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

Katie watched in confusion as a tornado of red glitter swirled up toward the ceiling.

“What in the world?” Kellan asked while all the children around them exclaimed in awe.

Suddenly the glitter fell, covering everything nearby with a fine layer of red sparkle. The boy who had opened the jar dropped it and ran off.

“Oh no,” Kellan groaned, swiping frantically at his hair, and Katie couldn’t help but laugh. She didn’t mind sparkling, but Kellan was not a sparkly person.

“What on earth was that?” Molly asked as she rushed over to the craft center. She surveyed the glitter-covered table, shaking her head at the mess.

“I’m not sure,” Katie said, glancing around. She locked eyes with the young girl she had noticed earlier, and the girl looked away quickly but not before Katie caught a flash of panic in her expression.

“I think that little boy tossed the glitter out of the jar.”

She knew that wasn’t what happened — the boy had been about to throw the glitter, but it had somehow exploded out of the jar before he had a chance.

And she didn’t know how, but something in her gut told her the mystery girl had something to do with it.

Katie and Kellan helped Molly clean the glitter as best they could, although they all had to make peace with the fact that the craft center would likely sparkle for years to come.

Afterwards, Molly sent the twins out to pick up sandwiches for the staff — a nice perk that reinforced their decision to quit the pizza place, where they weren’t even allowed to eat food that was made in error and about to be thrown away.

“So, what do you think so far?” Kellan asked as they walked along Main Street, heading toward Ellison’s Deli. “I’m not crazy about working with kids, but it’s alright I guess.”

“Same,” Katie said with a shrug. “They aren’t so bad, though. It’s cute seeing them so excited for Christmas.”

She suspected that this was actually the calm before the storm. Santa’s arrival at the Village was scheduled for next weekend, and it was always a huge event. The Village went all out, having Santa arrive at the artfully arranged “North Pole” area of the playland in a carriage pulled by actual reindeer.

She vividly remembered how much fun she and Kellan had at the Village when they were little. It was such a special, magical time for kids, and despite the chaos of the Christmas Village, she was glad to be a part of it.

Thinking of magic made her think of the strange happenings today. First, the hot cocoa that somehow poured backwards, and then the glittery tornado that came out of nowhere. Neither occurrence had anything to do with the other, and both could probably be explained in a rational way.

There was something about that girl, though. Katie didn’t know what, or how it made any sense, but something told her the girl tied the odd happenings together somehow.

As they walked, she told Kellan about what she had seen, realizing there was an equal chance he would either listen to her and take her seriously, or make fun of her.

He must have been in a generous mood, because even though his eyes twinkled with mirth, he didn’t laugh at her.

“I know it sounds dumb,” she said. “Just…keep your eyes open, and watch for weird stuff. Maybe it’s all in my head, who knows.”

“Probably is,” he agreed with a grin, and she smacked him on the arm as they approached the deli.

Someone ran into her when she slowed down, and she stumbled, only staying on her feet because Kellan caught her.

“Watch it, bro,” he said, frowning at the guy who had run into her. He was short, bundled up in a puffy coat and thick woven hat, and held up his hands in apology.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize I was walking so close. I wasn’t paying attention,” he said, flashing them a grin. Katie smiled back.

“It’s OK,” she said, even though something bothered her about the guy. Not bothered in a bad way, exactly. Although he looked perfectly normal, something about him just didn’t seem like he was supposed to be here.

Katie shook her head, shaking away her thoughts. Boy, Kellan would laugh at her for sure if he knew how her imagination was running wild.

The guy nodded briskly before hurrying away, and she followed Kellan into the sandwich shop. She glanced over her shoulder once, for some reason expecting to see the guy watching them, but he had disappeared like he’d never been there to begin with.

Read tomorrow’s newspaper for chapter 4 of this Christmas tale.