A Winter's Wish

caught site of the attic steps. Maybe I could go to the

atticand find something neat to play with up there.

That’sit! I will start at the top of the house and work

my way down until I reach the garage or find

something interesting along the journey.

Smiling, I leapt from my bed and headed in the

direction of the attic stairs. Still smiling eagerly, I

headed up the spiral staircase over the frayed carpet

that covered the familiar narrow stairs.

Chapter 4

As they flew through the midnight sky, Santa beckoned Chestnut to hand him the box.

“What is in this box?” Chestnut asked Santa.

Winking, Santa explained. “This is the magic star-dust that is spread throughout the world.”

“Magic star-dust,” Chestnut still wondered, what ever did Santa mean?

Skillfully Santa opened the box and carefully reached inside the bag. When he pulled his hand out, the little elf saw that Santa had a fistful of the magic dust. What was this dust for, Chestnut still wondered. Making a silent wish, Santa flung the magic powder in a gentle arc over the side of the speeding sleigh. With not a speck of dust wasted, the snow-like powder drifted gently downwards. As the magical dust was released from Santa’s gentle grip, Chestnut noticed that it became invisible and yet it seemed he could smell a distinctively sweet scent. The smell twitched his nose and gave him a wonderful thought of warm fresh baked sugar cookies with vanilla icing heaped evenly on top of them. The aroma was mouthwatering and he felt as though he could taste them. He licked his lips and his mouth watered as he swallowed his thoughts about the cookies, and looked inquisitively back at Santa.

As the dust encircled the earth below, Santa explained to the little elf, it would fall on all the true believers of Santa Clause. As the people below slept, the dust would creep through any crack or crevice in their house and work its way magically onto its unwary assistant. The recipient of this powder would then volunteer to help me out without hesitation. They are the people that would assist him in the malls and parades. Even the  

store bell ringers will be dressed in my traditional red costume. As young children visit and talk with these assistant Santa’s, their wishes are transported into the dust specks, which will remain on them until we collect it the night before Christmas.

“But Santa,” Chestnut cried, “I thought you were the one at the mall sitting there talking and laughing with the children and taking in all the important information that all the good little boys and girls have to share.”