I'm Telling You Why

As Christmas morning dawned bright and clear, the scene of carnage unfolded. Sunlight winked off of bodies lying prone in the snow, while acrid smoke still curled from massive craters where grand houses used to be. Bits of gifts, decorations, and more unmentionable things littered the ground and the sound of weeping rent the frosty air.

They had toiled all year to prevent his coming, but even the best of us screw up from time to time. The town's children gathered around the holes that were all that remained of their neighbors and friends. Holding hands, they recited the chant they repeated at this time every year:

"He sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake,
He knows if you've been bad or good
so be good for goodness sake..."

A tourist who had been passing through town stumbled out of the local inn. He was a nice enough chap; he was just lonely. His Christmas Eve was spent folded over the bar counter. As his eyes adjusted to the glaring sunlight, he choked on his cup of coffee. Staggering over to the nearest child, he grabbed her shoulder and demanded,"What on God's green earth happened here?!"

She looked up at him, her eyes full of innocence and tears. As one escaped and slowly slid down her cheek, she whispered softly,

"Santa Claus came to town."