“Daaaad,” Charlie whined. “I don’t wanna do this!”

“Too bad,” his father said. “It’s the family tradition.”

Charlie sighed in exasperation as he tugged on the red suit with white fluffy trim.

“I look stupid.”

His dad smiled and chuckled his iconic laugh.

“C’mon,” Charlie’s dad said, jerking his head towards the waiting sleigh.

Charlie trudged towards the sleigh, hefting the sack of presents into the back. Once they both got settled, Charlie’s dad commanded the reindeer to go, go, go!

Charlie’s stomach churned, as it always did when the sleigh was tugged into the sky. His dad let out a merry “Ho, ho, ho!” as they flew.

Throughout the night, Charlie’s dad delivered presents with practiced ease and finesse as Charlie looked on. Finally, towards the end of the night, his dad gave Charlie a few presents.

“Now, it’s your turn to try son.”

Charlie took a deep breath, gathering his courage. Trying to imitate his dad, he dropped the presents down the chimney… or rather, tried to.

Instead, he went tumbling over the edge of the sleigh, landing square on his back. He laid still for a moment on this person’s roof, unable to breathe. He heard a window open and he saw a little child’s head pop out. Charlie winced as the child let out an ear-piercing squeal.

“Santa!” The child shrieked.

Charlie made haste, dumping the fallen presents down the chimney and jumping back into the sleigh where his dad sat watching in dismay.

“Well, maybe next year, son,” he said encouragingly.

Charlie just sighed.