A Circle of Celebrations: The Complete Edition (21 page)

Church’s eyes widened. “Why you? You are Santa Claus.”

“I am what all of you have made me. If you cease to believe, and you just proved how easy a thing that is to do, then I do not exist. I celebrate the birth of the Christ Child. How I do that and what people expect of me differs from person to person. Some resent me. Some hate me. What you wrote will help me be in this world for a little longer. I want to exist.”

“You shall,” Church said, his thin face passionate. “You live forever.”

“So you said in your lovely letter, sir. But these are New Yorkers. I feel as if I am fading already. No matter what we do here today, I cannot last. The shared belief that you caused is passing away. By tomorrow, I shall be a memory again, though a cherished one, I hope.”

Frank looked aghast. “No! I believe in you.”

Santa shook his head. It hurt a little to move. “But you doubt what you see. You cannot help it. It’s a natural thing. We cast aside that which does not allow us to walk freely, to explore, to make our own decisions, right or wrong. It is … human. They have to be free to say there is no Santa Claus. But wonder, magic, and love must always be allowed in children’s lives. If you help to give them that, and you have, I will always live a little. That will satisfy me. I did not think it would, but it does, because it is what children need. It is better for me to be a dream, to live in that unseen world you spoke of.”

“I will always assert the truth of your existence,” Frank Church assured him. “The veil to the unseen world is torn asunder, and I see the glory I wished was there.”

Santa felt the twinge of doubt that lessened the force of the statement. “Ah, no. You are already wondering if I am making a fool of you. You know the Santa you believed in would not do so. Your Santa keeps your letters, dreams, and wishes to himself. But you needn’t believe me completely. Keep being a cynic, so you can prevent others being fooled. The moment you don’t doubt, then you stop being of use as a newsman, and I would not ruin a distinguished career such as the one you have built for yourself.”

Church laughed. “I feel sad, you know. You have given me the best Christmas gift of my life, and I do not mean the lamb. I wish I could give you what you want.”

Santa laid his finger beside his round little nose. “Ah, but you have. You gave me this day. To be manifested and see what I mean to people makes me wiser than I was. But let us smoke a pipe together and talk. Tell me about this wonderful city. Then, when the time is right, I shall depart, without regrets.”

Frank Church smiled. “Up the chimney?” he asked, with a nod toward the fireplace in the corner.

Santa laughed, his belly jiggling up and down with merriment. “Since that is what you truly wish as your gift, it would be my pleasure.”

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About the Author

Jody Lynn Nye writes fantasy and science fiction books and short stories. Since 1987 she has published over 45 books and more than 120 short stories, including epic fantasies, contemporary humorous fantasy, humorous military science fiction, and edited three anthologies. She collaborated with Anne McCaffrey on a number of books, including the New York Times bestseller,
Crisis on Doona
. She also wrote eight books with Robert Asprin, and continues both Asprin’s Myth-Adventures series and Dragons series. Her newest humorous military SF series is the Lord Thomas Kinago Adventures, the most recent of which is
Fortunes of the Imperium
(Baen Books).
The Magic Touch
is a part of the same world of Jody’s other well-known contemporary humorous fantasy series, Mythology, recently republished by WorldFire Press. A new novel about the Fairy Godmothers’ Union will shortly be published in
Wishing On a Star
(Arc Manor Press), as part of the Stellar Guild series, accompanied by a novella by newcomer Angelina Adams.

Jody’s other recent books are
Myth-Quoted
(Ace Books); an e-collection of cat stories,
Cats Triumphant!
(Event Horizon);
Dragons Run
(fourth in the Dragons series) and
Launch Pad
, an anthology of science fiction stories co-edited with Mike Brotherton (WordFire). Jody runs the two-day intensive writers’ workshop at DragonCon, and she and her husband, Bill Fawcett are the book reviewers for
Galaxy’s Edge Magazine
.

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