Scrooge Asks Santa Why

Why do you do it? Scrooge asks Santa. What? Santa asks. All that ho ho ho, Christmas cheer, Scrooge says. Bah humbug I say. Santa ponders how to reply, knowing he will not convert Scrooge, but wanting him to understand. Why don’t you do a ride along? He invites Scrooge. Pull an all-nighter? Jump down chimneys? You are kidding, right? You might enjoy it, Santa says. Scrooge laughs his feet off. His laughter is a kind of injured howl. Who has hurt you? Santa asks gently. Scrooge stops in mid howl and tears begin. Let’s start with babies, Santa says. What do you mean? Scrooge asks, sniffling. You’ll see. Santa has a big grin. He has a great idea in mind. They start at the nursery school down the lane. All of the babies need to be held, an elf woman tells them. She hands them both a crying infant and points to two rocking chairs. Scrooge is astounded; he has never held a baby! He and Santa sit, and they begin to rock. Scrooge’s baby quiets down, her eyes close. He feels loved, cherished, needed. I get it now, he tells Santa.