This is not a Christmas story, but it is about Christmas time. I have been afraid to tell you this story, but after another neighbor “disappearing,” I feel that it is my duty to tell the story.

It all started last year, the day after Thanksgiving. Our neighbors, who had moved in at the beginning of June, surprised us with a yard full of inflatables for Christmas decorations.

There were Santa’s and Rudolph, the Grinch, Mickey Mouse, a dinosaur and many many more. It was gaudy, but it was also kind of nice because we live on a side street that no one decorated their house, except for us, and we only put out a few strands of lights.

We had grown close to our new neighbors over the last five months but we had no idea they were the Griswolds from Christmas Vacation movie. We made a few jokes but we were busy over the Christmas season and did not see them that much.

On Christmas Day, we went over and said Merry Christmas. I jokingly asked them when the eye sore was coming down and they laughed and said no later than January 1st.

The first came and I went out to take down our few strands of lights but did not see our neighbors. Then the 2nd came and the inflatables were still up. Then the 3rd, 4th and 5th came and they were still up.

I went next door to check on them, maybe they got sick or something but they did not answer. I even called the police to do a wellness check but they said no one was in the house. I thought maybe they left town but when they did that for Thanksgiving, they asked us to check on their house for them so I would’ve thought they would’ve asked again if they had to leave town for an emergency.

On the morning of the 11th, I unplugged all the inflatables. I had a weird feeling that I was being watched. I could swear I even saw Santa’s face change and give me a scolding look. On the night of the 11th, the inflatables came back to life again.

Who would’ve plugged them back in? There was still no word from our neighbors.

The end of January came and the inflatables were still up and there was still no word from our neighbors. No matter how many times I unplugged them, they would always be back up. I told the police that something wasn’t right but they looked at me like I was crazy.

By the end of April, with our neighbors still missing, the house foreclosed. The bank had movers come and cleared out the house, even the inflatables were gone.

At the end of May, the house had sold and we had new neighbors. We weren’t as close to them as the last ones, but we were still cordial and said our hellos.

Then it happened.

The day after Thanksgiving the inflatables were back. The exact same ones were out that our last neighbors had. I asked them how they got them and they said they were all boxed up in the basement. The only thing that was left in the house. They were going to throw them out but thought it would be fun to keep them and let them come to life.

I walked back to my house and swore Santa smiled and winked at me and the dinosaur growled.

Well, let me tell you my friends it is now January 11th and the inflatables are still up and our newest neighbors have disappeared like the last ones.

The police still think I’m crazy but tonight I am heading over there with a butcher knife and I’m going to rip them to shreds.

For some reason, I have a feeling I won’t make it back but there is something sinister about those inflatables and I can not let them win.

If you don’t hear from me again, you will know why.

Wish me luck.