Hope Before Midnight

The Night Santa Was Late Santa Claus was never late. Not once in three

hundred years. So when midnight came and the sleigh was still grounded, something was wrong.

It wasn’t the reindeer. It was a small gift on Santa’s desk. No name. No address.

Just a note: “For whoever still believes.” Santa knew belief was fading.

Not gone—but quieter. Harder to find. So instead of following the list, he followed something

else. Hope. The sleigh flew lower than ever before,

until it stopped at a hospital window. A child’s drawing of reindeer was taped to the glass.

Santa left the gift there. When he returned to the North Pole, the sleigh felt