A true story by Kathleen Culligan Techler
"I hope Santa Claus will put something good in my stocking this year," Daddy said as he hung everyone's stockings by the fireplace. "Last year he left me a stick."
"But Daddy, you said you don't like Santa Claus," Tommy said.
"I don't think he will remember that," Daddy said hopefully. "I really didn't mean it."
Tommy wasn't so sure about that. Santa Claus remembered everything.
On Christmas morning Tommy, Ellen, and little Mick tiptoed downstairs. In the sun room was a beautiful Christmas tree sparkling with lights and tinsel and colored balls. Under the tree were presents wrapped in red, green, and gold.
"Let's check our stockings first," Tommy said. He pulled a chair over to the mantle and climbed on it to reach his stocking and Ellen and Mick's. They each found an orange down in the toe of the stocking, and the rest was filled with nuts and Christmas candy. They sat on the floor and ate some of the candy. Tommy liked the candy shaped like ribbons. Ellen liked the ones that looked like little raspberries. Mick liked it all.
While they were eating, Daddy and Mommy came downstairs. Daddy went right over to the mantle. "Here, Mommy," he said. "I think you have an apple in your stocking. And there's something in mine!" Everyone watched him reach into it. He pulled his hand out and opened it. "A lump of coal!" he said. "I don't like Santa Claus."
After Christmas came nice sledding weather. In the spring the snow melted and the grass turned green. In the summer they went to the lake to swim. In the fall the leaves turned red and yellow and brown. And after that it was time for Christmas again!
Daddy hung everyone's stockings by the fireplace, except his own.
"Where's your stocking, Daddy?" Tommy wondered.
"This year I'm going to fool Santa Claus," Daddy said with a laugh. "Mr. Norton down the block said I could hang my stocking by his fireplace. I'm sure I'll get lots of candy and nuts this year!"
"But you did say you don't like Santa Claus," Tommy reminded him.
"He won't remember that," Daddy said. "Besides he won't know whose stocking it is. I'll be right back. I'm going to Mr. Norton's house." Carrying his stocking, he went out.
On Christmas morning Tommy, Ellen, and little Mick tiptoed downstairs. In the sun room was a beautiful Christmas tree sparkling with lights and tinsel and colored balls. Under the tree were presents wrapped in red, green, and gold.
Tommy was taller this year and able to pull the children's stockings off the mantle. They were sitting on the floor eating candy when Daddy and Mommy came downstairs. Mommy's stocking had an orange in it this time.
Daddy put on his hat. "I'm going to Mr. Norton's to get my stocking," he said. "I can hardly wait to see what Santa left me."
In a short time Daddy came back, but he wasn't smiling. He held out his stocking so everyone could see into it. In the stocking was a lump of coal and a stick.
"You really can't fool Santa Claus," he said sadly.
And Tommy knew that was true.
The End
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