Five presents now sat in a cluster-pattern beneath those lower branches, one far smaller than the rest, slightly away to the right. Xxx Didn’t you like it?” she teased, then looking serious for a moment. “Why not?” she said, looking as cute as a button, “I wanted to! Turning away from him she sat up and raised her arms. It would have been hard to tell what shocked him more. The moment they had to relinquish their mom’s hand and take that last step up to that lofty perch. “Good heavens child,” he said, propelling her gently towards the fireplace. He stayed until the last child had scampered back to his mother and the helpers were hanging up the sign which read “Santa has gone to feed his reindeer and will be back at 6 p.m.”
For a moment he was lost in his own thoughts.
