BY John, Leroy, Mike

Over in a busy corner of the Sears department store sat Santa Claus, hemmed in on all sides by a multitude of children. He was asking the usual question ‑ "Have you been a good little boy (or girl)?" ‑ and getting the usual answers. We too, wanted to ask questions, but we wanted our answers from Santa. So, when he began to close up for the night, we closed in.

"May we ask you a few questions, Santa?"

"Of course you can!" came the jovial reply.

"Well Santa, we were wondering where you started your trip every Christmas?"

"Why at the North Pole, naturally."

"With all the territory you have to cover today, why do you still use an old fashioned sled in such a modern age?"

"It's traditional," Santa quickly answered.

"Do you think the green Christmas tree will ever go out of style?"

"No, the newer trees are too commercialized to overcome the spirit and feeling of Christmas the old green tree has."

"How can Santa Claus compete with the large department stores?"

"Well, the department stores assist me in displaying my toys for the children so they know what to ask for," was Santa's rather evasive reply.

"How do you intend to supply the latest child‑boom with toys?" we inquired trying to get trade secrets.

"I've been dealing with the child‑boom since 1942 and it still hasn't put any strain on my sleigh," Santa assured us.

"What do you find amusing or alarming in the choice of gifts children want?"

"For the girls, the favorite is still the doll. Boys want everything. But one disturbing fact is that the children are influenced by television commercials. For instance one little boy asked me for 'the Great Garloo by Marx'," Santa reported.

"What was the hardest question this year that a child has asked you?"

"One little girl pulled on my beard and asked me how often I shaved it," he confided. "I told her I shaved it every six months."

"Are you really Santa Claus?" we questioned.

"Merry Christmas to you and a good night!" he shouted as he disappeared into a back room door.