Page 21 - My FlipBook

Sarah Sues Santa – P.J. Leonard

"Don't worry, I've already fed him," said Dad, stepping out of the living room. Sarah stared at him.
It was definitely her Dad, but Sarah barely recognized him with that beard. Big, dark bags hung
under his eyes, as though he'd been awake all night. His pyjamas weren't really pyjamas at all but
just clothes that looked like they'd gotten too ruined to be proper clothes anymore. He smiled at
Sarah as he took a big mouthful from his cracked coffee mug.
Dad laughed. "You feeling alright?" He said, "You look like a goldfish with your mouth hanging
open like that. Come on, your Mum's been waiting all morning!"
Sarah followed Dad into the living room. Like her bedroom, it was far too small: it could barely fit
the three chairs, old TV and Christmas tree inside. The walls were a bare brownish color, with small
patches of other colours where Mum and Dad had tried and failed to paint it a different color. The
chairs looked like they'd been pulled out of a field somewhere, with great big chunks of them ripped
out and the sponge inside showing. And the Christmas tree! Sarah had never seen a Christmas tree
that was shorter than her until now. But even though it was small and the branches were thin, it was
covered in all sorts of weird and wonderful decorations, and even a few more photos of Mum and
Dad all smiling. Sarah couldn't describe it, but the tree seemed...cheerful.
"She's doing it again!" Dad laughed, "You sure you don't need glasses, Sarah? It's not too late to ask
Santa..."
"Oh, stop teasing her!" Mum gave Dad a playful slap on the arm, smiling as well. "It's Christmas!
Are you excited, dear? You've been a really good girl this year, so it looks like Santa bough you
something special.
Sarah looked under the tree and knew straightaway that there was no Uberwoman of any type.
Three small presents were spread under the tree. For some reason, though, she didn't feel
disappointed. After only one minute of ripping open gift wrapping, she had five chocolate bars, two
new books and a cute soft toy dog.
"Do you like it?" Mum said, beaming at her, "Santa knows it's not much, darling. So he's given me
a bit of money so we can pick up some extra things when January sales start. How does that
sound?"
Sarah didn't know why, but even though this was the smallest collection of presents she'd ever got,
she was strangely...happy. Why is that? Is it because of Mum and Dad’s smiles?
She smiled back. "That sounds, great, Mum."
Mum and Dad gave her a big hug. "Merry Christmas!" Dad said in his best Santa-like voice.

Page 21