Every day without fail little Becky would walk home at the end of her day in first grade at Dillon Elementary School past Bateman’s Hardware Store on Main Street and stop and look into the front window.
Oh, there were drills and table saws, levels and even red and green Christmas lights in the window but there was also, tucked into the far left corner, the most wonderful, beautiful doll in all of South Carolina standing up all alone.
It was already cold. It DOES get could in the Carolinas in December and Becky would cup her hands, lean against the thick glass, peer into the deep window, and stare at “her” Dolly until the fog from her breathing clouded the view. Then she’d back away, wipe off the window with her bare hand and peer again.
She had “visited” the Doll, named by Becky as “BESS” every day of the week. By Thursday even the shop owner Mr. Bateman noticed Becky’s punctual visits and came outside to say…” Yes! She really is beautiful isn’t she?”…and stood by also admiring the Pink and white frilly-dressed doll with the bluest eyes and curliest blond hair.
“She’s a beauty alright!” He would say to Becky.
Becky just nodded and quietly and softly said…”She’s the prettiest doll in the whole world!”
It was Friday. The last weekday before Christmas and after the final school day before the holidays, Becky again stopped by Batemans to visit “her” Doll.
Yes, the drills and saws and green and red lights were still there but “BESS”….WAS GONE!!!
Becky was stunned! She almost cried but then collected her emotions and thought to herself…”I….guess some lucky girl will have a most wonderful Christmas and I hope…that…Bess…is very happy in her new home.”
But as she thought those thoughts, a very small tear edged down her cheek as she slowly walked the rest of the way home.
Christmas morning didn’t quite have the same urgency for little Becky that year.
She had hung her stocking and left the cookies and milk for Santa and even given her last allowance to the Salvation Army but couldn’t completely put “Bess” out of her mind.
Becky’s Mom and Dad even had to wake her up that Christmas and invite her downstairs to see what Santa had left.
Becky wiped the sleep out of her eyes and quietly followed her joyful parents down the stairs.
Then as she focused on the beautiful Christmas tree, there, propped up on a small pillow and majestically placed in the very center was… BESS!

“The very last house too!” Santa had just extracted himself from the chimney on Christmas Eve when the motion detector set off the burglar alarm.
So there he was, munching his 267th cookie and 97th ounce of milk that night, when the entire Carter family, Mom and Dad and Jimmy and Sarah and of course, included were “Bark” the cat and “Meow” the cocker spaniel.
“Ah…Ho Ho Ho and all that!” said a very tired Santa who heard disgruntled and impatient hooves up on the roof.
When the Sheriff and his two deputies arrived, there were many apologies and wishes of Merry Christmas floating through the air.
“Wait…I’ve got something for all of you in the sleigh.” said Santa as he grunted his way back up the chimney.
A minute later he clumped to the hearth carrying an armful of Coca Colas and passed them around.
“The Coke CEO is a friend of mine! Train set when he was six.”
Then Santa gave out Best Buy gift cards to all. “Walkman, when that Chairman of the Board was seven.”
As Santa struggled up the last chimney for the last time this year, two deputies in the hearth, carefully pushing to assist, Sheriff Boyd called out “Happy Vacation Santa”.
“Thanks Calvin!” Santa’s voice echoed down the chimney.
“No one has called me Calvin since I was a boy!”

And that is another reason why Santa is SO COOL!

A gift at Christmas brings joy all around
After both getting and giving
There’s one thing I’ve found
It needn’t be perfect
It needn’t be grand
Nor be expensive
Or be the best in the land
The truest of presents is the thought that’s behind
A gift from an unselfish heart that is kind
The REAL present is when you begin to perceive
It really IS better to give than receive

