Santa will be with us another year....at least

Reed has been asking for a 2nd dog for several Christmases now. This year was no exception.

This year he also began hinting that since I don't want another dog and he never gets a dog that maybe Santa is not real and "Mom and Dad" are really Santa.

A bit of a bummer thinking that Santa could be forgotten after this year. Maybe putting Santa behind you is one of the stages of growing up in middle class America.

A few times in the last few weeks before Christmas, Reed would muse aloud about how he couldn't get another dog for Christmas and I didn't want another dog. Interesting coincidence...

Santa doesn't bring animals, I'd say. Only inanimate objects. Reed  would then cite references --friends who received pets from Santa.

On Christmas eve as we were headed to bed Reed's eyes suddenly wend wide with panic,

" Dad, we forgot to leave out cookies and milk for Santa!"

"No problem, I got it."

Reed, as I headed down the stairs, "Don't forget carrots for the reindeer too."

"OK!"

I smiled and put out the plate.

--Dad
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