Bargaining With Santa

A very special treat when I was a lad, Was going to J C Penneys with my Mom and Dad, To visit Santa sitting upon his elegant throne, Hoping my youthful follies with him I could atone! I'd been warned by Mom throughout the year, That if I behaved I would have nothing to fear, Because somehow Santa knew if I'd been bad or good; If good, toys beneath the tree was a likelihood! So with fingers crossed I hopped up on his knees, To make known to him my youthful pleas. After hearty ho-hoing he got around to asking me, What I wanted him to leave beneath the Christmas tree. I gave him my list and he said, "I can't guarantee, But I'll do my best if you will promise me, To leave a snack other than cookies and milk, Like salami and cheese or vittles of that ilk!" I was a nervous wreck, my angst hard to conceal, Wondering if Santa would stick to his end of the deal. There were heaps of toys when I awoke on Christmas dawn, And mysteriously, all the salami and cheese was gone! Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired (© All Rights Reserved)