“There’s no such thing as Santa Claus, “Bobby Leonard sneered. He stood at the edge of the
playground sand.
Emily Swanson jumped off her swing. She put her hands on her hips and shouted, “There is so!” She didn’t know why the tall fourth-grader enjoyed teasing her, but he sure knew how to make her mad.
Bobby laughed. “Really? How can you be sure?”
The nine-year-old girl bit her lip. If only she could tell him that she was a Super Spy. But she wasn’t allowed. It was top secret. Even Emily’s parents didn’t know!
“I just am,” she answered.
“No, you’re not. You can’t be. He isn’t real.”
“Bobby,” said Emily, “leave me alone.”
The bully made fists with his hands. “What are you going to do about it?”
The Super Spy knew what she wanted to do. She’d love to use a spy gadget on him. Something like the Trouble Bubble would capture Bobby in a gummy, sticky mess. That would teach him to pick on other kids.
Instead, she turned and walked away.
“He isn’t real!” Bobby shouted once more.
Emily kept moving. She stomped out of the park and across the street. It was time for her
Saturday morning karate lesson anyway.
*****
The karate studio felt different. It seemed brighter, happier. In fact, the peaceful feeling it gave Emily made her forget how mad she was at Bobby.
She walked through the lobby, saying hello to the blonde receptionist. Then she entered the blue, padded room. She was early, just like always. Yet no matter how soon she arrived, her instructor always got there first.
Today, however, her bald teacher wasn’t present. Someone else was waiting. He was a short, plump man. His long, white beard hung below his chubby, red cheeks.
Emily now understood why she felt so cheerful. She was staring at the leader of the Super Spies: Santa Claus.
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