IV. Santa Visits Dr. Chang
"Petey, we're running out of
time. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve."
Sarah wrapped and unwrapped her doll's blanket.
"What is Santa going to
do?" Petey wondered. "Is he going to bring the glasses or
not?"
"And can we wait 'til Christmas
morning to find out?" Sarah
worried. "If he doesn't bring them,
Grandpa will miss Christmas!"
"We'd better go see him
again."
Sarah wrapped the baby doll back up
and put it in its cradle. She followed
Petey downstairs.
Mom was home early from work. "Where are you two off to?"
"Can we walk up town?"
Sarah asked. "We need to get one more Christmas present."
"For Grandpa," Petey
added.
Mom frowned a little. "I don't think Grandpa is . . . enjoying
Christmas much this year without Grandma Susie.
I don't want you to be…disappointed if he is not excited about your
present."
"It's okay, Mom," Sarah
said. "We understand."
"All right, then. Don't be long."
* * *
"Look! There he is!" Petey said.
Santa Claus was right where he was supposed to be--in front of the
bakery, ringing his bell. Petey and
Sarah ran over. Sarah put a dime in the
kettle.
"Santa?" she said.
"Did you decide about the glasses?"
"Huh? What's that?" He stopped ringing his bell. "Oh, it's you two again, the children
that want my glasses."
"Well?" Petey asked.
"Well, it's like this,
kids. Santa is an old man. He needs his glasses. How can he see to fly the sleigh? Why, without his glasses, he might mix up the
toys and give a little fella like you a baby doll!"
"I told you so!" Sarah whispered. She looked away so Santa wouldn't see the
tears in her eyes. She looked across the
street… at Dr. Chang's Optical Shop.
"Santa, what if you got new
glasses? Could Grandpa Fred have your
old glasses then? Come with us over to
Dr. Chang's!"
"What--what's that? No, I can't leave the kettle." He started ringing the bell again.
Just then a woman in a blue skirt,
jacket and hat walked over. "Hey,
Santa," she said. "It's time
for your break. I'll take over."
Petey grinned at Sarah. They each took one of Santa's hands and
pulled him across the street.
"Dr. Chang! Dr. Chang!" they called as they burst through the
door.
"Hi, kids. Santa Claus?" Dr. Chang's assistant stood up.
"We need to see Dr. Chang right
away!" Petey said.
"She is leaving early today.
She may have already left."
"Oh, no! We have to see her!" said Sarah.
"It's all right, I'm still
here." Dr. Chang came out of her
office. "Peter, Sarah…Santa
Claus? What's going on?"
"Santa Claus needs new glasses…"
began Sarah.
“…so he can give his old glasses to
Grandpa Fred," finished Petey.
Dr. Chang looked puzzled.
"Remember? Christmas glasses 'cause Grandpa Fred can't
see Christmas? You said Grandpa Fred
needed Christmas glasses," Petey reminded her.
"Christmas glasses…oh, yes,
Christmas glasses! Well, what do you
say, Santa? When was the last time you
had an eye examination and a new pair of glasses?"
Santa Claus cleared his throat. "Well, it's like this, Ma'am. I left my checkbook and credit cards at the
North Pole. And I'm a little short of
cash right now. I'm afraid new glasses
are not in the budget."
"Santa, I wouldn't dream of
making you pay for glasses! You've
brought me so many nice presents over the years. Do you remember the doctor kit you gave me
when I was eight years old? I might not
be a doctor today.”
Dr. Chang took Santa to the
examination room. Sarah sat down and
Petey walked over to the little Christmas tree.
Suddenly he thought of something, and he asked Dr. Chang's assistant,
"How long will it take to get Santa's new glasses made?" He remembered waiting a week for his glasses.
"It usually takes at least a
week, but I think Dr. Chang can work a little Christmas miracle."
"She can do that?" Sarah whispered.
"Yes, I think she can. Come back 1:00 tomorrow afternoon
sharp--school is closed, right?"
"Yes, it's Christmas Eve
tomorrow," Sarah said.
"Okay, then, at 1:00 tomorrow
afternoon Dr. Chang will give Santa his new glasses, and…"
“We can have Santa’s old glasses!”
Petey finished.
Coming
tomorrow: Christmas Morning
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