Yata's Childhood Friend

Five

I hugged my arms, even with my jacket on and a blanket over me, but the fire was keeping the room rather warm. We'd all moved closer to the fire but even with the heat still on in the building, this place was kinda cold.

"Let's tell ghost stories-" Yata tried to run but I whined and he stopped.

"Eric, don't torture Yata." Kusanagi said and I giggled.

"Then a Christmas tale?" Rikio asked and Kusanagi sighed.

"I don't know any." The bartender said and I thought of a few Scottish ones.

"I know some, though they're all Scottish stories." I said and they smiled.

"That's fine." I smiled and sat up some.

"This is called When Santa Cried." I said and cleared my throat.

"When Santa Claus first began bringing Christmas Gifts to all the boys and girls in the world, there were only 17,543 children. Back then, Santa began making toys for Christmas delivery sometime in February... and, if Santa started delivering these gifts right after the sun went down on Christmas Eve, he and the reindeer could finish the route before the sun came shining up on Christmas morn.

With the years' work done, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus would have all of January and even part of February to rest and vacation in Florida.

As the years went by, Santa realized that it was taking longer and longer to fashion all the gifts because there were more boys and girls to make gifts for. He began to huff and to puff to get all the gifts delivered before sun up Christmas Day.

He would urge the reindeer on with, "HO! HO! HO! On Dancer, on Prancer. It's getting light and we have four countries yet to go!"

The reindeer began to worry. "Ya know, Vixen, the old man is in big trouble. There are so many more children nowadays that soon, some boy or girl will wake up without presents...or..", the reindeer took a deep breath, .. "or maybe even catch us leaving the Christmas Gifts!"

"Oh. NO" All the reindeer frowned with worry and shook their antlers.

"And," panted another reindeer, "that's not the only problem Santa is going to have. This reindeer is getting TIRED. We've gone at top speed ever since we left the North Pole... and by my Antlers, I'm worn to a frazzle."

And so it went. Each year Santa had to work longer and longer to make the tops and sleds and rocking horses.

Mrs. Santa tried to do more to help. But, Mrs Santa was busier than ever, because - as you know - Mrs Santa makes all the dolls and doll clothes for little girls everywhere.

The reindeer tried to help. Their antlers kept knocking things over.

Soon, Santa and Mrs. Santa had to begin building toys all over again as soon as Christmas Eve deliveries were done. Santa and the reindeer had to leave earlier and earlier each Christmas to be sure that all the gifts were delivered on time.

One cold winters day Santa said, "You know, I haven't felt like saying "HO! HO! HO! in centuries. I'm always so tired."

Mrs. Claus smiled and patted his shoulder and said in a soft voice, "No wonder, Santa dear. You're always busy. And, I do believe you've lost weight. Why, you're not nearly as big as you once were... Can it be? Oh, you're THIN. Santa Claus is SKINNY!"

Mrs. Santa was right. Santa had worked so hard and so long that the tummy that used to jiggle like a bowlful of jelly was gone. The red suit hung in loose and floppy folds all around him. Those famous red and rosy cheeks were pale.

Great big tears squeezed from beneath Santa's eyelids as he wearily put his head down on the kitchen table.

Santa sighed and said in a very small voice. "You know, I'm afraid I CAN'T HO! HO! HO! anymore..."