Christmas Music--Post December 25th

I love Christmas Music!

If I love it so much--I mean, clearly, Christmas is one of my favorite music genres, if you will--then why do I feel strangely when I play it AFTER Christmas? Why do I feel like some kind of Christmas Music Police will come out of the shadows and drag me to some scary Inquisition if I listen to it after Christmas?

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"We were told you were playing Christmas music..." they would say, white light glaring in my face so I can't see anything but the outline of their forms.

"Where am I?" I say, faltering. My head is hurting. Have I been injured? I instinctively reach for the sore area--and find my arms are bound. "Why are my hands bound? What's going on?!" I say, demandingly.

"Calm down, Miss. I'm sure this is just a little misunderstanding...."

"Yes, I'm sure it is! There must be some sort of mistake...!"

"You have been apprehended," an authoritative voice spoke from the shadows, "due to accusations regarding your music preferences at this time of year..."

"My MUSICAL preferences...?" I say, astounded.

"Yes. We understand that you have been listening to..." he paused, dramatically, clearing his throat, "Christmas music."

"Yes..." I hesitantly agree, wondering why this is a problem.

"You will need to turn that station off until next year, ma'am. It's no longer Christmas. You'll need to wait until next November to play it again."

"Wait--" I started, "You're saying I can't listen to Christmas music...because it's past Christmas?"

"Yes," one of them said with finality.

"Or...Or what," I say, half-proud of myself for my uncharacteristic display of boldness.

"You will remain incarcerated until you agree to see it our way."

"You're going to put me IN JAIL for listening to Christmas music?!?"

One of them kicked over a chair. "It's past Christmas, ma'am. Post December 25th."

I felt fury course through my veins, a rage within that I couldn't contain. I managed to kick two people in the shins, one in the groin, and bite one guy's wrist before I felt the sting of a needle and welcomed darkness seconds later.

-----Will our Christmas music lover awaken in her own bed only to find this was a horrible dream? Or will she not awake again until next November? Tune in next time to find out!-----