Who Killed The Gingerbread Man?

The wind whispered through the trees and chimneys as snowflakes fell gently on the snow-covered rooftops. Not a man or beast was in sight. Inside the Addams household, the only sounds were the crackling fireplace and the occasional snore from Mr. Addams, interrupted by a well-placed kick from Ms. Addams. Yet, for those with keen hearing and vivid imagination, there was another, barely noticeable sound.

“MURDERER!”

“GUILTY!”

“DAMN YOU, CRIMINAL!”

“SILENCE!”

Santa’s commanding voice immediately established a fragile silence over the wooden dinner table.After a few moments of awkward silence Santa spoke once more.

“All rise for the honourable judge Star, his majesty himself will be presiding over this historic event that took place today!”.

Judge Star slowly walked over to the head of the dinner table and said “Today marks a historic but dark day for our community”. 

“Earlier this day, Redtop witnessed Grey pushing Jack the gingerbread man to his death. If true, this is a vile act that has never been seen before in the peaceful community of Addamsville. Bailiff, please bring forth the accused”. 

Santa slowly walked towards a sealed christmas box, opened the lid and grabbed out of it a grey christmas ball about the size of an apple.Its name was Grey. 

“Mr.Grey you are being charged with one count of first degree homicide, how do you plead?” said judge Star.

“I didn't do it your honour, i’m innocent” cried Gray.

“In that case we will proceed with opening statements, prosecution will go first” and with that Judge star turned towards a toucan figured ornament with a santa hat on top of his head.

“Your majesty,honourable guests, today a sinister act has stained our great society” said Tucan passionately.

“Ever since the Addams brought me from Brazil six years ago, I have grown to love our community. However, I will tell you a story about how a callous and villainous ornament named Gray attempted to advance his status within our community by taking away the life of one of our most beloved community members, Jack the gingerbread man.”

“Mr. Grey, are you going to represent yourself or do you have a lawyer that will speak for you?” said Judge Star.

“I will be his lawyer,” said  a hoarse voice before Grey could answer.

Everyone turned to find the source and in its place stood a big christmas ball made of carton. The ball’s body had cuts all over, and the hoop on top of his head was not made of plastic but instead out of red rope. Its name was Bear, as the pictures painted on his sides were that of three bears dancing. 

“What are you doing, I never agreed to this, I don't even know who you are” whispered Grey.

“Shut up greenhorn, you don’t know me but I know that you have no idea how things work around here. Simply be quiet and speak when I tell you to. All you need to know is that I'm probably the only ornament in Addamsville that’s not convinced yet that you are a murderer”.

However, before Grey could retort, the judges' voice stopped him.

“Let me be very clear, we are all agitated by what happened today, however everyone knows that we must not wake IT up. If I hear any more outburst from anyone in this courtroom, perpetrators will spend two days in the backside.” 

The moment the word backside was uttered everyone froze and did not dare make a sound. All knew that the Christmas holidays were few and the backside of the tree was a dark place where your only friend was solitude. There were tales that ornaments had gone mad only after spending a week at the backside. 

“Now then, Mr. Grey, is Mr. Bear your representative?” asked the judge.

After a slight pause the grey ball acquiesced.

“Well then, Mr. Bear give your opening statement, we’ve got two hours till daylight and I would like to settle this matter today!”

After two sluggish steps and a dry cough the old Bear stood in the middle of the courtroom, holding everyones’ attention.

“Your honour, my client is not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and his only crime is being new” and with that, he took two more sluggish steps and sat next to Grey.

Everyone stood in complete silence, after being stunned by the comically brief statement of the old ornament. On the other side of the courtroom Grey was already regretting his choice to have this old fart represent him.

 “Are you trying to get me killed faster so that you can have a friend in the afterlife?” whispered Grey.

“Trust me Mr.Grey the afterlife already has more friends of mine than my current life” he said monotonically.

“That’s it, he’s crazy” said Grey to himself.

“Prosecution, who is your first witness?” asked the judge, interrupting Grey’s lamentation.

“The prosecution would like to call Mr. Redtop to the podium,” said Mr.Tucan.

Out of the crowd emerged a bright red ball with red glitter all over its body and on top of its head laid a bouquet of plastic red roses glistening in the darkness.

“Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth under the penalty of perjury so help you Robert Addams?” said the bailiff loudly.

“I do!” said Redtop.

“Mr. Redtop, could you introduce yourself for everyone in the courtroom?” said Tucan.

“My name is Redtop, I've lived in Addamsville for eight years now and currently I am a resident in branch 9. I am also the eldest son of the crimson family and the president of the red-ball association here in Addamsville”.

“Mr Redtop, could you tell us what you saw earlier today?”

“It was around eleven o’clock, as we were waking up and I noticed that the new guy had moved to Mr. Jack's branch and they were talking.After a little while I noticed that their conversation became heated and suddenly the new guy, pushed Mr. Jack off the edge”.

