Scott was sick of hearing Gordon go on, and on, and on about everything he was going to ask Santa for this year. He was happy to see his brother happy again but at the same time a part of him wanted to just shake the brat and tell him Santa wasn't real. Alan meanwhile was a quiet bundle of excitement, if he poked him his brother would probably explode.
They where shopping for presents and trying to keep hold of siblings was hard enough with the screeching of said toddler and Gordon's constant vanishing act. Every flashing light and sparkly bit of tinsel caused a problem.
Suddenly everything was dropped and forgotten as a blood curdling cry of 'Santa' as the two youngest began to jump up and demanding to be able to go see Santa.
Scott didn't want to stand in the queue for the fake hut and the tacky snow for a man in a beard, but it was worth it to avoid the tears, he could live with Virgil and John whining about being bored if it avoided tears.
Alan couldn't believe it. Santa, he was going to see Santa! Santa could do anything and he had been good this year, really good. He had been saving up all his good for this moment. The children in front were so slow and Gordon had pushed ahead of him, but that was okay. He couldn't risk ruining all his hard work when he was this close.
Eventually it was his turn, after Gordon took an eternity. He ran through the door, held open by the smiling elf lady and screamed in joy as he saw Santa, just like the pictures; big and red and smiling under a fluffy white beard.
He chuckled, all warm and happy as he picked Alan up, setting him on his knee. Asking in soft voice if Alan had been a good boy.
'Yes' he answered, he had been so good. Really, really good, he hadn't even fought with his brothers all that much. Santa was proud and Alan's joy rose.
'I only want one thing for Christmas Santa!' he said and the big man chuckled again and said that considering how hard he had tired he could have anything, anything at all!
'Can I have mummy back?"