Santa's Little Secret, Part III
The Authorized Hidden History of Santa Claus31 total reviews
Comment from Loren .
Oh, may we never awake from the spell of magic. Did I notice a slight nod to Alice in wonderland when tempted by tweedle dee and his brother to awaken the sleeping giant? If not, my apologies, but a mind will wander where it wanders.
I liked the tongue in cheek messages found in your opening paragraphs. Its truth doth sting, but maybe only to those aware of the nettles' barb.
This truly showcases your gift, Jay. Well worth the time invested to read and may the magic spell cast by your words never end. Loren
reply by the author on 03-Feb-2023
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Oh, may we never awake from the spell of magic. Did I notice a slight nod to Alice in wonderland when tempted by tweedle dee and his brother to awaken the sleeping giant? If not, my apologies, but a mind will wander where it wanders.
I liked the tongue in cheek messages found in your opening paragraphs. Its truth doth sting, but maybe only to those aware of the nettles' barb.
This truly showcases your gift, Jay. Well worth the time invested to read and may the magic spell cast by your words never end. Loren
Comment Written 03-Feb-2023
reply by the author on 03-Feb-2023
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I'll bet you never worked so hard for two cents in your life, Loren. Yes, I guess I was just testing the mettle of the readers with that barb in the opening paragraphs. I do tire of the scavengers who float along the surface of all groups. But I adore having people like you who dive so deep for so little incentive. I didn't intend a reference to Alice, but she is so much a part of our archetypal mindscapes that it's easy for the creating imagination to bump into a character here and there. LOL, thanks SO MUCH for trying my Santa story, Loren. It means a lot to me.
Comment from sunnilicious
That was a good novel installment. You had a nice blend of dialogue and narration. So what if you outlive loved ones... Just make more friends and family. Alright, simpler to say than do but it's a story. So, almost anything can be correct. Keep up the great work. Happy 2023!
reply by the author on 16-Jan-2023
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That was a good novel installment. You had a nice blend of dialogue and narration. So what if you outlive loved ones... Just make more friends and family. Alright, simpler to say than do but it's a story. So, almost anything can be correct. Keep up the great work. Happy 2023!
Comment Written 16-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 16-Jan-2023
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Thank you, Alicia, with the big eyes and gorgeous smile! Too bad you couldn't have read this when it was paying out a buck fifty, but you just made my evening, knowing that you enjoyed it.
Jay
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
I'm still in hospital, Jay, but had to read the end. Stupendous, my friend. It's hard to do this on my phone, but just so you know, I loved the whole story! It was the perfect ending!! Xxxxxx Sandra
reply by the author on 13-Jan-2023
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I'm still in hospital, Jay, but had to read the end. Stupendous, my friend. It's hard to do this on my phone, but just so you know, I loved the whole story! It was the perfect ending!! Xxxxxx Sandra
Comment Written 13-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 13-Jan-2023
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Oh, Sandra. Listen, I was going to respond to a poet's well-wishes for you today. I just saw it last night just before midnight and I thought my heart was going to stop! Impossible to order my thoughts, then. We all love you SO MUCH here, Sandra! We want you back in your cozy home, in your comfy chair, where you belong, at your computer. It's beyond my ken (or barbie) how you could even have finished part III on your phone. You must have had to stop midway to recharge. Because of everything, Sweet Sandra, this six means so much to me. In my best Fanny voice, "You get yo butt home soon, heah?" Love you.
Jay
Comment from giraffmang
Hi Jay,
A fine finish to the tale here with a passing of the torch. good stuff.
I'm still a bit confused by how the years and aging works? Is it something you actually worked out a system for or just made up?
He stopped and patiently waited for Peter Cottontail, fidgeting on the crackling embers in the fireplace, to finish his game of jacks with the Katzenjammer Kids. - yep... lol
Santa's eyes blinked a few times heavily - I kind of want to move heavily to after blinked.
reply by the author on 13-Jan-2023
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Hi Jay,
A fine finish to the tale here with a passing of the torch. good stuff.
I'm still a bit confused by how the years and aging works? Is it something you actually worked out a system for or just made up?
He stopped and patiently waited for Peter Cottontail, fidgeting on the crackling embers in the fireplace, to finish his game of jacks with the Katzenjammer Kids. - yep... lol
Santa's eyes blinked a few times heavily - I kind of want to move heavily to after blinked.
Comment Written 13-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 13-Jan-2023
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I can see why you wanted to move heavily. I think I'm gonna do that. Only you and one other mentioned the Peter Cottontail thing. Ain't that odd? I don't thing there were any anachronisms resulting from the aging, if that's what you mean. And the length of one's age tends to follow genetically, unless serious illness, or,of course, accident intervenes. The rest is magic. Thank you, Sir, for reading!