“Eve Dear, have you seen this year’s Christmas list? I can’t seem to locate it.”
Santa was looking in all the usual places.
“Why no Snookums, I haven’t seen it since last December”…replied Mrs. Claus.
“Well that was last year’s “GOOD” list and things may have drastically changed since then.” Santa said, while accidentally overturning the ribbon bin.
“Perhaps one of the elves has it to get a count of how many of a certain gift to make.” Mrs. Claus suggested.
“No…Alphonso would have told me…but I’ll check with him anyway.”
Santa buzzed the workshop on his special phone which was a gift from the C.E.O. of A.T. and T. who never forgot that Santa had brought him the Southern Pacific train set one Christmas, when that C.E.O.’s parents were unemployed.
“Yes Boss…Alphonso here!” answered the senior elf.
Santa asked about the list but got no positive answer from the busy workshop.
“Oh my!” exclaimed Santa. “Without that list even very misbehaving children will be getting top shelf gifts and that would set a very bad precedent!”
“Maybe the children who KNEW that they were not really as good as they could have been during the year will appreciate the kindness and forgiveness if you treat them as “Good List” kids.” Mrs. Claus slyly suggested.
“Hmmm….well…it may come to that if I can’t locate my list.”
Santa resumed digging through the back of the closet under the red and white trimmed suits stored there.
It was WAY too late to compile a new list and it wouldn’t be fair to use last year’s list, so Santa just sat in his big easy chair and resigned himself that Mrs. Claus’ suggestion of gifting EVERY kid would be his decision for at least this Christmas.
And kids…that was YESTERDAY!
So…all of you kids out there that were not exactly on your best behavior this year, (and you all know who you are) will get a gift from the Jolly Old Elf this Christmas.
So my suggestion to you is to enjoy the benefits of a “Good List” kid and do your very best to earn your own way onto the list next year.
Because we all know that Santa isn’t going to lose next year’s list don’t we!

Santa was busily delivering his Christmas bounty of gifts to GOOD little girls and boys when, instead of going on to the Smith’s house, next on his list, he circled around the Jones’ roof where he had just been because Santa thought that he had forgotten to leave the red bike with training wheels that Tommy had asked for.
Santa saw his own footprints in the snow but he also spotted a small person with a bag similar to his and the person was wearing a mask!
“What’s this?” exclaimed Santa. “This person is following me and I do believe that they may be taking the gifts that I’m leaving and that makes Santa very angry.”
Santa hovered the sleigh and commanded the reindeer to be very quiet as he watched to see the “bandit” emerge from the chimney, looking all around to see if they were being watched.
But they didn’t look up into the sky where Santa was hovering and that’s when Santa swooped in to land right in front of the “bandit” trapping them between the sled and the Jones’ chimney.
“SO!” Santa yelled, startling the person.
“Exactly WHAT are you doing following me and raiding the houses that I’ve gifted?”
“I…well…I…just…” the would-be “Bandit” took off their mask as they spoke, and lo and behold it was a rather young woman who was speaking to Santa.
” I…was…just delivering these gift certificates to each house you visit in this neighborhood. I figured that if you visit a home there must be good and deserving kids living there and I wanted to make sure these worthy families received the food vouchers so that they can have an even better Christmas.”
“Well…I’m amazed young lady, but why are you wearing the mask when you are doing such a noble deed?”
“I didn’t want anyone to know that I left the certificates and not Santa…well…you, Sir.”
“Hmmm…I see…I think. That’s a wonderful and generous thing you’re doing, but I don’t think I should be given credit for something you did.. But…tell you what! Why don’t you ride along with me until you finish your generous giving?”
“Oh Santa, that would be wonderful!”
“And by the way, I recall leaving you that “Raggedy Ann” doll back a few years ago. You were a mostly good little girl “SARAH”, and you sure have become a fine young woman!”
Sarah, Santa, and the nine reindeer flew off to finish Christmas Eve giving that is the true spirit everyone should cherish and continue forever.

Santa and the elves were packing the Christmas toys into Santa’s great sack in preparation for his annual world flight to deliver gifts of joy to each GOOD little girl and boy.
The very first gift placed into the huge golden bag was a train engine that tooted, clanged, and puffed almost real smoke and that would make some little boy or even little girl very happy this year. Thomas was very happy, and honored to be the very first gift placed into Santa’s golden sack, and as he smiled and swelled his proud steam engine chest a basketball bounced and clunked him right on his smokestack head! “Ouch!” yelled Thomas…” that hurt!”
But before the basketball, an Official size and weight NBA genuine leather ball could respond, a play kitchen stove came tumbling in on top of them! “OOOoph” said the ball and Tommy yelled, “HEY…watch where you’re landing…that hurt!” Tommy asked the basketball “Didn’t that hurt you when that kitchen stove landed on you?”
“Naw!” said the basketball”…I get thrown around and bounced on the floor…all the time”
“Wow!” said the train engine I’ve got a headache already and here comes another new bunch of toys being thrown into the sack right on top of us!”
Well…Santa and the elves filled up the golden sack with thousands of toys…millions maybe and by the time the last toy was put on top of the sack, Tommy could hardly breathe and couldn’t move a wheel. The basketball was dented in slightly but was…well…having a ball!
Then the whole golden sack was lifted up and then Tommy had the distinct feeling of flying…then landing…then flying again…then landing again and this went on for hours. But at least the load of toys pushing down on Tommy was getting lighter and lighter.
Finally after what seemed like days, but was only hours…just the basketball and Tommy were left in the sack.
“I’ll see ya Tommy…I get off here…Billy Smith’s house I think…so Goodbye and have a Merry Christmas!”
Well Tommy was sorry to see the basketball go but now Tommy could breath easily and move his wheels all he wanted. Then Tommy felt a familiar white gloved hand reach down and grab him by his boiler.
“Ho Ho Ho…let’s go Tommy…this is your stop and my last one!”
Tommy got a quick glimpse of Santa and all the reindeer and the rooftop and then it was down the chimney and into the living room of Jimmy Williams a nine year old boy who was still fast asleep in his bed even though it was nearly sunrise.
“Merry Christmas Tommy” Santa said as he swooped back up the chimney.
Tommy was looking up at the beautiful Christmas tree when all of a sudden “Wow! Mommy Daddy…LOOK!!! Santa brought me Thomas the tank engine….the most wonderful present in all the world!”
“Yeah…said Tommy smiling but remembering all those toys crushing him in Santa’s Golden Sack all Christmas Eve “…and the very LAST one too!!!”

