The choo-choo of the train slowly rumbles to a halt, and the popping of my ears cease. Stepping off with the other children, I fall under the spell of Christmas magic that fills the pine-scented air. Singing along to “Silver Bells”, I notice the clock chimes not twelve times but thirteen times. The spell was broken and my puzzled expression caught Santa’s sparkling eye. His poinsettia-red cheeks formed into a solid smile as he beckoned me. Clueless, I walked over, my boots dragging in the deep, serene, snow. He lovingly asked, “Is that your lucky number?” I nodded, trying to play along. But inside, I had absolutely no idea what was going on. He simply tapped the seat next to him and… “Ho ho ho! A Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!” filled the air with the jingling of bells and the crowd cheering, as Rudolph led the way.
