‘Sssh be quiet, or he’ll hear us’ Sophie told her little brother off, for putting his foot on the step. ‘He’s not here yet. We’re not supposed to be out of bed’  the six year old whispered back at his older sister. Sophie carefully skipped the step that always gave a loud crack when you stepped on it and helped her brother over it too. They went down the last few steps and as quietly as possible made their way to the lounge.

  In the lounge was moaning at his wife in whisper. The Santa suit he was in, made him feel like being in an oven.  ‘ , can I please take it off?’ ‘No . They need to see you first’ she whispered. ‘Sophie is eight, why bother. She’s close to stop believing’  ‘Well, maybe seeing Santa will postpone it’ sighed. She knew her husband was right : her daughter had been asking the same question all week whenever little Callan wasn’t around : ‘Santa doesn’t excist, does he mum?’. Her daughter was growing up and it had hit hard. That’s why she had forced her husband into a Santa suit, so that her daughter would believe just a little longer. Now she was hiding behind the curtain. Her children weren’t going to spot her there as the only light in the room was the small fire and the lights of the Christmas tree which cast shadows everywhere around the room.

  Suddenly the doorknob was turning. ‘Quick, put the presents under the tree’ said as she hid behind the curtain. grabbed a few presents that lay on the sofa. And as he heard the door open, he started his Santa act. He put on a deep low voice. ‘Ah yes, a doll for Sophie…  and a train for Callan’.  Turning to the sofa, he saw the door close from the corner of his eye.

  In the hallway Sophie and Callan looked at each other. ‘He’s here’ Sophie said softly her eyes the size of coffeecup saucers. ‘Let’s see what he’s doing’ Callan smiled, his eyes twinkling with anticipation. Sophie nodded. She turned the knob of the door again and pushed the door open again.

  pulled her head back behind the curtain again as she saw the doorknob turn again. She had ordered to eat one of the cookies that she had made with Callan that afternoon and drink the glass of warm milk. Their children saw how their father dressed as Santa acted out the orders their mother had given him. ‘Well, I’d better go check if those angels are in their beds. Wouldn’t want to have to take these presents to the Northpole again’  said in his deep Santa voice. The door closed with a thud and they could hear muffled footsteps run up the stairs.

  pulled of the beard and hat, wiping the sweat from his brow. came out from behind the curtain, laughing lightly. ‘Good one, ’ she giggled. ‘I’ll give ‘em ten minutes.’ smiled.  ‘Now how about a little lovin’  from the Mrs’ he took her hand. smiled back at her husband. ‘I love you’ she said, looking deep in his eyes. ‘I love you’ he said back, before engulfing her in a long passionate kiss. ‘Ten minutes head start are over. Kids are gonna come down again if you don’t go up now’ said as they pulled away from each other. ‘Indeed’ agreed. He put the beard and Santa hat back on. ‘Off I go’ he smiled. ‘I’ll go make some hot chocolate’

  In her room Sophie was waiting till Santa would come and check if she was asleep. She heard footsteps on the stairs. Sophie pulled her duvet up to her chin. She heard the person arriving on the landing. In the dark she could see the doorknob turning. Sophie closed her eyes, trying hard not to open them as a ray of light fell into her room as the door opened.   stared at his daughter in bed. His little princess, pretending to be fast asleep. ‘Good good, little girl of the house is fast asleep’ he said with a deep voice, then closed the door. In the next room Callan had heard ‘Santa’s’  check on his sister. He knew he would be next and quickly shut his eyes as well. Callan also tried his best not to open his eyes as another ray of light, lit up a part of his room as it had his sisters room. ‘and the little man too. Well, guess I’ll leave the presents here then’

  ‘Fast asleep’  winked at when he came into the kitchen. ‘Ah the little darlings’ smiled. was glad he could take of the Santa suit.  ‘Next year we’ll ask your father to do this’  he commented.  ‘OK’ nodded.  ‘You do realise, our kids are gonna be all hyper in the morning’  ‘Yes I know’ nodded, turning the fire off as the milk rose up. While she poured the hot milk into the mugs, wrapped his arms around her waist. ‘You’re the best mum a kid could hope to have. I love you so much’  ‘Well if I’m worlds number one’s mum. Your worlds number one dad and husband’ looked back at him. ‘You know what?’ smiled cheekily. ‘What?’ grinned. ‘I saw mommy kissing Santa’ whispered and kissed her deeply.


THE END



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