Holly and Nicholas were excited. Today was the day they got to spend the whole day drinking hot cocoa their favorite way – with marshmallows and chocolate chips and piled high with whipped cream. It was a once-a-year holiday treat. While they sipped their drinks, the two siblings carefully laid out the dozens of toy catalogs that had come in the mail this past week onto the living room floor and began studying them intently. They kept notebooks by their sides, trying to narrow down their Christmas lists. Mom told them to be careful. If they asked for too many toys, they might not get the ones they really wanted.
Their favorite Christmas movie, “The Santa Clause,” was playing in the background. Mom was in the kitchen baking pies, cakes and cookies. Dad was outside putting the finishing touches on the decorations, transforming their front yard into a winter wonderland. The siblings loved how their mom managed to make the house look just like Santa's workshop or at least how they imagined it might look. The smell of cinnamon and cloves filled the air. The warm fire dad had built in the fireplace casted a warm glow over the living room. Only a light snowfall on Christmas Eve could make it more perfect. The weatherman said there was a good chance. The children kept their fingers crossed.
Lying near the Christmas tree, Holly and Nicholas were not having much luck trying to narrow down their lists so they could get them done before they had to go to bed. It was hard. There were so many things to tempt them. Mom promised to mail their letters to the North Pole as soon as they were finished but what if Santa didn't get them in time?
Nicholas was very worried about something else besides his letter to Santa. Christmas would be here soon and he didn't know how Santa was going to get into their house to bring all the presents he was asking for. Their mom and dad always keeps a fire going in the fireplace this time of year. He knew the Santa in the movie could magically drop down the chimney but he also knew it was just a movie. He couldn't do that in real life – could he? How would he get down the chimney without getting burned? I know, he thought, I'll ask Holly.
“Don't worry,” his big sister replied, “Mom said Santa is magical and he always finds a way. I know! Let's take a break and go ask Nana.”
Holly and Nicholas ran to ask their mom if they could walk to Nana's house. Luckily, she lived only a few blocks away.
“You may go after I call and check with Nana to see if it's okay, but you must be home before dark,” mom admonished.
“We will,” they agreed.
Mom hung up the phone and said, “Nana said to come right over. She'll be waiting on the porch for you.”
She opened the hall closet. “Get your coats and boots on.”
They bundled up and ran all the way to Nana's house.
“Nana!” both children exclaimed at once as they flew up the porch steps, “We have a question for you.”
“Come inside and get warm first. Then you can ask me anything you like,” Nana replied, leading them into her warm, inviting kitchen.
Only Nana's kitchen smells better than ours, Holly thought, as she shrugged off her coat and boots.
“How would you like to help me bake while we talk?” Nana asked.