So, it was not always like this. Santa’s gifts used to be her most treasured possessions, not something she would hesitate to even touch.

Leaving the gift where it was, she placed Rudolf on her bed, ‘Can you take it back to Santa?’

The reindeer was, however, deep into his beauty nap.

She bobbed his shiny nose. Once. Twice. Thrice. The fourth time he bumped his head into hers in displeasure.

‘Rudolf…’ she said in chagrin, holding her hand over her inflamed forehead.

He glared at her, wiggling his nose indignantly.

She picked him up. ‘I’m sorry, Rudolf. I just don’t know what to do.’

Rudolf just wanted a nap. He hoped the child would want a nap too.

But she hugged him tight, ‘I don’t want that…thing in my room. Bring it back to Santa for me, please?’

Rudolf did not respond. Instead, he noticed the dented corner of ice on the clothes hanger. She must have whacked it some time after they left, but for some reason still decided to keep it near. Realising that, he knew his old friend would soon return.

A swirl of white mist gathered in the room, and sure enough, a familiar old man sat on top of the desk.

‘Why are you back?’ she demanded, reaching for her clothes hanger.

‘Just as I am unable to gift you anything, I am only able to be here because you wished me to.’

‘Well, I said, leave.’ She pointed at the window.

Santa stroked his beard, smiling knowingly, ‘Indeed, you said.’

Irritated, she stood up. Gripping the clothes hanger tightly, she pointed it at Santa’s throat, ‘And I mean it.’

But he smiled, and walked towards her, unperturbed by the clothes hanger. Her arm shook as he neared a protruding icicle. She glared at him and lowered it. Gently, he kneeled down in front of her, just as he had done last year. But this time, she was slightly taller than him.

‘Would you have me bring you to the Winter Wonderland again, then? When you know so much more that you’ve already graduated from that place?’ Santa looked straight in her eyes, calmly and levelly, in such a way that she knew that whatever she said would be carefully considered and taken seriously.

She liked being treated this way, like how an adult would another. And she knew a continuation of what could be called a tantrum was not an adequate response to this respect.

Quietly, she considered the suggestion. Going to Winter Wonderland again sounded like a dream. She could ignore all that she saw. She knew she could, if she stayed there. Everything would be as it once was, and she would be happy. But…

Santa’s eyes were still bored into hers, and in there she saw trust.

Slowly, she shook her head. ‘No… No, that wouldn’t feel right. It wouldn't be right.’

He petted her head, ‘No, it wouldn’t.’ Gently, he took the clothes hanger from her hand and covered his hand over the dented corner.

‘There you go,’ he said, presenting her a restored clothes hanger.

She took the clothes hanger and stared at it. Hesitantly, she said, ‘But I still want Christmas. Magical Christmas. I still want you. I want you to be real.’

He smiled, ‘I’ve already told you. I am real. As real as the skies, seas and mountains, as long as you continue to be.’

‘So you won’t leave me?’

‘No, not unless you give me up,’ he said. Before she could ask what she should do, he added, stroking his white beard, ‘And I believe your gift this year will point you in the right direction.’ Rudolf’s nose blinked green in confirmation. Beside him, Santa continued stroking his beard as they disappeared in a puff of white mist.

Ripping open the crumpled gift, she was slightly disappointed that it wasn't a pair of scissors that she could cut Santa's beard with. Instead, a slightly-used doll sat within.

‘Thanks, Santa,’ she whispered.