Most of you know Santa Claus is also named Kris Kringle, but I bet few know the real first name of Mrs. Claus. Well when she married our jolly friend (who by the way was quite thin and clean shaven at the time)and became Mrs. Claus or “Mother Christmas” as she is known in the United Kingdom, her first name was said by many to be either Mary…Jessica…Maya…or Carol…but I know the name that Santa calls her and it is none of those.
Almost all of the popular stories about Santa and Christmas hardly even mention Mrs. Claus who is the most important person of all to Santa. He always refers to her as “Dear” but he knows that her real name is….EVELYN. There…now you know.
Evelyn Krinkle…AKA Mrs. Claus. And just one thing more before I finish, and it is perhaps the best kept secret of all.
Santa says (and he is THE authority) that Mrs. Claus is the REAL Christmas “EVE”.

About the time that the North Pole elves gave Santa (formerly Kris Kringle) his famous name, Mrs. Kringle….ah…CLAUS told him that he needed a distinctive suit to wear on that special night.
All the elves and of course Santa agreed that it was a good idea but nobody…and I mean NO one could agree on the style and color.
Oh there were many suggestions about Robes and Parkas and even green tights…(that one obviously came from the Elves) and all agreed that there should be fur trimming too. (But NOT Caribou fur. Everyone, and especially the reindeer, which are actually caribou themselves, unanimously agreed!)
Being an excellent seamstress, as well as a VERY understanding wife, Mrs. Claus had a cupboard chock full of bolts of fabric in many colors, including in fact all of the colors of the rainbow.
Mrs. Claus held up samples of fabric under Santa’s chin to see how each color suited Santa’s coloring and svelte shape.
The Elves loved EVERY ONE, so of course their opinion was dismissed by Mrs. Claus (remember the tights suggestion?).
Well, the white fabric almost made Santa disappear…sort of North Pole camouflage…and that just wouldn’t do.
No green…that was an Elf color…and the blue…well…picture a giant blueberry if you will.
The yellow was pretty good but the Elves couldn’t stop snickering and muttering something about “The Lemon That Ate The North Pole”
After that… I’m sure you all can guess what the Elves thought of Santa in an Orange suit.
Purple?…”NO!” Santa didn’t even allow his wife to hold that fabric anywhere near him.
There was one bolt of fabric left…all together now…. that’s right…RED!
“What do you think?” Mrs. Claus asked Santa.
“Hmmmm”….hmmmm’d Santa. And as he looked around all the Elves were nodding their pointy capped heads and gathering close by Santa.
“Ah…yes I like…no…I LOVE it!” exclaimed Santa.
“Whew!” the relieved Mrs. Claus sighed, and then set about to make the famous suit that Santa is never publicly seen without.
And in spite of what one Elf whispered upon first seeing Santa in his new red suit…Fire Engines are VERY masculine!

