Chapter 2: Santa

Jim's POV

'What more is there to the Christmas story?' Spock asks.

'That's the end of that story, but there's other legends relating to Christmas' I reply.

'Such as?' asks Spock.

'Such as Santa Claus'

'Santa Claus?' Spock repeats.

The idea of someone not seeing the point of Christmas and not knowing who Santa Claus is, is truly sad. 'Oh Spock, you have been seriously missing out' I inform him. I stand up, walk a few steps, and press a few buttons on a CD player. 'Listen to this' I says. A moment later Santa Claus is coming to town starts playing.

I wait until the song has finished before starting to explain 'Santa Claus is known by a number of names. Kris Kringle, Father Christmas and Saint Nicholas. His-- have you ever read the poem "The Night Before Christmas"?'

Spock shakes his head.

'You really have no idea about Christmas at all, do you?' I ask rhetorically.

Spock answers regardless 'That is why I am asking, Jim'

'The image of Santa is well known on Earth; he's fat with a white beard, red clothes, and black boots.' I continue 'Santa Claus lives in a giant toy factory in the North Pole' Spock listens intently without interruption. 'His workers, which are elves' I pause an laugh 'be careful if you are ever on earth, you may be mistaken for an elf' I imagine Spock working with Santa and laugh even more.

'I must ask why you find this so amusing, Jim' Spock says.

'You are' I reply 'Not very elf like'

'Then why would this mistake be made on earth?' asks Spock.

'Elves have pointy ears' Spock doesn't seem impressed by this. I continue before he has the chance to say anything. 'Santa's elves make toys through the year, which Santa then delivers to the children of earth on the night of December 24th'

'How is this possible?' Spock asks skeptically.'Surely humans don't apprieciate being woke up in the night and if they were left outside they could get wet or stolen'

I smile 'Let me continue' I say 'Near Christmas children sent letters to Santa to say what they want for Christmas'

'This is illogical' interrupts Spock 'if the letters are sent near Christmas then the elves wouldn't know if they were making the right toys throughout the year'

'Spock' I fell like a parent about to break this to a child 'Santa Claus isn't real. Now, may I continue with the story?'

'Do continue' Spock says.

'Santa has a list - as mentioned in the song - with which he decides where children are good or bad' I continue 'And he checks it twice. The good children get presents, the bad children get coal in their stockings' I explain this before Spock has the chance to interrupt 'children hanf their stockings about their fireplaces on Christmas Eve night ready for Santa'

'Santa is believed to get in the house?' asks Spock.

'Yes' I reply 'Santa leaves the north pole with the presents for all the children in the back of his sleight with is flown by eight reindeer. The reindeer are called: Dasher, Dancer, Comet, Cupid, Prancer, Vixen, Donner and Blitzen. There's also Rudolph but that's sort of a different story. So yeah, the reindeer fly the sleigh and land on the roof of each house. Santa then goes down the chimney to leave the presents under the tree. Many children leave cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer'

'This guy is supposed to be a good person in the eyes of children?' asks Spock. I nod a confirmation. 'and yet he can see them sleep and knows if they are good or bad. and can get into their houses. He sounds somewhat like a stalker'

I consider this 'I never thought of it like that' I admit.

'The whole story is completely illogical; flying reindeer, coming down the chimney. Not to mention delivering all the presents in one night' Spock says 'it is almost surprising that human children believe it, however, earth is such an illogical planet that it isn't'

'Children believe in magic, Spock' I reply 'that anoything is possible. Sadly, they grow up to stop believing that. The last point you made is the one which causes a lot of children to realist that the logic' I use the word purposely 'of Santa isn't sound. The meaning behind Santa is sound though'

'What is that?' asks Spock.

'Bringing happiness' I reply simply.

'How so?'

I shake my head sadly. 'Spock, you've never seen the expression on a child's face when they open a present and love it. You haven't seen the way they'll throw their arms around the person who gave them it'

'So Christmas is about children?' asks Spock.

'No' I say 'You asked me at the beginning what the point of Christmas is. I can answer that now. Christmas is about family, love, happiness and peace. It's about knowing what and who you've got and keeping them close'

'You seemed to be a fan of Christmas' Spock comments'

'I wouldn't want it all year long, but yes, I am' I reply.

Spock's POV:

From Jim's two stories I dfeel I barely have a small grasp on what Christmas is. It seems a completely illogical time and yet, I can't bring myself to see that as a bad thing.