Iced Gingerbread (Uncle Remus style)

Chapter 8

De followin' mawnin, Santy wake up ter find his cabin decorated faw Christmas.

Complete wid a bunch o' pres'ns unda a pine tree.

"Presents? For me? But how?" he say.

He look out de window ter see de fellas.

Day run in sayin' "Merry Christmas!"

"You guys did this?" say Santy.

"Yes. It was all Brer Bear's idea" say Brer Chad.

"I realized you's de only one who's neva felt de magic o' Christmas mawnin" say Brer Bear.

"Well, not the only one" say Brer Jeremy.

"So we wan'd ter give ya de same spesh'l feelin you gives us ev'ry year" say Brer Rabbit.

"You were wrong, Santa. The world does need you" say Brer Jeremy.

"You's Santy. You don't jes' bring kids toys" sez Brer Bear sezee. "Ya brings kids joy. No one else can do what you do."

"Wow. I'm not used to youngsters showing me the meaning of Christmas" say Santy wid a smile.

He give de folks a hug. "Thank you! Santa is back in the Santa business! And you guys are definitely at the top of the nice list!"

"What about me? Will I finally be getting a present this year?" say Brer Jeremy.

"This year? I've given you presents every year" say Santy.

Now Brer Jeremy, he confused. "You have? But I never made it onto your list of people who made peace with the French."

"Yeah. That already happened" sez Santy sezee. "And Napoleon's descendants are on the naughty list for lying to you and stealing your gifts."

Now Brer Jeremy he turrible mad. "Those wankers!" 

"I just have one favor to ask you guys" say Santy.

"Okay, okay. I'll stop fart'n on Brer Chad's pilla" say Brer Bear.

"Not that. That's hilarious" say Santy. "Not a word about this to anyone."

"Cuz de whole cranky Santy thing would be bad f'yaw reputation?" say Brer Rabbit.

"That, and I don't want Mrs Claus knowing I have a summer place" say Santy.

Dat night, de whole group o' buddies sat by a campfire havin' popcawn.

Sis Patty was bout ter grab mo, but de robin stole it!

"Golly, that robin is good!" she grunt.

Jes' den...

"Hey. Does anyone else hear... sleigh bells?" say Brer Burt.

"As a matter of fact, I does. Frum up dare!" say Brer Fox.

"Did you guys just see that?" Sis Patty gasp.

"Was that what I thought it was?" say Brer Burt.

"Yup! It was a shootin' star" say Brer Bear.

De fellas den hear Santy go, 'ho ho ho!'.

"Wid a sense o' humah!" say Brer Rabbit.

Yes suh, dat was jes' anodda one o' de menny ways ter give luv. 

All Santy needed ter do was 'memba de feelin he gave kids every year.

An jes' like Brer Burt an' Sis Patty learn den. It don't take much ter give luv.

All it takes is a thot.