1 Chapter 8-Rachel



We landed on the roof with a soft thump. We looked at each other with reindeer eyes.

Well? Go ahead, Rachel, Marco said.

I demorphed.only not into my own body. What emerged was not a black leotard. It was a red Santa suit.

I grew white hair and a long white beard. My belly became chubby and I couldn't look down at my shiny black boots anymore.

I was Santa Claus.

"Yahh!" I yelped, managing to leap three millimeters off the roof.

Ookay, Rachel, that is seriously not attractive. Marco, of course.

Rachel, are you sure you want to do this? Cassie asked, sensing my hesitation.

Want? Yeah, right. But I couldn't back down.

"Ho, ho, ho!" I yelled instead, jumping down the chimney.

It was a tight fit and the inside of the chimney was covered in soot, but I made it down.

Hey, Rachel, you forgot the bag!

THUMP!

It landed on my head.

"Oww," I muttered, lifting off the Santa hat and rubbing my head. I surveyed the room. The Christmas tree was in a corner.

I lumbered over and opened the sack.

"Let's see, what do I do now?"

There was a piece of paper inside. I took it out and read the message.

Rachel,

This house contains the following child(ren):

Annie-good this year

Santa

PS

Leave a present under the tree.

I rolled my eyes. Leave it to Santa to take care of everything. Except for the one thing that I needed, which was for him to be here instead of me.

I grabbed a present and tossed it under the tree.

"Now how do I get out?" I wondered, walking over to the chimney, hauling my bag of gifts.

When I got underneath it, a force pulled me right up to the roof.