Long ago, a wicked wizard lived on the far side of the sunset. There he prepared spells to destroy happiness and laughter.

One day he said to himself, "I must capture Santa Claus!" he crowed. "Then millions of people all over the world will be miserable!"

Now, capturing Santa Claus was simple, for he was a trusting fellow. He was minding his own business, browsing through stores and market stalls, when, all of a sudden 一 WHOMP 一 he stepped into the wicked wizard's net trap.

Up, up he went, whisked off the street, off the Earth, swept away to the far side of the sunset.

"Gotcha!" cried the wizard as he rubbed his hands together and danced up and down.

Santa drew in a deep breath and stared at the wizard. "How could you do this?" he cried.

"It's wonderful, don't you think?" cackled the wizard.

Then Santa had a magnificent, glorious notion. He said, "Could you leave me for a while? I want to be sad all alone."

The wizard was suspicious, but he thought, "Oh well, what could he possibly do?" and so he skipped off to his study.

Once the wizard left the room, Santa sent his dear wife a message by thought wave: "I've been kidnapped. You and the elves must sew thousands of suits, boots, and beards exactly like mine. You must make them for people to wear, loving people who will have to take my place, just this year."

Mrs. Claus got the message, and within days, there were thousands of men and women, in all parts of the world, wearing Santa outfits.

Now, once the wizard saw this, he ran to see the real Santa Claus. "What have you done?!" he cried.

"Love will always triumph over hate," Santa said.

This so upset the wizard that he ran away, never to be heard from again.

Then Santa Claus was free, and he returned to Mrs. Claus. All the new Santas so loved their new jobs they begged Santa to let them work again every Christmas, and Santa Claus agreed. +とwＷW。FＡｉrＹ－TＡＬＥ.ｉnＦo9ふc

So, they still can be seen on street corners, in malls, anywhere people can be found.