Sitting at my desk, I leaned back and continued reading some letters from children. A knock on the door caused me to look up. “Good morning, Hanna,” I said greeting the elf. “I see you brought my morning snack.”
“I do have your hot cocoa, Santa,” the kitchen helper said and placed the steaming mug on my desk.
“Thank you.” I slipped my hands around the mug and searched for my plate of cookies. “Didn’t you forget something?”
Startled, Hanna shrugged her shoulders and gave me an odd look, “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Where are my cookies?”
“Oh! I guess you didn’t hear. Doheny overslept this morning and is behind in her baking. I’m sure she will send some over as soon as they are ready.”
I shook my head and sighed. “No, I hadn’t heard that. You know I always have my morning hot chocolate with cookies. Would you bring me a couple after Doheny finishes with her baking?”
“I sure will,” the elf said and rushed out of my office.
When I finished my hot cocoa, I was still craving a cookie. Then I remembered that Bernard always kept some in his office and rushed out to see what he had.
When I entered my head elf’s office, I found him organizing the papers on his desk. “Morning Bernard.”
Looking up, he smiled. “Morning Santa. What can I do for you?”
“I guess you heard about Doheny oversleeping, so I was wondering, if I could have some of the cookies you keep stashed in your office.”
Bernard stopped and put his hands on his hips. “I’m sorry Santa. I just finished a meeting with my workshop supervisors, and they cleaned me out.”
“Thanks anyway,” I mumbled and left Bernard’s office.
Walking down the hallway, stroking my beard, I wondered who might have cookies. With a snap of my fingers, I recalled that Peppermint always kept some in the snack bar of the recreation hall.
When I arrived there, Peppermint was wiping off tables. “How are you today, Peppermint?” I asked.
Surprised, she gave me an odd stare. “Fine Santa. What brings you to the Rec Hall this morning?”
“I know you keep some cookies in the snack bar and wondered if I could have a couple.”
“Oh, I’m sorry Santa. You know we had that big party last night to celebrate Crayon Day, and the elves ate every one of them. I guess coloring makes elves hungry.”
Feeling dejected I walked out of the hall muttering, ‘OK. Thanks anyway.”
Still in search of cookies, I thought about the cookies Ms. Claus stored in a cannister behind her tea caddy at our house. “She won’t mind if I grab a couple,” I thought and continued down the hall.
When I entered our home, I saw Ms. Claus sitting in her chair reading. I slid past my wife and headed straight for the cookies. Taking the lid off the reindeer jar, I looked inside. “Where are our cookies?”
“Hello to you too?” Anya said with a sarcastic laugh. “I took them over to the mail room this morning and shared them with my staff.” Noticing the sad look on my face, she asked, “Is something wrong?”
“I can’t seem to find a cookie anywhere at the North Pole.”
“I don’t think that’s the end of the world. It’s getting close to lunch time, why don’t you go over to the kitchen and see if Doheny has any made yet.”
I shuffled out of our cottage and made my way toward the dining hall. Several elves were already seated as I checked for any sign of cookies.
“Are you looking for something?” Hanna asked.
“Yes! I know that Doheny had a late start this morning, but I thought she’d at least have cookies made by now.”
Tilting her head to the side, the kitchen elf responded, “I’m sorry Santa, but they’re not ready yet. However, the brownies should be finished by the time you eat your lunch. Want some?”
“That will work,” I replied with a smile and sat at my favorite table by the fireplace.
When I was just about to finish my lunch, Hanna came out of the kitchen with a large platter. All the elves shouted, “Brownies!” and ran towards her.
I rushed over with the elves and was shocked. “What are these?” I reached down and picked up a wooden letter ‘E.’ “This is not a brownie, it’s a Brown E. Is this some kind of joke?”
No sooner had I said that, than all the elves parted in the middle behind Hanna. There stood Doheny and Ms. Claus holding platters of cookies in both their hands. All the elves, and Anya, shouted “APRIL FOOLS!” and began laughing.
After a moment of being shocked, I shouted “Ho! Ho! Ho!” as my belly shook like a bowl full of Jelly. “I should have known. You got me!”
“Santa, you didn’t really think that anyone would deprive you of having your cookies, did you?” Doheny asked and grinned.
Grabbing a handful, Anya took my hand and led me to our table. “Did I ever tell you how much I enjoy it when the elves manage to fool you?”
Notes From Santa
I hope you enjoyed today’s story. Stories are posted on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month, except December. Santa’s next story will be posted on Saturday April 15, 2023. If you have any comments or if there is something you would like me to tell you about, please feel free to leave me a comment. Until the next time . . .
To read more about Santa please check out
With A Little Help From My Friends – July 1, 2019
Santa’s Improved Sleigh – March 16, 2020
Pie Day – March 15, 2021
Is Santa Retiring – April 26, 2021
Sad Santa – January 15, 2022
Goofing Off – April 1, 2022
Where’s Santa – November 1, 2022
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Illustration by TeePublic