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Well, it so happens that while he was up in the main office, the store manager was visited by a delegation of two hundred furious parents of all sexes and each with at least one deafeningly heartbroken child. The din! They wanted to know WHY Santa had been dethroned by that horrid, profane man downstairs. This Santa was the sweetest, nicest Santa in town, and so sincerely interested in their children and such a fine person! They raged and the manager said it was all a misunderstanding forty-three times and finally slipped out. He pressed a certain little black button and hissed into a speaker, "Send that Slaussen up here this instant."

That's all, really. Slaussey was given a most novel choice. He could get that Santa back in twenty minutes or take the part himself. Marshall's Department Store now had no interest in him in any other capacity. As it turned out, Santa was back in ten minutes and serene as a queen restored to her rightful throne by divine intervention. I understand Slaussen had to make a personal salary adjustment; Santa, you know, is no fool. And another thing: Santa was kept well supplied with hot coffee and French pastries clear through Christmas Eve. I tell you, it was a mad Christmas!

Saul K.

page 17