“Dear Santa,” Ryan wrote in his letter to Santa. “I’m only doing this because the headmaster makes all of us. You have never given me anything—not even parents—so there isn’t much reason for me to believe that will change. If you are real, I think I deserve the greatest gift that you have to offer to make up for my life here at the boarding school.” Mailing the letter was a formality. Every kid at the Mountain oak boarding school had to write one. No one was foolish enough to believe that they would actually get what they asked for, yet Ryan held a bright red letter addressed to him in golden ink. “Is this some kind of joke from Mr. Peterson?” Ryan grumbled. Tearing the letter open, he shook the contents onto his bed: a white card-stock note with red ink and a ticket made from gold foil sprawled across his bed. Grabbing the note, Ryan read, “Ryan, to make amends for past Christmas’, you will be receiving the greatest Christmas gift this year. Please follow the instructions on the ticket enclosed—S.C.” “What kind of game is this?” Ryan roared, ripping the note in half. “Where is that ticket?” “Bring to airport gate 123,” the ticket said under directions. “That’s got to be a joke…” Ryan mumbled as he pulled on his coat. At the airport, Ryan walked up and down the departures terminal. People hustled about traveling for the holidays, and no one paid much attention to the orphan wandering the bright, wide hallways. Ryan scratched his head as he stared at a sign. It showed gates 1-30 with an arrow to the left, gates 31-60 with an arrow straight ahead, and gates 61-90 with an arrow to the right. Each wing had its own line for security checks with its own crowd trying to pass through it. “Hey, where is gate 123?” Ryan asked an adult wearing an airport uniform. “Gate 123?” the man repeated. “That’s not—oh! Of course, I always forget about that gate this time of year. Please follow me.” He led Ryan back near the front of the airport. Off to the side was a Christmas display for kids. It was decorated with a sleigh and fake reindeer with a sigh that read, “gate 123 Santa’s Runway.” “Here you are!” the employee announced. “I’m sure your parents will be by to pick you up soon!” “What are you talking about?” Ryan snarled, but the man was gone. “Is everything okay?” a short girl that looked about Ryan’s age asked. Her green eyes locked with his and sparked as she smiled. “I’m fine,” Ryan sniffled. “Welcome to gate 123–the fastest way to Santa’s workshop! I’m Tisha, your guide today!” Tisha sang in her green elf costume. “Leave me alone,” Ryan grumbled. “That’s no way to act this time of year! Don’t you know that Santa is checking his list?” “Shut up!” “Fine, fine. Do you have your ticket?” “What?” Ryan asked, stunned that she knew about the ticket. “Ticket please!” Tisha requested with a dainty hand stretched out. “Umm… here…” Ryan placed the golden ticket in her hand. “Oh, this is first class right to the workshop! Please step right inside the sleigh immediately.” “The sleigh?” Ryan glanced at the wooden Santa’s sleigh display pulled by blow-up reindeer. “That’s okay, I’ll pass…” “Now, now, we need to get you to Santa immediately! Do you know what kind of ticket this is?” Tisha insisted. “Uhh… no…” Ryan mumbled, but Tisha pushed him in with surprising force. “Wait, what are you doing?” “Have a nice trip and tell Santa I said hello!” Tisha replied with a wink. As soon as the doors closed, the sleigh began to move. Screaming, Ryan fell backwards into the bench seat as two reindeer ran out of the display and lurched the sled forward. No one seemed to notice as the wall of the airport slid open and the sled sped down Santa’s Runway and into the sky. Before long, Ryan stepped out of the fully functional sleigh into a bustling Christmas themed toy factory. He watched as several short people with pointy ears ran back and forth with neatly wrapped presents. “Where am I?” Ryan wondered out loud. “Good, you made it in time!” a voice boomed from behind Ryan. Whirling around, Ryan looked up at the source of the deep voice. A large man in a white shirt and red overalls sat at a cramped desk covered in paper. Closer inspection revealed that the man had his bushy white beard and blue eyes glued to a single scroll that sprawled across the entire room. “Who are you?” Ryan stammered. “What a foolish question…” the man sighed. “Hold on, I’m almost finished with my second list check.” “List check?” “Yeah, you know, he’s making a list and checking it twice… we can’t afford to make mistakes on Christmas Eve.” “Santa?” Ryan gasped. “And done!” Santa picked up a red cellphone on the desk and put it to his ear. “Yes, the list is finished! Please send someone up for the final confirmation and load up the sleigh.” He hung up and turned to Ryan. “Now, let’s get going.” Two elf’s scurried in to pick up the giant scroll as Santa led Ryan around the workshop. “I’ve never gotten a gift from you before, so this better be amazing,” Ryan scoffed. “As promised it’s the best I have to offer,” Santa confirmed as he stopped at a rack of red suits. He threw a small one to Ryan. “Try that on!” “Huh? Why would I put on this thing?” “My dear boy—giving gifts is so much better than getting one— and I can’t do this forever.” Santa pulled on his black boots as he spoke. “Put on the coat and get ready to take off. Pay attention too! Next year you will have to do this all on your own.”