Editor’s note: This is the ninth chapter of a 12-part fictional holiday tale that is running daily until Christmas. Parents are encouraged to read aloud with their children.

Molly, the supervisor, came bustling through the door behind Santa.

“Oh good! You found the workshop. Come in and meet the crew! Everyone over here for a moment!” she called out.

Katie inched forward slowly with Juniper sticking close to her side. Kellan and a few other guys that were building the set also joined them.

“OK team. Our usual Santa had to cancel at the last minute, so the agency sent this gentleman over to cover. So for tomorrow, Mister … ?”

Santa cleared his throat and spoke in a deep, clear voice. “Claus — Clauson. Mr. Clauson.”

“Right. Mr. Clauson will be here with us until Saturday. Please make him feel welcome and let him know what he can do to help!”

And as fast as she came in, Molly hurried out the door, clipboard and walkie talkie in hand.

Kellan’s group gave Santa a mixture of waves and head nods before turning and heading back to finish their projects. Katie grabbed Kellan’s arm, pulling him back.

“Uh, Kellan,” she said, gesturing to Santa. Kellan looked at the group, his eyebrows raised.

“What’s up?” he asked.

Juniper looked from the twins to Santa and sighed. “Katie, Kellan. Meet Santa. Santa, well, you already know who they are.”

“We literally just had introductions,” Kellan said and turned to walk away, but Katie grabbed his arm again and pulled him back.

“You don’t understand. He’s really him.”

Kellan just stared at her, so she tried again. “Mr. Clauson is Mr. Claus. Santa Claus.”

“Santa Claus,” Kellan said, still not comprehending.

“Yes. The real Santa. From, you know … up north.”

“The real Santa?” Kellan whispered. “Up north?”

“Here we go again with his repeating,” Juniper mumbled.

Santa chuckled and shook his head. “It’s nice to meet the two of you.” He turned his attention to the elf. “Juniper Gingerdrop, you’ve certainly been busy.”

“Your last name is Gingerdrop?” Kellan said with a laugh.

Juniper stood as tall as she could and narrowed her eyes at him. “It’s a very important name! My ancestors invented gingerbread, you know! In fact, my great-great-great-grandfather Periwinkle Gingerdrop invented gingerbread juice!”

Santa cleared his throat, hands on hips. “Speaking of, I’m told the two of you understand the terms of the juice you drank?”

The twins nodded.

“OK. Now, I need to have a word with Juniper here if you don’t mind”

“Of course!” Katie grabbed Kellan’s arm and dragged him out of the workshop.

“But I want to tell him what I want for Christmas!” Kellan protested, looking back over his shoulder.

Juniper laughed as they exited, but when she glanced up at Santa he was watching her with a serious look on his face.

“I guess I’m in trouble,” she said softly, looking down and scuffing her toe on the ground.

“Are you?”

“Isn’t that why you’re here? Because I left home and tried to live as a human child?”

One side of Santa’s mouth lifted. “I imagine that was difficult. Humans have pretty strict rules about children living by themselves without adults. I’m both surprised and impressed you got away with it as long as you did. Come. Let’s take a walk.”

Nodding, Juniper put her hands in her pockets and followed Santa to a stand that was selling hot pretzels. Santa asked for a pretzel covered in caramel and sugared chopped nuts. He glanced down at Juniper who enthusiastically ordered a plain pretzel with extra salt and mustard. They sat at a nearby picnic table.

“Enjoying the savory and not the sweet for once,” he commented.

“It’s so good,” Juniper said with her mouth full of warm, salty dough.

Santa chuckled. “I remember what it’s like, discovering so many new things for the first time. The smells, the taste, the traditions. So why don’t you talk and I’ll listen.”

Juniper took another bite of her pretzel and sighed. She put it down in front of her and looked Santa in the eye, knowing the time had finally come to tell him everything she’d kept bottled up for so long.

Read Saturday’s newspaper for chapter 10 of this Christmas tale.