The Santa Experience
Didi smiled as she placed Tommy on the Mall Santa's lap, her brave boy merely looking up at the bearded man before smiling. She'd consulted some books (NOT Lipschitz!) and they suggested 'Trial Runs' when it came to babies meeting Santa. So Didi and Tommy had gone to the mall with Drew and Angelica and she'd let him just watch his cousin and some other kids talk to Santa. Chuckie had been utterly terrified so Chas had decided against it but Tommy seemed to understand Santa wasn't scary. And it only took a few moments to snap the photo before they moved on.
"Come on, sweetie," Didi said, putting him back in his stroller. "We need to go shopping… we're going up into the mountains this Christmas and need to have lots of things to make it the best Christmas ever!"
Everyone had decided to go up to the mountains for the holiday. They'd debated just getting a cabin but decided against it… it would be very cramp with four families and a big enough one would be expensive. It had been Charlotte who suggested the Peppermill Lodge. Her company did business with them and they went all out during Christmas. The rooms were large enough that each family could have their own tree, a lot of activities for everyone, and they could even rent a kitchen space to cook Christmas dinner! And Charlotte had mentioned that the lodge even had a Santa Claus who came around door to door giving out 'last minute presents'. Charlotte had managed to cut a good deal for them and with Pattie Pants selling so well for Stu they could more than afford to splurge!
~MC~MC~MC~
"Alright sprouts, gather 'round!" Lou declared. "I'm gonna tell ya the truth about Santa Claus!" The kids all stared at him, waiting anxiously. "Santa… is very real. And he ain't nothin' to be scared of, so long as you're good. For good little sprouts he gives out presents. For naughty ones he gives out coal." He looked over at Angelica, who nervously looked down; she'd been working really hard to be good, either ignoring the babies or at least being kind of nice to them, but worried that wasn't enough. "But… I know all of ya have been good." He smiled and ruffled Angelica's hair. "But the most important thing is ta not be greedy! Because what Santa Claus loves more than anything… is generous tykes who give as much as they receive."
Chuckie and Tommy, once back in the playpen, looked at each other. "That's it, Chuckie!"
"What is?"
"That's why I can't go on adventures no more! It's not because mommy's protecting me or daddy doesn't want me to… Santa is stopping me!"
"I… don't know about that Tommy."
"Its true! It has to be true! If I give the grown ups an adventure then they'll let me go on one!" Tommy grinned. "So we're going to do just that!"