Rambo and His Merry Thugs - by Margarida Brei

Voice.club
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https://Voice.club - “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch…” echoed so gustily, almost cracking the stained glass.

How Rambo and his Merry Thugs became choir boys was one of the mysteries of the world!

We, choir boys practised for a Christmas Eve talent show to raise money for the belfry. The pastor had bats in his belfry and was sweet on the antique librarian.

My belly groaned. The sudden lull in the music coincided with my stomach gurgling loudly. Smethers, the organist, had jumped up frantically and started scratching. The Merry Thugs’ innocent looks convinced me they had used itching powder.

Because Kindly Smethers had given me honey lozenges when my voice squeaked, I sought revenge.

Mum, a religious fanatic, said, “God condemns the bad.” Hoping God would punish Rambo’s gang, I planned retribution. Nodding at the other choir boy nerds, we met in the basement after a tedious warning from the pastor.

Fortuitously, we overheard the Merry Thugs’ plan to rob the show.

The next night seven nerds met in the graveyard within hearing of the mausoleum known as Rambo’s Clubhouse. Fuelled by memories of being called “four-eyes” and bullied, we listened. The thugs’ ratty voices bit the frigid air. We learnt at 17:00 they would steal donations to the show and then the ticket money. Weasel laughter stressed plans about bed bugs and our ‘pretty’ choir clothes.

Suspecting their greed, we had already set up camera surveillance.

Its trail had recorded hanky-panky between the parson and the librarian. Nauseating!

Our advantages included knowing the church layout, our computer skills, and being better educated and washed. They reeked.

Step 1: Most Merry Thugs responsible for stealing donations scared by talking skeletons and hologram of Police Sergeant. Locked in mud room.

Step 2: Other reeking Thugs distracted by lovely smell of mince tarts, trapped in cloakroom after stealing ticket money.

My father, a policeman hiding upstairs, saw, heard, and recorded everything.

Great news - Gang in juvie. Belfry money saved. Librarian badgers Parson into marriage based on incriminating camera film.

Queen’s “We Are the Champions” plays.

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Margarida, what an imagination you have! Especially for a holiday story in the most fascinating, negative and unusual form!! The Grinch has been a long time favorite of mine taking me back to the days it was televised as an animated show!

Yes, :raising_hands: I’m getting up there in years!! The original did have a happy ending as so did your unique story!I read it a couple times plus to understand each of the characters, in a comical fashion ! Good job!

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Much appreciation Deborah for your detailed commentary on my “Rambo and his Merry Thugs.” I thoroughly enjoyed writing this story. It was a wide difference from my usual dark stories. Writing a comical story in which the thugs are punished and the good characters become heroes gave me a lot of positive vibes.

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What a lovely comical tale. I enjoyed it so much, Margarida.

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Happy New Year Lotchie! Merci beaucoup- I spent six weeks recently in French Canada where our six children were born. Thanks a lot for your kind feedback. So happy that you found my story humorous. I was aiming at a light hearted story, but in reality I must return to writing my novella. It started as a story for children, but has morphed into fiction for young to mature adults.

Longing to read one of your wonderful stories. I suggested the prompt “Life is Unfair.” If you think that life is wonderful and full of joy, please feel free to dispute my title in your first sentence or paragraph. We really need to begin 2026 on a positive note!