Jay
Comment from Father Flaps
You know, Jay, if Ajdin and his boys hadn't hid outside waiting for Santa's arrival, and then hid under empty sacks in the magic sleigh, they'd never have made it to Santa's compound. Nobody knows where it is. Not the government. Not the satellites. Not Nasa. Nor Eskimos. Heck, not even aliens in their UFOs have found it. But Santa's senility probably had something to do with it, too. I think the old gift-giver should have suspected that his sleigh seemed heavier than usual once the end of a long night had come. There weren't any presents weighing him down. But he didn't notice. I'll bet the reindeer noticed though. They could tell the sleigh was heavier than it should be. And I'll bet they kept looking back at Nicholas with mouths twitched sideways and one eye half-closed. Yet they knew better than to complain.
I'd love to see this made into a Christmas movie, Jay! It would be so fine. Although, I don't know what I think of a new "Ajdinclaus". Yet, who am I to think Nicholas could go on forever and ever. Or his reindeer. Or Anya. Or his elves. Everyone would like to retire at some point, a reward for so much dedicated work.
My own grandfather, Frank Bartlett, was a true woodsman. He loved to hunt and fish, and always supplied his family with grub even during the Depression years. He would order 5 cords of wood every summer.... not all chopped up ready for piling, but 8-foot logs that he sawed himself. No chainsaw! Then he split the wood with an axe, after studying where he should make his mark. And if there were too many knots, he'd grab his wedges and a sledgehammer. Most men don't work like that today. Most men today couldn't handle Santa's workload either. But it seems Ajdin was ready for the task. And it was Santa's time to retire. Hopefully, he didn't get Alzheimer's, as my grandfather did.
The thing that kept Santa going was his joy at making kids happy at Christmastime. It was there in his laugh, in every "Ho-Ho-Ho!"
May there always be a Santa Claus.
I loved your story, Jay! Even though it's 19 days after Christmas Eve, it was still very special. Can I tell you a secret? I watched one of my favorite Christmas stories just this morning on Youtube. It's called "Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas". I hadn't seen it in a few years or more. It was so great to watch it again!
Thanks for sharing your terrific story, pal! It's a late Christmas present.
Cheers,
Kimbob
reply by the author on 12-Jan-2023
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You know, Jay, if Ajdin and his boys hadn't hid outside waiting for Santa's arrival, and then hid under empty sacks in the magic sleigh, they'd never have made it to Santa's compound. Nobody knows where it is. Not the government. Not the satellites. Not Nasa. Nor Eskimos. Heck, not even aliens in their UFOs have found it. But Santa's senility probably had something to do with it, too. I think the old gift-giver should have suspected that his sleigh seemed heavier than usual once the end of a long night had come. There weren't any presents weighing him down. But he didn't notice. I'll bet the reindeer noticed though. They could tell the sleigh was heavier than it should be. And I'll bet they kept looking back at Nicholas with mouths twitched sideways and one eye half-closed. Yet they knew better than to complain.
I'd love to see this made into a Christmas movie, Jay! It would be so fine. Although, I don't know what I think of a new "Ajdinclaus". Yet, who am I to think Nicholas could go on forever and ever. Or his reindeer. Or Anya. Or his elves. Everyone would like to retire at some point, a reward for so much dedicated work.
My own grandfather, Frank Bartlett, was a true woodsman. He loved to hunt and fish, and always supplied his family with grub even during the Depression years. He would order 5 cords of wood every summer.... not all chopped up ready for piling, but 8-foot logs that he sawed himself. No chainsaw! Then he split the wood with an axe, after studying where he should make his mark. And if there were too many knots, he'd grab his wedges and a sledgehammer. Most men don't work like that today. Most men today couldn't handle Santa's workload either. But it seems Ajdin was ready for the task. And it was Santa's time to retire. Hopefully, he didn't get Alzheimer's, as my grandfather did.
The thing that kept Santa going was his joy at making kids happy at Christmastime. It was there in his laugh, in every "Ho-Ho-Ho!"
May there always be a Santa Claus.
I loved your story, Jay! Even though it's 19 days after Christmas Eve, it was still very special. Can I tell you a secret? I watched one of my favorite Christmas stories just this morning on Youtube. It's called "Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas". I hadn't seen it in a few years or more. It was so great to watch it again!
Thanks for sharing your terrific story, pal! It's a late Christmas present.
