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. He thought that he had forgotten to leave the red bike with training wheels that Tommy had asked for. Santa saw his own footprints and sleigh tracks and reindeer hoofprints in the snow but he also spotted a small person with a bag similar to Santa’s but the person was wearing a mask!
“What’s this?” exclaimed Santa. “This person is following me and I do believe that they are stealing the gifts that I leave the Good little boys and girls…and that makes Santa VERY angry!”
Santa hovered the sleigh and commanded the reindeer to be very quiet as Santa 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 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 “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 that 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 rather needy families received the food vouchers so that the family 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 that you’re doing but I don’t think that I should be given credit for something that you did…but…tell you what….why don’t you ride along with me from here on until you finish your generous giving?”
“Oh Santa…that would be wonderful!”
“And by the way…” said Santa “I remember leaving you that “Raggedy Ann” doll back a few years ago..you were a good little girl…mostly…but Sara…you sure have become a fine young woman!”
And Sara and Santa and the eight reindeer flew off to finish the Christmas Eve giving that is the true spirit that everyone should cherish and continue forever.