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Sarah Sues Santa – P.J. Leonard

Chapter Twenty-Three: Magic? Dream?

"Are you sure you want to do this, dear?" said Mum, "You don't have to, you know."
"I'm sure," said Sarah, "Really, really sure."
She placed the Uberwoman figure into a box along with a couple of her soft toys, clothes and some
books.
"What's brought this on all of a sudden?" Said Dad, standing in the doorway of the bedroom.
"You...you liked your presents, right?"
Sarah spotted the look passed between Mum and Dad, and she stood up.
"They're the best," she said, "But yep, I’m sure."
She closed the box. Mum looked carefully at Sarah. "Well, if you're sure..." She pulled out a long
strip of sticky tape and taped the box shut. Dad gathered the box under his arm and jingled the car
keys in his hand.
"Well then, shall we get going?"

Dad drove them to the edge of town. The roads had been brushed clear of snow, and huge piles of
white lay on each side of the road like small hills. In the distance, a large brick building loomed into
distance between the fields. They pulled into the car park. It was a lot nicer looking than the
orphanage she'd seen. Sarah's heart pounded. Why was she was nervous all of a sudden? All of that
stuff with Mr. Vekil hadn't been real, and even if it had, this was a completely different place.
She stepped out of the car. Dad lifted the box out of the boot and they walked up to the front door.
Sarah lifted the brass door knocker and rapped three times on the door.
A lady with a round and friendly-looking face answered the door.
"Ah, you must be the Pebbletons," she said, “My name's Lucy, pleased to meet you both." She
shook Sarah's and Dad's hands. "Come on in!"
Inside it was warm and cozy. Photos and kid's drawings hung from the walls, and the doors were
labeled with things like 'Quiet Room' and 'Fun Room'. Lucy led them into a small room with a
simple wooden table and some plastic chairs. Dad laid the box down on the table and they all sat
down.
"So! I hear that Miss Pebbleton here wants to make a donation," said Lucy brightly, smiling at
Sarah, "I heard that you wanted to donate some of your old toys, clothes and books. Is that right?"
"Well, some of it isn't that old," said Sarah, "I got my Uberwoman for Christmas yesterday."
"Oh, an Uberwoman!" Said Lucy, eyes wide, "I've heard of that. It’s really popular right now. Well,
if you don't mind me asking...why?"
"I just...I don't need them," Sarah shrugged, "I've got plenty of other things I can play with."
"This is very kind of you, Miss Pebbleton," said Lucy, pulling the box towards her, “I'm sure the
children will appreciate it."
As Dad signed some papers, Sarah peeked outside of the door. It was completely quiet. Where was
everyone? She half expected Becky, Anna, Michael or even Mr. Vekil to come around the corner
any second now, striding towards her. But the orphanage was silent.
Dad and Lucy stood up and shook hands. Sarah stood up too, and after shaking Lucy's hand they
headed out of the orphanage, back into the car park and into the car. It had all been so simple. For
some reason, Sarah couldn't help but feel like she'd missed something, like a sign she hadn't
noticed. As the car tyres crunched over the gravel, she scratched her head.
At the gate, they passed a postman heading into the orphanage, carrying a bunch of letters. Sarah’s
heart gave an extra hard thump. It's him! The same postman she’d met that night!
Sarah twisted around in the seat to watch the postman walk up to the orphanage. That had been the

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