Cheers,
Kimbob
Comment Written 12-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 12-Jan-2023
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You work so hard on every one of my reviews, Kimbob. If you worked that hard on every review, you wouldn't have time to write. And if you still cranked one out (and you do) you wouldn't have enough funny bucks to promote it.
That said, I wouldn't trade one of your reviews for anything. Thank you . And you even managed to hold back a six for me. Thank you my friend.
You continue to amaze me.
Jay
Comment from Douglas Goff
Whew that was a long one ... but worth it in the end!
One catch:
"Yes ... I think I have it, Santa, OH-HO-HO," and his whole body seemed to vibrate with inner joy."
(Rewrite needed here. Punctuation messed up)
This is a cute story. I read all three parts. Nicely done!
reply by the author on 12-Jan-2023
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Whew that was a long one ... but worth it in the end!
One catch:
"Yes ... I think I have it, Santa, OH-HO-HO," and his whole body seemed to vibrate with inner joy."
(Rewrite needed here. Punctuation messed up)
This is a cute story. I read all three parts. Nicely done!
Comment Written 12-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 12-Jan-2023
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It's been corrected, Sir! Thanks for spotting it. I'm super careful and usually catch them all before I post. I'm so happy you read all three parts. You'll be happy to know (perhaps) that yours was the review that nudged it over into ATB. That 26th one is so hard to come by.
Again, thanks for everything!
Jay
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Very nice work, Sir!
Comment from Ricky1024
This Santa's little secret the third part was well written Rich in Theme and Imagery.
It also, read well and flowed well with No Grammar Issues.
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Complete Synopsis:
The Adjective and Objective Contents were both Excellent and Exceptional while Descriptive Measures aligned most Perfectly.
Thanks for sharing this and have a Blessed Evening.
Doctor Ricky
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2023
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This Santa's little secret the third part was well written Rich in Theme and Imagery.
It also, read well and flowed well with No Grammar Issues.
...
Complete Synopsis:
The Adjective and Objective Contents were both Excellent and Exceptional while Descriptive Measures aligned most Perfectly.
Thanks for sharing this and have a Blessed Evening.
Doctor Ricky
Comment Written 11-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2023
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Thank you, Ricky. I'm happy you got so much out of it.
Jay
Comment from Liz O'Neill
This is an conservative $$ economic choice. There is a juxtaposition lining it up with the word count. As the word count increases, the need for member $$ decreases. What a nice setting...will it last? Great image: "As we are just about to hear of how the boys, Jose and Gustav, fit into the history, they begin to wrestle on the floor with such animation that it took a strong threat by their father to get them broken up." Poignant image: " Santa's voice quivered to a stop in mid-sentence, while he removed his fogged glasses, revealing eyes that were overflowing. "... bless all our hearts, for we are all together as we should be."
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2023
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This is an conservative $$ economic choice. There is a juxtaposition lining it up with the word count. As the word count increases, the need for member $$ decreases. What a nice setting...will it last? Great image: "As we are just about to hear of how the boys, Jose and Gustav, fit into the history, they begin to wrestle on the floor with such animation that it took a strong threat by their father to get them broken up." Poignant image: " Santa's voice quivered to a stop in mid-sentence, while he removed his fogged glasses, revealing eyes that were overflowing. "... bless all our hearts, for we are all together as we should be."
Comment Written 10-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2023
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Thank you for reading, Liz. About the economic choice. That sure backfired. This one performed far less satisfactory than those I'd promoted for half as much. Go figure.
Jay
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bwaaa
Comment from nomi338
Succession can be tricky, as the one being succeeded must be on board with it. The successor must be up to the task to the standards of the original. If anything is lacking, succession my be stalled or abandoned all together. This pleasing story seems to have hit all the points successfully.
reply by the author on 10-Jan-2023
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Succession can be tricky, as the one being succeeded must be on board with it. The successor must be up to the task to the standards of the original. If anything is lacking, succession my be stalled or abandoned all together. This pleasing story seems to have hit all the points successfully.
Comment Written 10-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 10-Jan-2023
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Thank you, my friend for your insight about succession and your kind words, topped by six lovely stars.
Jay
Comment from Shirley McLain
I like part III just as well as the other two parts. I enjoyed reading about Santa and his generous son. You did an excellent job. Enjoy your evening. Shirley
reply by the author on 10-Jan-2023
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I like part III just as well as the other two parts. I enjoyed reading about Santa and his generous son. You did an excellent job. Enjoy your evening. Shirley
Comment Written 10-Jan-2023
reply by the author on 10-Jan-2023
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Thank you, Shirley. I always appreciate your kind words and your extra special star sits high in my heart!
Jay