Happy Child!

Tuesday was Operation HAPPY CHILD!  Except you have to say it in a deep loud voice like "HAP-PY CHILD!" and the "child" is on a higher note than "happy."  It's very important to say it like this - everyone in Santaland does.

It's an event where underprivileged children come to Macy's, have a breakfast of cereal and milk and orange juice, and see Santa.  They also get presents: a book, a hat, a Snoopy plush doll, AND they get to pick out one toy.  It's really a very sweet event, and we make a lot of kids very happy.  And there's a video!

Santa giving a child a toy during Happy Child.

There were other magical visits as well.  One little girl wanted a red lollipop and a puzzle.  Shortcake understands this.  Once you've put the puzzle together, what are you going to do with it?  Put it together again?  Shortcake thinks not.  You need a new puzzle.

One boy brought in two stuffed walruses that he acquired at the aquarium.  He put one on each of Santa's knees while he stood and told Santa what he wanted for Christmas: a sea lion and a real bird.  It's probably good he did not want a real sea lion, as it is hard to maintain a habitat for a sea lion for in New York City.  This visit became known as the Visit of the Walrii.

A little girl forgot to give her letter to Santa, so after her mom looked at the photos, they went back to see the big guy.  He had the girl stand on the magic box while Santa opened the letter and looked at it with her.  Shortcake peeked over Santa's shoulder, and she can assure you this letter was not written in English.  In fact, it looked like colorful, circular scribbles.  On both sides.  But Santa could read it.  He conferred with the girl, and then she, her mom and her brother went on their way.

By the end of the day, Shortcake was very tired.  She had gotten about 4 1/2 hours of sleep the night before (and about 5 1/2 hours the night before that), and, as you well know, elves (and strawbosses!) need their sleep.  So Shortcake curled up the only place she could to take a (very brief) nap.

You know what the best part of the day was?  Hokay.  So December 2 is Cider's birthday.  But Cider wasn't working on December 2.  So Shortcake decided to celebrate on December 1.  You know what the best part of this is?  Cider haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaates his birthday.  Like, HATES it.  He doesn't want anyone to know when it is.  But he turned 30 two years ago, (remember that?) so now it's in Shortcake's Google calendar.  (What?  We have Google at the North Pole.)  So Shortcake told everyone from the managers to the elves to Santa himself.  And every single person wished Cider a happy birthday.  And the best part of all this?  Cider said to Shortcake, and this is a direct quote, "I hate all of you.  But I hate you the most."  

And it warmed the cockles of Shortcake's heart.  Her work was done.

Cider's birthday card from Shortcake