Mrs. Claus was knitting tiny footies from the brightest red yarn ever spun. Oh, they weren’t for any baby that the Claus’ knew but were special presents for Gamin the Elf whose old footies just plain wore out.
She noticed Santa pacing up and down the living room and looking out the door window every few seconds.
“What’s the matter, Dear? Does something worry you this season?” She asked without even looking up from her knitting.
“Well…it should have been here by now….or even by yesterday. There are only two days to go!” said Santa wringing his hands and staring out into the snowy horizon.
Then after another hour or so, there was a loud “VRRROOOM” which shook the whole house and startled Mrs. Claus causing her to “drop a stitch.”
“Oh, My…what was that?” Mrs. Claus exclaimed.
Santa was jumping up and down, clapping his hands opening the front door, and charging out without even putting on his red jacket.
“You’ll catch a cold if you go out without…..” Mrs. Claus started to say but it was too late because Santa was already making tracks in the North Pole snow running like a youngster out to the front gate.
Mrs. Claus put down her knitting and went to the door. What she saw made her jump back in amazement.
Sitting right in front of the gate was a huge shiny silver object with flashing lights and white smoke puffing out of its enormous tail.
Santa was still jumping around like a little boy on Christmas morning as Mrs. Claus came out to join him. She hadn’t seen him this happy since…well…last Christmas.
“What is it Dear?” she asked.
“Oh it’s my new sleigh…it’s finally here!”
Santa was looking over and under and all around the new “contraption” as Mrs. Claus called it.
“How did it get here? I mean there’s no driver or delivery man or anyone.” Mrs. Claus was very confused by the whole scene.
“Oh, it’s programmable. “Fly by wire” my Dear. It’s the newest thing. Doesn’t actually need a driver/pilot or whatever.” Santa’s smile was wide and he crinkled his nose as he admired his new flying device.
“It’ll do Mach One easy! Oh….it will save me so much more time. Had to do something with so many more children that I have to get to these days.” Mrs. Claus could hardly see Santa’s eyes ’cause he was smiling so much.
“What do you think? Isn’t it wonderful?” Santa asked.
“Ah…well anything that saves you time….except…well…never mind…..” Mrs. Claus scratched her head and actually looked sad.
“What’s the matter…I guess you don’t understand how wonderful my new sleigh really is because you didn’t have to fly the old one!”
“Ah…no Dear…I was just thinking about…well…you know…the reindeer.”
“Oh….Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and all. Ummm….that’s a good point, Dear.” Santa wasn’t smiling so broadly anymore.
“Maybe you should call them all together and explain that… well…technology has improved the Christmas Eve flight. I’m sure they’ll understand. They probably hated flying all that way through cold and heat, and rains and snows…even though they never complained.” Mrs. Claus suggested.
“Ummm….I’m not so sure that my new SUPER SLEIGH was such a good idea after all.”
Santa went over to the stable to break the news to the reindeer in as positive a manner as he could.
After Santa came back from the stable Mrs. Claus asked him…”Well, how did the reindeer take the news Dear?”
“Ah…we worked something out!”
Two days later right after dusk Mrs. Claus heard the VROOM roar of the engines of Santa’s new SUPER SLEIGH and went to the window to wave Goodbye to Santa and wish him a safe worldwide journey.
As Santa taxied the jet sleigh and turned it to head South, (of course, EVERY direction is South from the North Pole) Mrs. Claus had to chuckle as she saw all eight reindeer sitting in the two back seats and Rudolph riding shotgun up front with Santa!

Mrs. Claus was very concerned that Santa, the “Jolly Old Elf” as he is sometimes referred to, needed a bit of assistance as he became more “Old” than “Elf” but still “Jolly”. Mrs. Claus, (her first name is “Eve” as we mentioned in a previous story) suggested that Santa hire an intern to assist with his annual duties. Santa first considered the idea “preposterous,” but Eve saw how slowly he climbed into and out of the sleigh and other small clues that made clear to her that Santa could use a non-Elf hand or two.

But who would be available to help Santa in the extra cold North Pole? Perhaps a young person from Siberia, Finland or Alaska. She even considered a robot until she remembered elves had to keep all robot presents warm until delivery. As Santa’s assistant, the work would be a concentrated part-time job which caused her to think of a college student who always had off of classes for the Christmas holidays.

Then there was the problem of advertising the job. There might be thousands of applicants. Who would interview them, and neither Eve nor Santa would want to disappoint a single one. What to do? Maybe the answer was not hiring just an intern, but to lighten the Christmas Eve load of gifts that Santa had to deliver.

By the way, all of this happened 20 or so years ago, and we just heard about it during one of our fireside chats with the Claus’. You all know by now what Mrs. Claus did to help Santa and he is still managing to handle his Christmas Eve duties by himself. What? Oh yes…I didn’t remind you of the solution to Santa’s problem…why UPS, FedEX, and all of the postal services of the world.

So everyone have a Merry Christmas, and don’t forget to check your front steps and mailboxes.