A collective gasp came from the crowd however the judge ignored it as he was too interested in the story before him.

Grey sprouted from the ground and yelled “lies your honour, I never did any of these things, it's all a lie!”

Before anyone had the chance to even think of a retort, judge Star stood up and said menacingly “Mr. Grey, I have told everyone in this courtroom what an outburst would lead to; you are part of this courtroom and you will obey my rules or I swear to Anne Addams I will have this court case without your presence. Am I making myself clear?

“Yes your grace” whispered Grey.

The courtroom was silent but the anger and disgust exuded from everyone's bodies.

“I have no more questions your honour,” said Mr. Tucan and walked away.

“Defence, you can cross examine the witness” said the judge.

“Mr. Redtop, which branch do you live at?” asked Mr. Bear

“I live in branch 9,” said Redtop proudly.

“And what branch did Jack live at?”

“He was in branch 10”

“And what branch does Grey live at?”

“I think 8, i’m not really sure”

“I see… and how long have you been living here Mr. Redtop?”

“8 years” he said, irritated.

“I see…and did you live in branch 9 when you arrived here, 8 years ago?”

“Your honour, what have any of these questions to do with the court case, I object to their relevance” said Mr. Tucan.

“Bear, I'm also growing tired of these questions. If you're getting somewhere, get to it” said the judge.

“I promise your honour i’m almost there” and with that he turned to the witness.

“Please answer the question, Redtop” said Star.

“ I lived in branch four,” said Redtop calmly.

“I see… you must be proud of your success..”

Redtop answered with a smile, barely masking his anger and disgust.

“I’ve heard the higher you go, the harder it becomes to rise, is that true Mr.Redtop?”

“The branches are smaller in the top, that’s true”.

“So a more sinister mind than ours would see the death of someone not as a tragedy but as an opportunity to rise would you agree Mr Redtop?”

“I would have to assume that’s why Mr Grey did what he did, if he’s not a crazy madman that is”.

“I see…what about you, is Jack’s murder an opportunity for your advancement?”

“Absurd!”shouted Tucan.

“A mere branch 2 resident accusing a resident of branch 9 not only of perjury but also of murderer, your honour this is outrageous!”.

“Mr. Bear, knowing your history in Addamsville better than most, I will choose just this once to ignore the grand accusations you have just uttered. However, I will do this just once; our community is based upon rules. Respecting and abiding by the hierarchy is one of our principal rules and should someone disrespect those rules they will pay for it. Am I being clear enough Mr. Bear?” said Star in a commanding voice.

“Crystal clear your majesty, I have no more questions” said Bear bowing.

“The prosecution calls Sandy the snowman” said Mr. Tucan.

“Ms. Sandy, could you tell us what you saw today in branch 9?”

“Aigh g’d sir, I was cleaning the upper floors as it's my job to do everyday. But today while cleaning the west end of branch 9 I noticed sir Jack talking with that Grey fella. As they were talking he suddenly pushed poor mista Jack over the edge. 

“Thank you Ms. Sandy, I have no more questions”.

“Defence” said the judge.

“Sandy, do the residents of the upper branches frighten you?” asked Mr.Bear

Like the rest of the court, Sandy was taken aback, however after a slight pause she said “aigh, I suppose some be frightening,... however I respect them all the same” she added in a hurry.

“I see… no more questions”.

“Perfect, in that case, defence do you have any witnesses?”.

“Considering the time we were given to create our defence we will only call Mr Grey, " said Bear with a smile.

“Defence you may begin questioning”

“Mr Grey, did you kill Jack the gingerbread man?” asked Bear.

“I did not, I liked Mr. Jack and he liked me I think”.

“Did you speak to Jack today?”

“Yes I did visit him and we talked but there was no argument, I simply asked him for advice on how to meet other ornaments and become a good member of our community. I’m new so I needed someone to talk to but when I left his house he was alive and well”.

“No further questions,” said Bear.

“Prosecution, your turn” said Star.

“Mr. Grey, is there anyone to confirm any of what you said to be true?” asked Mr. Tucan.

“No. But that does not make it a lie” said Grey indignantly.

“In the eyes of the law, it might as well be one. No further questions” said Tucan.

“Since we are done with questioning we will move to closing, prosecution are you ready?”

“Yes your honour!” said Tucan.

“Your majesty, honorable citizens of Addamsville, today you have heard the accounts of two honest and honorable ornaments like yourselves. Although they come from different branches they both came together and their voices became one telling you that Mr Grey without conscience or care killed our beloved elder Jack and is now standing here attempting to deceive us all. The facts are clear and so should be your verdict, your honour. Guilty!” said Tucan and left the centre of the court.

Bear sighed, and slowly walked forth.

 “ Your majesty, before, you said that respecting and abiding by the hierarchy is one of our principal rules. I agree! Grey might be the murderer. However today I saw a branch 2 resident agreeing with a branch 9 resident against a branch 8 resident. Grey might be a suspect, but he would not be the first in my list.” And with that he limped away.

