Rainbows and elves and Santa, oh my

Somewhere over the rainbow, as the world was turning dark, as hatred slithered along the valleys and slime began to creep upon the waters: light became the most treasured commodity of all.

Not the light of electricity, nor even witch"s fire, but a light so pure and rare that some might have deemed it magical. Where did this light come from you might ask?.

One big boy, standing in a line, a long line in a big commercial store.

Before him, right there in front of his eyes is his dream come true. And if he just stands there quietly, waiting for his turn, he will get to talk to Santa. He can hardly believe it and then . . .

it is his turn, All he needs to do is walk over there. Not far. Maybe just six little steps and he will be standing next to his hero. The man who makes toys for all the children in the world and delivers them on the night before Christmas. He knows this is true because his Daddy told him so, read him the story every year since before he can remember.

But he starts to cry and he can't move at all.  He is too full of wonder and awe . . . and that might have been the end of it all if his Daddy hadn't offered to go with him. Then, before Daddy could say another word, Santa's elf walked over, smiled at him and took his hand, and the elf was so nice he just went with her!

The next few minutes were so full of awe and love, understanding and compassion that the world became a little brighter. The hate retreated just a bit and the slime slithered back some.

It wasn't happily ever after. There were no trumpets announcing it to the world. No one in the back of the line even knew it happened, but the world was a little lighter, a bit better, than it had been before.