Scarecrow and Mrs. King is copyrighted to Warner Brothers and Shoot the Moon Production. No copyright infringement is intended. I just wanted to play with them a while.

Author: Microdotty

Written: December 2002, updated December 2003

Lee's Christmas Wish

Part one: The Wish

December 1955

Major Clayton stood at the bottom of the staircase and bellowed, "Skip, it's 0900 hours. I told you thirty minutes ago to be down here and ready to go. I mean now, Skip!"

Five-year-old Lee Stetson put down the toy car he was playing with and raced down the stairs. "I'm sorry, Uncle. I didn't mean to be late."

Major Clayton harrumphed, "You had better learn now, son, that punctuality is the key to a successful life. Now, let's go and get our Christmas shopping done."

They drove over to the Base Exchange and Robert Clayton steered little Lee over to the toy section. "Now, Skip, you have twenty dollars to spend on what you want. Look over all your options and make good choices."

Robert turned as he heard a voice behind him say, "Major Clayton, it's so nice to see you. How have you and Lee been doing? Lee, I swear you get bigger every time I see you, and more handsome, too."

Major Clayton acknowledged the woman who had greeted them. "Good morning, Mrs. Ferris. Lee and I are here shopping for his Christmas presents."

"Robert Clayton, you know Santa will bring Lee his gifts. He shouldn't be here buying them himself." Turning to Lee, Mrs. Ferris knelt down and asked, "Have you told Santa what you want for Christmas, Lee?"

"No ma'am. Uncle says there is no Santa."

She turned and glared at the Major. "No Santa? Oh Lee, your uncle is mistaken. Now, I'm taking Sam and Seth to see Santa this afternoon. Would you like to come with us?"

Lee turned to his uncle, his eyes wide with anticipation, "Can I go, please?"

Robert stood there with his hands clasped behind his back and scowled. "It's foolishness, but I guess there's no harm. You may go, Lee."

Several hours later, Lee was standing in line with Mrs. Ferris and her two sons, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet.  He was so excited, he couldn't keep still. He turned to Mrs. Ferris and asked, "Can Santa really bring us anything we want? Oh, I hope he can."

She smiled down at him and asked, "You have something special in mind, sweetie?"

"Yes ma'am. Something very special."

Before he knew it, it was Lee's turn to sit on Santa's lap. He climbed up and smiled when he saw Santa's twinkling blue eyes. "Is this real?" he asked as he timidly touched Santa's long white beard.

"Ho, ho, ho, it's very real. Give it a tug."

Lee took hold of his whiskers and pulled. "Wow. It is real. You really are Santa. I knew you were real, but my uncle says you don't exist."

Santa let out a booming laugh. "Of course I exist, son!"

Lee grinned. "I like you, Santa. I'm glad you're real."

Santa smiled back at him, "I like you too, Lee."

Lee looked at him wide-eyed. "How do you know my name?"

"I'm Santa. I know everything. I also know that this has not been a very fun year for you has it, son?" he asked gently.

Lee snuggled up against Santa's chest and tried to hold back his tears. "No sir. My parents were in a car crash and went to heaven." Lee looked up at Santa, his eyes sparkling with unshed tears. "Santa, Mrs. Ferris told me you can bring us anything we want. Is that true?"

"Well, Lee, I always do my best. What is it you want for Christmas?"

"I want my family back," he sniffled. "I miss my mommy and daddy, and I wish they could be back here with me. Can I have my mommy and daddy back for Christmas, please? I promise I'll be a good boy, and I'll clean my room, and make my bed, and even eat my yucky vegetables. Please, Santa."

Santa gave him a big hug and replied, "This one is going to be hard, even for me, Lee. I promise I'll do my best, but it might take a while. Remember, even if I can't deliver this year, never give up on me and keep believing."