The Christmas Present That Couldn't Be Made

The letter asked for a dragon.

Not a toy dragon.

A real dragon, large enough to ride, with purple scales and excellent manners.

The elf reading it looked at Santa.

“We can make a wonderful dragon toy.”

“Yes,” Santa said. “But that isn’t what the child asked for.”

They looked at the picture tucked inside the letter. The child had drawn themself flying above the clouds.

Santa understood why the wish mattered. It was a splendid wish.

It was also something he could not bring.

He sat down to write a reply.

“I can see how much you hoped for a real dragon,” he began. “I can’t bring one. If that makes you disappointed, you don’t have to pretend you aren’t.”

The elf leaned over his shoulder.

“Should we say the toy is just as good?”

Santa shook his head.

“It might be lovely. It still isn’t the same thing.”

He continued.

“Not getting this wish does not mean you did anything wrong. It does not change your place on the Nice List. Some things cannot fit into a Christmas delivery, even with magic.”

In the workshop, an elf carved a small purple dragon. Another made a book with room for drawings of cloud castles and dragon adventures.

Santa hoped the child would enjoy them. He did not expect them to erase every disappointed feeling.

Before he sealed the reply, he added one more sentence.

“You can love a present and still wish for something else.”

Then he looked again at the picture.

“Excellent manners,” he murmured. “A very thoughtful detail.”

Outside, a reindeer poked its nose through the open window and ate the corner of Santa’s biscuit.

The elf raised an eyebrow.

“Perhaps we should begin with manners for the animals we already have.”

Santa folded the letter carefully.

“A sensible first step,” he said.