Santa Detained

All was quiet at midnight

In the comfortable little house

Till Santa accidentally

Stepped on the dog's toy mouse.

 

The SQUEAK! sounded to Santa

As loud as a cannon boom!

He stopped in his tracks and waited

For silence to fill the room.

 

Carefully placing the presents

Under the Christmas tree,

He spied a plate of cookies

Next to a glass of Chablis.

 

Suddenly from the hallway

Came a little sound:

"Hold up your hands, Santa….

Now slowly turn around."

 

Complying with the order,

Santa turned. Behold!

Identical twins stood there--

Barely five years old.

 

Both were holding toy guns.

Santa all the while

Had to struggle to keep

From breaking out in a smile.

 

"We just saw you closing

Mommy and Daddy's door,"

Said one. "We want to know

What you were looking for."

 

"I had to make sure," said Santa,

"That they were fast asleep.

You know how our Mommies

Hear every little peep."

 

The boys squinted their eyes,

Not sure what to believe.

All they knew was that Santa

Wasn't the kind to deceive.

 

"I heard," said the other twin,

"From a friend of mine

That you like to drink milk;

But Daddy says you like wine."

 

Santa hesitated:

"Well…it depends on my mood.

Sometimes I like variety

Regarding my drink or my food."

 

The first asked, "Why are Santas--

The ones we see at the mall--

Big and round, but you

Look so skinny and small?"

 

"Santa works so hard

And he's up so very late,

By the time he is finished,

He's lost a lot of weight."

 

Santa mumbled softly,

"Will they buy that story,

Or am I going to sound

Trite and conciliatory?"

 

The dog came in from the hallway

Wagging his tail as though

He had been Santa's friend

From a long time ago.

 

"How does Sparky know you?"

Both boys asked, surprised.

"ALL animals love Santa,"

The wise man emphasized.

 

The twins were resolute,

And both remained suspicious.

"You know," said Santa wily,

"It wouldn't be judicious

 

"To keep detaining Santa.

He has lots to do.

Other kids are waiting

For presents, just like you."

 

"Ju-what?...Aw, never mind!"

Responded the second twin,

Coming around to realize

The hurry Santa was in.

 

"We hope we get what we asked for.

But one thing we want to make clear:

If all we get is clothes,

You'll be in trouble next year."

 

Santa winked and smiled.

"Deal!" he firmly said.

Now put down your weapons

And go back to bed."

 

While drifting off to sleep

In their beds shortly thereafter,

The two boys heard some mumbling

Accompanied by laughter.

 

They shot out of bed in the morning--

Slightly after dawn.

The first thing they noticed was

The wine and cookies were gone.

 

But glasses resembling their dad's

Had been left behind.

Their dad said he could wear them

If Santa didn't mind.

 

(12-19-15)

Reviews

[Tomás Ó C..]

Lovely tale... would be brilliant on a Christmas card!