Leo held his breath, peeking through the banister. A stout man in a suit the color of a winter sunset stepped out, effortlessly stepping over the string without triggering the bell. Santa didn't look like a cartoon; he looked like a weary but joyful traveler. He moved with a strange, silent grace, placing a few hand-carved wooden toys under the tree.
In a cozy, snow-dusted cottage, little Leo couldn't sleep. It was Christmas Eve, and he was convinced he’d be the first kid to actually catch Santa in the act. He had a foolproof plan: a "trap" made of a single jingle bell tied to a string across the fireplace. The Night Before Christmas
As the clock struck midnight, a soft thud echoed from the roof. Leo froze under his covers. Then, a rhythmic clink-clink-clink of boots began descending the chimney. Leo held his breath, peeking through the banister
Just as Santa turned to leave, he paused. He looked directly at the spot where Leo was hiding and winked. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed a small, shimmering peppermint toward the stairs. Leo caught it—it was still cold, as if it were made of North Pole snow. He moved with a strange, silent grace, placing