“What?” Isaac screeched. Then he started shaking his head wildly. “Come on!” He whined. “You can’t possibly be serious.”
   When no one answered or did anything, he stubbornly crossed his arms in front of him. “Uh, uh. I’m not gonna do it, and you can’t make me.” He stated.
   “Come on, Ike.” Taylor said grinning. “It’ll be cool.”
   Isaac simply gave him a death glare that only made his grin larger.
   Zac jumped up. Ready to give his arguing statement. “Think of the children, Ikey.” He said smiling.
   He shook his head again. “No.”
   “It is a wonderful opportunity, Ike.” Mrs. Hanson conceded.
   “I’m not dressing up as some fat-man with reindeer!” Isaac stated loudly, as he threw his hands up for emphasis on what he was not going to do.
   Instantly, Zac’s hand flew over his mouth. Taylor went and held his hand over it to keep him quiet. Trying not to laugh himself. The image far too funny and realistic in their minds.
   Isaac only glared at them too. He turned to his mother. “Mom,” He whined some more.
   Mr. Hanson held his hand up. “Ike, it’s for a good cause.”
   Sulking for a few seconds, Isaac lifted his head up. A big grin plastered on his face. “Doesn’t Santa have helpers?” He asked knowingly.
   Mrs. Hanson smiled when she noticed Isaac was looking at Taylor and Zac’s backs. “Why, yes they do, Ike.” She answered.
   “And since this is for a good cause, Dad.” Isaac said shrugging nonchalantly. “I think Tay and Zac should be the elves.”
   “What?” They both shouted in unison. Turning around to face Isaac and then their parents.
   “That’s a good idea, Ike.” Mr. Hanson said smiling too.
   “You don’t mean this.” Taylor pleaded.
   “You can’t.” Zac begged.
   “With little pointed shoes, and little pointed hats, and bells.” Isaac said smiling deviously. Happy he wasn’t the only one suffering this fate.
   “No way!” Zac said shaking his head. “That’s too cruel.” He commented.
   “What’d we do?” Taylor questioned. Wondering if what they had done deserved such an outrageous punishment.
   “It’s for a good cause.” Isaac mocked them, still grinning.
   Mr. and Mrs. Hanson laughed at them as they left the room.
   “This is not fair.” Zac said slowly. Picking himself off his knees. He glared at his oldest brother. “I blame you.”
   Taylor nodded in agreement. “Me too.”
   Isaac continued to grin. He started whistling “Jingle Bells” as he walked out of the room.
   Zac and Taylor both glared at each other. This was so not their “Christmas Wish.”

   “Ike, you need to hurry up, honey!” Mrs. Hanson called from down the hall.
   Isaac groaned his answer. “This isn’t fair.” He protested.
   Taylor and Zac shouted out theirs too.
   “Boys, that’s enough!” Mr. Hanson called to them. “Now get moving!” He ordered.
   Obediently, Isaac, Taylor, and Zac walked down the hall and down the stairs.
   You could hear the bells from Zac and Taylor’s outfits ringing clearly through out the house.
   Once they hit the bottom step, Jessica started clicking away at her camera. Avery repeating the motions with her own pink Barbie camera that she got last year from Santa. While Mackie hugged his father’s leg while Mr. Hanson was filming with the video camera. Mrs. Hanson stood off to the side, holding Zoë and grinning proudly at how her sons turned out. Dressed as fictitious characters against their wills.

   Isaac sighed in relief. His leg and arms were about to fall off. And if he ever heard “All I want for Christmas is…” He was seriously gonna hurt someone.
   He noticed that Zac and Taylor weren’t exactly energized either. Both moved slowly and mechanically.
   Zac would bring one kid from the line up to Isaac, and then after the list of thirty presents was given off, was taken away by Taylor who gave them a candy cane to shut them up.
   Now why couldn’t they give the candy cane before they came to me? He asked wearily.
   Once the alarm on his wrist went off, he smiled happily, and began to sit up straighter. He had two more kids to see and then he was done for tonight, and hopefully for forever. Having a scratchy white beard stuck to your face and big pillow under a big sweaty coat just was not a fun thing.
   Okay, one more child. He thought eagerly as Zac picked up the little boy, about six or seven, and set him gently on his lap.
   “Ho, ho, ho, and what is your Christmas Wish, little boy?” Isaac asked. His deep voice going even deeper to play the part as Santa.
   The little by looked up at him. Cradling his left arm protectively. “I don’t want to lose my arm, Santa.” He said softly, as his eyes got teary and threatened to spill over.
   Isaac stopped for a second. He stopped breathing, he stopped thinking, he stopped moving. His focus was intently place on this boy in his lap.
   “What is your name?” He asked gently, talking in his normal voice.
   “Joey.” The boy mumbled, his left arm still being cradled.
   “Well, Joey...” Isaac started. “Why would you lose your arm?”
   Joey looked up at him. His dark brown eyes mimicked the same shade as his. “I-I got cancer.” He said quietly. His voice betrayed a small lisp and stutter.
   That was all it took to break down the charade Isaac had been playing. “What do the doctor’s say?”
   The little boy shrugged his right arm slightly. “They’re gonna operate Christmas morning.” He responded. “They don’t know if they can stop the cancer from spreading anymore or not.”
   Isaac swallowed the lump that seemingly rose up in his throat. My dear God. He thought regretfully. And I didn’t want to do this? He questioned himself. And miss this?
   Mentally, he gave himself a shake. “You’ll do okay, Joey.” He said confidently. What else could he possibly say to this boy? You have to do okay. He added silently.
   “Is there anything else, you wish for?” Isaac asked out of habit, and nearly kicked himself when he realized he had.
   Joey shook his head. “I just don’t wanna lose my arm.” He repeated.
   Nodding slowly, Isaac looked up at Taylor and he removed the little boy, handing him a candy cane.
   Zac and Taylor instantly started cleaning up and then ran for the public bathrooms. A backpack full of “normal clothes” each.
   Dazedly, Isaac followed suit. One Christmas Wish stuck in his mind.
   Not the cute little blond girl asking for the pony, or the ten year old boy asking for a baby brother, or the twin brother and sister asking for the train set with four settings, it was the little boy asking to keep his arm for Christmas.