[ WP ] You 're 6 and the smug know-it-all from your class told you Santa does n't exist , that he 's just your dad in a red suit . You start to question why your dad checks his list twice .

Bobby from school says Santa ’ s not real. He says Santa ’ s just dad in a red suit. Dad always has a list. He ’ s always checking it around Christmas. He checks it a lot. Bobby ’ s usually right. So that means Dad must be Santa. Who else checks lists twice? Probably just Santa. It ’ s in the song. I better do some investigating. When Dad ’ s not looking, I sneak a peek in the trunk of his car. It ’ s filled with toys! More toys then I would ever get for Christmas. Maybe I should just ask him what ’ s on the list. He ’ s always trying to get me to read. I will have him read me the list. 
 
 “ Dad? Practice reading with me. Let ’ s read the paper in your hand. ” 
 
 “ This isn ’ t a story, son. It ’ s just some names and some gifts. ” Dad explained to me the list in his hand, and why he ’ s always checking it. When I go to school on Monday, I can tell Bobby he ’ s right, my dad is Santa. 
 
 Monday arrives. “ Bobby! You we ’ re right! My dad is Santa! ” 
 
 “ No. Santa ’ s not real. I meant who you think is Santa is just your dad doing pretend. ” 
 
 “ Well my dad has a list. He checks it twice. He brings toys to children who are good. That ’ s Santa. ” 
 
 “ You ’ re dumb, ” Bobby says as he walks away. Whatever. I know my dad is Santa. I saw it myself over the weekend when we went together to bring toys to the shelter. When the nice lady there told me that all the toys we were bringing would make some boys and girls very happy this Christmas. She told me how nice it is that Dad makes sure to get a list of what each kid likes, so he can get them a special gift just for them. That ’ s what Santa does. And when I grow up, I ’ m going to be Santa, too. 