“I will briefly leave for deliberation, however the bailiffs will be here, so act accordingly” said Star and walked away.

 Silence presided over the court.

“All I wished for back at the factory was to be able to join a great community and radiate in the Christmas lights…I could never imagine things would turn to this” said Grey somberly.

Bear sighed and said “Be careful what you wish for kid…dreams are only dreams because we ain't awake when we see them; reality, well that's a whole other story.”

Grey pondered his words for a moment and said “Why did you want to represent me anyway, it’s not like we knew each other”.

“Well it wasn’t because of your looks, i’ll tell you that much” said Bear laughing.

Deciding he was getting nowhere Grey gave up and silence spoke. However after a little while Bear scoffed and said “you know you may become the first murderer in Addamsville but this was not the first court case we’ve had.”

“So you’ve been accused of a crime before? Is that it?” said Grey.

“Accused of a crime? HAH. You sir had the honour of having been represented by the ornament that received the longest sentence ever in Adamsville. 2 years I spent in the backside. They say most go mad after one week, I’d say I did well for myself” he said chuckling.

“What the hell did you do?”

“Me? I was guilty of the same crime as you of course, I inconvenienced a resident of a branch higher than me.”

Before Grey could respond the judge appeared.

“Court is back in session and I have reached a verdict!” he said.

“As Mr. Bear said previously, respecting and abiding by the hierarchy is one of our principal rules.Thus, having heard and considered all the facts provided to me, I will find the defendant guilty of killing Jack the gingerbread man. Furthermore, due to the heinous crime he committed I will not sentence Mr. Grey to the backside, as I believe he will continue to be a threat to our peaceful society in the future. As such I sentence Mr.Grey to death by plunge. He is to be thrown off the top of the tree and meet the same fate he forced upon his victim.”

The courtroom flew into a frenzy of yells, cheers, cries and insults that even the judge could not control.

“YOUR HONOUR YOU MUST RETHINK THIS!” said Grey but it was to no avail as two bailiffs seized him.

“EVERYONE BE SILENT, WE MUST NOT WAKE THE…”however he was cut off as the ground suddenly began to rumble.

Everyone froze, and a deathly silence replaced all cries. Slowly they turned around and gazed into the darkness.The darkness gazed back. Then slowly, two golden globes emerged from the darkness, and then a slithering furry tail dancing from left to right. 

“Nobody make a sound,” whispered one of the statues under their breath.

However, everyone's glitter and christmas hats began to shiver when the beast released its mighty roar.

“Meeeoow!”

“EVERYBODY RUN!”

Chaos ensued. Balls rolling and jumping towards the tree, ornaments of all kinds desperately trying to reach their branches. 

“Bailiff Santa!” screamed judge Star.

Santa rushed to Star, grabbed him by his base, and launched the honorable judge and all his majesty across the dining hall, perching him on top of the tree.

Amidst the chaos Grey had also escaped his captors, reached the tree and was scaling the branches, however suddenly something held him back. Behind him was Redtop grabbing his underside. Grey tried to break free but Redtop was stronger and with a push Grey found himself on the edge of the tree under Redtop.

“Why are you doing this?” shouted Grey.

“Because I have worked too hard for too long to have someone suddenly appear and get everything handed to him. I am the most beautiful of the red balls, I am the best out of all the christmas balls and I will be damned if i will have a gry fuck like you ruin everything” whispered Redtop.

“Why Jack? What did he do?” pleaded Grey.

“Just like that old Bear, that gingerbread fuck was too wise for his own good. But hey, don’t blame the player, blame the system. All I did was give the system a little push.” He said and started approaching Grey.

Grey tried to stand up, but Redtop quickly pounced and was on top of him.

“Give good’ol Jack my regards” and with that he started pushing Grey over the edge.

Just as Grey was about to lose his grip, Redtop stopped.. Grey turned around and saw Redtop frozen looking to his side. Grey turned and that’s when he saw two massive yellow balls examining them.

Redtop’s struggle with Grey had attracted the interest of the beast, like a bull is attracted to a red flag. Redtop tried to bolt but the fluffy beast was faster and with a quick slap from his paw Redtop was launched up in the sky reaching the top of the tree. Staring at Judge Star, time seemed to seize for a moment. And then gravity made its presence. 

 Immediately, after the smashing noise the beast fled the crime scene and footsteps could be heard approaching.

A little girl approached the tree and saw the red shards across the floor.

“Mr. Cuddles, what did you do!This is the second time this week; mom will be so upset!” she shouted at the cat across the room.

“Second?” exclaimed Judge Star in disbelief.

“Who said that!?” said Lily.

Having received no response, Lily examined the tree for a few minutes, but then decided she was too sleepy and headed back to sleep.

Silence reigned over Addamsville yet all were awake.

“NOT GUILTY!” announced judge Star from his throne.

Yet nobody spoke; only the dying fire and Mr. Addams’ snoring could be heard inside the house once more.