When he finally got to speak, it was with a voice warm and soothing as hot buttered rum. “I know my retirement comes as something of a surprise, and it’s short notice, but, well, let’s just say that some things are beyond our control. Now, I wanted to speak to the children in the crowd. You older kids will know this but for you younger boys and girls, I wanted to explain what’s happening. Santa Claus—the first Santa Claus, that is—he gets real busy during the year, making toys up in the North Pole. So he asks us grown-ups for help.
“He appoints a Santa for each town, sometimes even for each mall or store. When it comes time for us to retire, he lets us pick our replacements. And just because you might know the new Santa doesn’t mean you should call him by his other name. You call the Pres
