A Katie Kazoo Christmas (18 page)
Read A Katie Kazoo Christmas Online
Authors: Nancy Krulik
“I knit it myself,” Emma said proudly.
“You made this so fast!” Katie sounded really impressed.
“It’s not that hard. I could teach you,” Emma answered.
“That would be fun,” Katie said as she placed the hat on her head.
“So, does the hat make up for the gag gifts?” Emma asked hopefully.
“Oh, yeah!” Katie replied. “This is the best Secret Santa ever!”
“Great.” Emma sounded relieved. “Although I still think we should trick Mrs. Derkman into sitting on the whoopee cushion.”
Katie giggled. “Now
that
would be some Christmas surprise!” she exclaimed.
that
would be some Christmas surprise!” she exclaimed.
Chapter 13
That afternoon, Katie and her grandmother went to the mall together. Katie wore her new hat. Her grandmother wore a new hat, too. Hers was red and fuzzy with white trim.
“Come on, Katie, let’s take a ride in that train!” her grandmother said as she paid for two tickets for the North Pole Express.
“You don’t think it’s babyish?” Katie asked her.
“No way,” her grandmother said. She folded her legs up to her chin as she sat in the first car. The train was really meant for kids, so it was a very tight fit. “I’m pretending I’m on my way to the North Pole. I’ve always wanted to visit there.”
“Me, too,” Katie agreed. She climbed into the next car.
Toot! Toot!
The train started around the track.
The train started around the track.
“You look just like Mrs. Claus in that hat,” Katie told her grandmother.
“When you’re in the North Pole, you have to dress the part.” Her grandmother laughed. “Nick sure is!”
Katie looked over at Santa’s chair. She knew the kids would love this Santa. His jelly belly wasn’t made by a pillow. His long white beard was real. And so was his laugh.
“Ho ho ho!” he chuckled loudly.
Katie grinned. Nick had the greatest laugh.
As the train came to a stop, Ella the Elf wandered over to Katie. “Hi, there,” she said.
“Hi, Ella. This is my grandmother,” Katie said.
“Your friend Nick makes a great Santa Claus,” Ella told Katie’s grandmother. “If I didn’t know better, I would think he was the real thing.”
“You’re not the only one,” Katie’s grandmother chuckled. She pointed toward the front of the line.
Suzanne and Emma were standing there!
Katie walked right up to them. “Suzanne, I thought you said getting your picture taken with Santa was for babies.”
Suzanne blushed. “Emma really wanted to come.” Emma stared at Suzanne. “Okay, it was
my
idea,” Suzanne admitted.
my
idea,” Suzanne admitted.
Katie giggled. “I get it. Why don’t I get my picture taken with Santa, too? We could all do it together.”
Suzanne smiled. “That would be fun.”
When it was the girls’ turn to visit Santa, Suzanne handed Nick a long list of gifts that she wanted. “Just in case,” she whispered in his ear.
“Ho ho ho!” Nick laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Okay, everybody, say, ‘Santa,’ ” the photographer shouted to the girls.
“SANTA!” the girls shouted back happily.
Katie grinned as the photographer snapped their picture. She really loved Santa. And
that
was no secret!
that
was no secret!
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