12 Stories of Christmas: Story #10

A Surprise Gift

S. Claus

North Pole

December 11, 2024

Dear Santa,

I have been good all year. I want a hippopotamus for Christmas. Only a hippopotamus will do. 

Your Friend,

Ally Burrows

P.S. Say i hto the reindeer.

Two Weeks Later

            Ally bound into her parents’ room at the crack of dawn. “It’s Christmas! You said I could get up when it’s light and it’s light!”

            She pulled on her parents’ hands and dragged them out of bed. Her enthusiasm chased away her grogginess.

            They got to the top of the stairs and froze. Ally’s eyes filled with tears and her lips quivered. “He didn’t bring anything. But I was good.”

            “Of course you were sweetheart,” her mother said, “it must be a mistake.”

            “Maybe he’s running late.” her father said.

            Ally pointed to the empty plate and glass and shook her head. Santa ate the cookies and milk, then left without leaving any gifts.

            “It looks like he left a note,” Mrs. Burrows said.

I had some difficulty delivering Ally’s gift. I couldn’t stay to fix it because I had other houses to visit.  You can send your chimney repair bill to the North Pole.

Santa

Mr. and Mrs. Burrows looked at each other in confusion, then ran out the door with Ally trailing them. They stood on the lawn with their heads tilted back looking up at the chimney.

“It looks like something’s stuck up there, but I can’t tell what it is,” Mrs. Burrows said.

“The ice has melted; it should be safe to take a look. I’ll grab a ladder from the shed and investigate.”

Mr. Burrows propped the ladder against the house and was on the second step when there was a loud crash, and bricks rained down on them.  Mr. Burrows fell to the ground and Mrs. Burrows             shielded Ally from the bricks.

When the brick shower ended Ally’s mom helped her dad get up and they pushed the front door open together. They both let out shrieks, and Ally pushed around them to see.

“What is that thing doing in my house?” her mother shouted.

Ally ducked between her parents and scurried through the front door. 

“It’s my hippopotamus!!! Santa didn’t forget me; he brought me what I asked for.”

            “Your what? Why would you ask Santa for a hippopotamus?”

            “I thought you wanted a dollhouse, why did you ask for a hippopotamus?”

            “Oh Daddy, isn’t it obvious? I like hippopotamuses and they like me.”