tammy left in a huff, with Tammy getting in
the last blow by sticking her tongue out at Dana as she left.

     Driving home from school, Dana snuggled close to her father,
who would have none of it.

    "Starbuck, why did you pick that fight with Tammy?  You are
still new at this school and need to make friends, not enemys."
Capt. Scully said.

     "She called me a baby and said that your parents are Santa 
Claus".  Dana said.

     Capt. Scully pulled the car over.  "Starbuck, you're a big girl, 
nearly 9.  I hate to tell you this, but Tammy is right.  Santa Claus
isn't real."

     "He's pretend?"  Dana said.

     "He's pretend.  When you get to be a grown up lady, you'll
know that things you can't see or explain are not real."  Capt.
Scully said, hugging his girl.

     Dana stuck her Irish chin out.  "You're right, Ahab.  From now
one, if I can't see it or explain it, then I won't never, ever, believe in
it!"

     And indeed she never did.


The End

Dedicated to the memory of my father, Malcolm "Lloyd" Durham
(April 22, 1926-August 17, 1993).   Merry Christmas, Daddy, wherever
you are!

Nita Dee