SANTA CLOTHES

SANTA CLOTHES

It was two days before Christmas.

Santa and Mrs. Claus were inspecting the sleigh.

RRRip!

“Oh, no!”

“What is it?” Mrs. Claus asked.

“I’ve torn my suit.”

“Give it to me. I’ll patch it up.”

“These old red and whites aren’t just torn,” Santa said. “They’re covered with ashes and soot.”

“It’s still a splendid suit,” Mrs. Claus said.

“But I’ve been wearing it for years.”

“The children love you just the way you are.”

“I’m out of style,” Santa said. “I should wear something new.”

“My goodness, what do you have in mind?”

Santa tugged on his beard. He scratched his head.

“A fashion show!” He exclaimed.

“But Santa,” Mrs. Claus said, “are you sure there’s enough time?”

“Absolutely! This is the North Pole‒Christmas Magic is everywhere! Invite everyone to come to the show on Christmas Eve.”

“Yes, Dear,” Mrs. Claus said.

All the elves worked like crazy.

But they needed every bit of Christmas Magic they could use.

By noon on Christmas Eve, everything was as ready as it could be.

The crowd was buzzing.

“Welcome everyone!” Mrs. Claus announced. “This is the NEW SANTA CLOTHES FASHION SHOW!

“Whoo Hoo! Go Santa!” Everyone cheered.

“Our first creation is called…WE ALL LOVE SANTA,” Mrs. Claus announced. “Note this handsomely tailored suit of red hearts with dark chocolate accents.”

“Strange place for hearts!” hollered Roman A. Round, Head Elf of Naughty and Nice Lists.

“All right, everyone, settle down out there,” Mrs. Claus scolded.

Santa sighed and walked off.

“Next up for your enjoyment…SANTA IS KING OF THE ROAD,” Mrs. Claus announced. “Feast your eyes on this dashing leather jacket and polarized, yellow lens, wrap-a-round snow goggles.”

“We can’t hear you!” Prancer snorted. “The motorcycle is too loud!”

“It is a bit…noisy, Dear.”

Santa shrugged and drove off.

“Next, put your hands together for…GO TROPICAL WITH SANTA,” Mrs. Claus announced. “This suit’s crowning glory is the coconut and floral designed fabric.”

“You’re gonna get cold!” bellowed Tusker, the walrus.

Santa hurried off to get warm.

“Now, let’s hear it for…EVERYONE LOVES BALLOONS.” Mrs. Claus announced. “We can’t guarantee Santa won’t bump a bit while wearing this suit, so we added a built-in, non-spillable cup holder just for hot chocolate.”

“Watch out for pointy things!” roared Blizzard, the polar bear.

Santa rolled his eyes and bounced away.

“It’s time for our final and most spectacular selection…TOUCH A RAINBOW WITH SANTA,” Mrs. Claus announced. “Note how it looks like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow when you brush the sequins.”

“Santa sure has the pot-belly for it,” someone shouted. Everyone guffawed.

“Who said that?” Santa asked.

“Ignore them, Dearest,” Mrs. Claus said.

Santa hung his head and shuffled off.

Mrs. Claus looked at her watch.

“Well, Dear, have you decided?”

Santa tugged on his beard. He scratched his head.

“I don’t think any of these suits looks like the new, real me.” He sighed. “I’ll just wear my old, itchy long johns this year.”

“The children will be very disappointed. Why don’t you check on the sleigh one more time? When you come back maybe you’ll change your mind.

“Okay,” Santa mumbled.

When he returned, Santa opened his closet.

Suddenly, bells jingled. A warm breeze blew in. It smelled like warm gingerbread and hot chocolate full of melted marshmallows. All at once, every new suit floated up into the air. They swirled around the room and…

WHOOSH!

They disappeared out the window.

Santa’s old, torn and sooty red and whites was the only suit left. And as Santa

and Mrs. Claus watched…

The rip mended itself.

The red turned redder.

The white turned whiter.

The fur turned fluffier.

His old red and whites glistened like a shiny holiday candy cane.

And quicker than you could say Merry Christmas, it wrapped itself around Santa like a best friend’s hug.

In one pocket, he discovered polarized, yellow lens, wrap-a-round snow goggles. Attached to his belt was a non-spillable cup.

It was already full of steaming hot chocolate.

“I think Christmas Magic is trying to tell you something, Heart of my Heart,” said Mrs. Claus.

“So do I,” Santa whispered, and he laughed so hard, his little round belly shook like a bowl full of jelly.