Family Tales

"This was always his favorite day," Mom sighed, clearly not in the spirt. "It's okay mom. He'll be here. I asked Santa to use his magic to bring him home!" Toby was 4 and didn't understand that Santa didn't work that way. Santa, despite not being real, had no power over life and death. "Dad will come home, I know it!" I shook my head, "Toby, I don't think..." then I saw it. A gold embossed book that wasn't there when I helped mom put the gifts out last night. Mom saw it, too. "I don't remember..." She picked it up and a letter fell out. It read: "Toby, I got your special request, I pulled every string I have and I was unable to complete your request. I did speak with your father for a very long time, though. He has a ton of stories, which I took the liberty of writing down in this book. It's only half full as I left room for you to write stories that he forgot to mention. -Santa" A tear fell down mom's eye as she began to read. Then for the first time in a while a smile formed.