Santa Claus’ Secret

by

Kathy Sattem Rygg

Copyright 2011 by Kathy Sattem Rygg

Smashwords Edition

License Agreement

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Decisions, Decisions

Chapter 2: The Man in Red

Chapter 3: The Great Plan

Chapter 4: The Night Before Christmas

Chapter 5: The Surprise

Chapter 6: Up, Up and Away

Chapter 7: The Big Blizzard

Chapter 8: Christmas at Last

Chapter 9: You Just Have to Believe

About the Author

Chapter 1: Decisions, Decisions

Jack Holliday flopped down on the brown leather couch in the family room and carefully placed the paper booklet across his lap. A flutter of excitement filled his stomach as he opened to the first page. Numerous images immediately jumped out at him. He found it difficult to focus on any one of them, but he knew he had to. He had an important job at hand and didn’t want to miss anything. Jack’s four-year-old younger brother, Peter, jumped up and down in front of him.

Let me see! Let me see! he yelled.

No, Peter, I’m looking at it, Jack said sternly. It was the annual Toys R Us holiday catalog filled with the most wanted items for kids at every age. From the latest talking Elmo to huge sets of Legos, it was the bible of Christmas wish lists. Every year for as long as he could remember, Jack would sit down when it arrived, pour through the catalog deciding which toys he wanted then cut out the pictures and put together a visual Christmas list, which he gave to Santa each year he visited him.

Jack quickly paged past the baby and toddler items, paused at the Thomas the Train sets then flipped a few more pages until he found the section that advertised the types of toys seven-year-old boys begged their parents for every chance they got. Pages filled with Nerf guns, G.I. Joe tanks and helicopters, racing video games and finally the section that stood above all the rest: Star Wars. He already had numerous items, including Star Wars action figures, battery-operated light sabers and a few ships, but there were many more he could add to his collection. Not to mention the Star Wars Legos, the biggest set being the 5,000-piece Millennium Falcon.

Jack, I want to see it now! Peter said, making a grab for the catalog.

No, Peter, I’m still looking at it, Jack said impatiently. He was easily frustrated by his little brother who seemed to always disrupt him whenever he was in the middle of something important.

Boys, be nice, their mother called out from the kitchen.

Peter’s bothering me, Jack said loudly.

Peter, as soon as Jack is finished then you can have a turn looking at it, their mother said.

Awwwww, Peter whined then collapsed on the floor in a defeated heap.

Do you have some items picked out? Jack’s mother asked, walking into the room.

Yeah, and there are a lot of them this year, Jack said enthusiastically.

What do you have your eye on? she asked.

I like pretty much everything on these two pages, and I like all of the Legos, and this Star Wars Clone Trooper mask is really cool, Jack said.

I want a Star Wars Clone Trooper mask too! Peter yelled, popping up off the floor. Jack glared at Peter. Sometimes Jack felt like he had a parrot. No matter what he said, Peter repeated it.

Peter, don’t say you want something just because I want it, Jack said. Peter gave Jack a hurt look. I suppose you could ask for one too, Jack said, softening. It occurred to Jack it might actually be fun for both of them to dress as Clone Troopers and then battle each other with their light sabers.

Just remember, Santa won’t bring you everything on the list, only a few items, their mother reminded them. Jack knew how it worked, and he had never been disappointed. But one thing always nagged at the back of his mind. If Santa’s elves made the toys rather than