He looked over the top of his glasses at the eight who had lined up before him. He spoke softly, but bit off each word.

“You have committed verbal assault. The names you called him were unconscionable. That constitutes bullying. Further, you forced him to sit on the sidelines during your games. I have a zero-tolerance policy with respect to bullying. I have a strict policy of inclusion. You have violated both policies.

“You must learn to judge a person not by appearance, but by abilities.

“You are all suspended from now until the night before Christmas.”

The eight nodded and blushed in shame. Their faces were redder than the nose of the one they had teased. Dasher led the humbled gang from the office. Blitzen, who brought up the rear, looked back, but did not see the expected twinkle in Santa’s eye.

Paul Lentz
Peachtree City, Ga.