Verónica Huacuja

"A Present from Santa Claus"
by Veronica Huacuja
Translated by Dave Galasso

Santa Claus came late to the Sanchez house that Christmas Eve. It simply slipped his mind that the family had left Mexico and moved to the USA.

"With so much to do," said Santa, wiping his forehead and rosy cheeks, "I almost forgot that I forgot to write it down in my address book."

The Sanchez children, Carla and Adrian, had been anxiously awaiting Santa to bring their presents. To make the time pass more quickly their Mom decided to take them ice-skating at a nearby pond. And it's a good thing she did.

The family cat, Mirrú, was the one to notice the strangely dressed man outside the window. With a meow he ran and hid behind the cupboard as Santa Claus peeked in to make sure no one was home. Everyone knows that children aren't supposed to see Santa! Noticing the fire in the fireplace he frowned a little. Santa didn't want to singe his pants or his fluffy white beard! So he tried the window…he was in luck, it opened!

Once inside the house Santa Claus went right to the tree, laid down his sack and began pulling different sized boxes from it. After he'd found all the presents with Adrian and Carla's names on them, he delicately reached in and pulled out a paper mâché monarch butterfly with a long silk cord around its middle. Santa then tiptoed to the armchair and hung the butterfly from the ceiling. As he did, the bright colors from its wings started to light up the room. Turning to Mirrú who had been watching his every move, he said with a smile, "Well, kitty, that should do it."
Santa got ready to leave the house. "And to make up for being late, I've left them something extra; a monarch butterfly. They're going to love it because they're from Michoacán. Off I go. Plenty more children are waiting for their presents. Next stop, Voilá…, France!"

Leaping out the window, he disappeared into the night.

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