Page 51 of Hearing Little Hadley

Santa walked down to his sleigh and made a big show of checking out all his reindeer.

“Wow, I think this is the best my team has ever looked!”

Hadley felt a surge of pride at his words. They had been the best Reindeer Team ever.

“Thank you so much, boys and girls. You did such a great job being good this year and with my team. Santa is so proud of you all.”

Everyone cheered and the Bigs clapped for the excited bunch. Hadley wished her Daddy was here so he could hear how proud Santa was of them. She hoped she would make him proud too.

“Do you guys think you could help me with one more thing?”

“Yes, Sir, Santa! We can help you with anything!” Mindy shouted. Hadley wasn’t so sure they could help Santa with anything. What if he needed directions? Hadley wasn’t a directions type of girl. North? South? She could only tell you to turn left or right at the toy store.

“I forgot to give out a very important gift tonight. It’s the only one left in my sack. Do you guys think you could help me find the Little it belongs to? Since I’m not at the North Pole, I’m a little fuzzy.”

Poor Santa. Hadley thought maybe he needed some cookies.

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

“We can help you find the person, Santa!”

“I know everyone on the Ranch, Santa, I can help.”

Hadley smiled at all the people willing to help Santa. What a wonderful group of friends.

“Perfect,” Santa said, pulling his bag to the front of him and digging around in there. He pulled out a tiny box.

Oh, it was sooo teenie. Maybe it was a pacifier for a nursery Little.

“Okay, this present is for Hadley Bright. Does anyone know where she might be?”

“That’s you!” Mindy squealed.

That was her. Oh my!

Everyone talked at once and Hadley found herself a bit overwhelmed. She wished her Daddy was here.

“Quiet down, quiet down, please. Santa needs to hear,” Master Travis corrected the group.

Hadley reached for Mindy’s hand and Mindy took it. “It’s okay. Do you want me to walk with you?”

Hadley nodded, thankful Mindy offered.

Her friend walked with her to the front of the group.

Hadley tapped herHadleycard.

“Hi, Hadley. It’s so nice to meet you again.” Now that she was standing in front of Santa she thought maybe he sounded familiar. More familiar than she remembered when she met him earlier.

“I am so sorry you didn’t get this present earlier. I don’t know how I missed it.”

“Maybe a naughty elf snuck it into your bag,” Mindy offered.

The grownups chuckled.

“A naughty elf in my toy shop? Perish the thought!” Santa said with an exaggerated shiver.

---