ThinkabaraIt was Christmas Eve, and Santa’s sleigh was flying over a small town covered in snow. The presents were piled high, and the reindeer were singing jingle songs.
Suddenly — whoomp! — a huge gust of wind pushed the sleigh down, down, down, until it landed in a giant snowdrift on a quiet street. Only the top of Santa’s hat was sticking out!
The reindeer pulled and pulled, but the sleigh would not move. “Oh dear,” said Santa. “There are still so many children waiting for their presents.”
In the house next door, a boy named Noah was looking out the window. He couldn’t sleep — he was too excited. And there, in the snow, he saw a red hat and eight wiggling antlers.
Noah put on his boots and his coat, grabbed his little shovel, and ran outside. “I’ll help you, Santa!” he whispered. He dug and dug. Then his neighbor’s dog came to help, digging with her paws. Then the old man across the street came with a bigger shovel.
Soon, half the street was outside in pajamas and coats, digging and laughing and handing out hot cocoa. Finally — pop! — the sleigh slid free.
Santa laughed his biggest “Ho ho ho!” and thanked everyone. “Tonight,” he said, “you gave me the best present of all — you helped without being asked.”
Noah went back to bed with snowy cheeks and a happy heart. And in the morning, every house on his street found an extra present with a tag that said: “For the best helpers in the world. — Santa.” Merry Christmas.