When the Proof's in the Pudding

My ten-year-old is a rock-chick, but she still wants to believe in Santa. I field her technical enquiries with carefully-worded half-truths, but something still troubles her.

'Why,' she asks, 'does Santa forget some children?' I consider reference to the Human Poverty Index then grab my stock response to her profounder theological questions: 'Some mysteries are beyond our understanding!'

Her brother intervenes: 'If Santa exists why didn't he eat the mince pies we left out?' Damn! I hate mince pies. Then I'm inspired. 'Because Santa prefers chocolate,' I reply. 'This year leave a brownie and I guarantee it'll be gone by Christmas morning!'




This photo is the prompt for the latest 100-Word-Challenge and as usual Julia timed it perfectly!

Comments

  1. I guess the photo is the prompt? It's great. I do enjoy these.

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    1. Thanks, yes! Julia's prompt always ties into our family sagas!

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  2. Been there!! But you did it better :-)

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    1. No, I copped out. Should have come clean and explained that we are a fortunate wealthy minority but am desperate to cling to the lasts wisps of her childhood as she embraces adolescence.

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  3. Who did she mean that Santa misses out? Good use of chocolate - Santa is already obese so better he it than us eh?

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    1. We'd been buying presents to fill shoe boxes that a charity distributes to children in poverty who don't get anything at Christmas and she wondered why Santa was so remiss, at which point I should have told her the world is a cruel and unfair place, but couldn't quite bring myself to extinguish her waning belief in Christmas magic.

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  4. Very clever and I shall be using that one on Christmas eve :-)

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  5. Oh you are such a witty lady. Why leave out a mince pie, when you can leave a box of chocolates! :o).

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    1. Can't think why I never thought of it before. When my father's not with us on Christmas Eve there's no adult prepared to toil through a mince pie at night.

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  6. Santa has eaten far too many cookies & has had to drink milk (yuck).

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    1. What, in your house? We still give him Harveys Bristol Cream in the vicarage. Pure class us!

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  7. In total agreement about chocolate over mince pies. Lucky Santa eh?

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    1. Isn't he just. Do you think I should leave something irresistible out for his breakfast too?

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  8. Feel free to chuck any mince pies you've going my way. I love them - especially with a dash of brandy butter. Mmmmmmmmmm...

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  9. LOL. Santa is going to be happy this year. Nicely done.

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  10. We always leave Santa a mince pie and a glass of whisky, which seems to do the trick.

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    1. Probably it's your mince pie that's filled him up by the time he reaches us.

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  11. my kids are asking all those qyestions! *heads desk*

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  12. You know what I think - we don't want to take the easy option and tell them the truth because while they still believe in Father Christmas we can kid ourselves that we do too!

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  13. Ah but the brownie has to be baked - more work!
    Very clever :-)

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  14. After all, mothers know everything, including Santa's favorite food! Good story.

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  15. Too sweet! ~Lynda

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