Once upon a time there was a 10 year old boy called Jack who lived in Pallasgreen, County Limerick with his mum and dad. This Christmas his parents are sad because Jack said he does not believe in Santa Claus anymore. He really wants a Nintendo Wii game but canà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢t believe that Santa Claus will bring it to him. To help him believe again, his mum and dad decide to take him to Lapland to meet the real Santa. So on the morning of Christmas Eve, they take a flight from Shannon airport to Lapland and the fun begins.

When they arrive in Lapland, they see that the elves are busy making the presents. Santa and Mrs. Claus are double checking the childrenà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢s lists, eating mince pies and drinking milk. Jack is delighted when Santa asks him to help feeding the reindeer with scented hay and oats. After a wonderful day ità ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢s time to go to the airport and let Santa fill up the sleigh with toys. Before they leave, Jack tells his parents that he wants to run back into the workshop to thank Santa and tell him that he believes in him again. As soon as he enters the workshop he meets a sneaky elf called Tommy.

à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”Where are you from?à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚  asked Tommy.

à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”Pallasgreen, County Limerick, Irelandà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚ , answered Jack.

à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”Ià ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢ve always wanted to go to Ireland,à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚  said Tommy.

à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”Ità ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢s okay, I supposeà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚  said Jack à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”where is Santa, I want to say goodbye to him?à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚ 

à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”Oh,à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚  said the sneaky elf, à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”heà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢s in that room over there, let me take your coat and hat and Ià ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢ll wait out here for youà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚ .

à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”Thank youà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚  said Jack giving Tommy his coat and hat before going into the room to meet Santa.

But when he got into the room there was no sign of Santa only lots and lots of toys. The door shut behind him. Jack tried to open the door but ità ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢s locked. He hears Tommy laughing on the other side of the door, à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”Ha ha ha, I tricked you. Ià ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢m going to wear your hat and coat. Your parents will think that I am you and take me back to Ireland instead of youà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚ .

Jack is worried and bangs on the door for hours but noone hears him. Finally the door opens and who is there but Santa Claus.

à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”Ho ho ho, who in the name of Christmas Eve are you?à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚  shouts a surprised Santa.

à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”Ià ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢m Jack from Pallasgreenà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚  said Jack à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”that elf Tommy went home with my parents instead of meà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚ .

à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”I donà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢t believe it,à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚  said Santa à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”he did this last year too to a poor little girl from Spain. Wait until I get my hands on him. Donà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢t worry Jack, Ià ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢ll give you a lift home in the sleigh with me tonightà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚ .

à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”Thatà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢s greatà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚  said Jack, à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”what time do you arrive in Pallasgreen?à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚ 

à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”Well, ità ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢s one of my last stops so youà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢ll have to help me on the wayà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚ .

Santa gave Jack his spare red coat and cap. They were a little big but kept Jack warm in the sky on the sleigh.ԚÂ   They go first to New York, then onto Las Vegas, Japan, Thailand, Ballybunion, North Carolina, Australia, Brazil, Majorca, California and all the other countries. Jack throws the presents down the chimney to Santa which is a great help.

Finally they are heading for Jackà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢s home but not before delivering their final presents to Carolynn in Shelbourne Park, Limerick, Claire in Crecora, Mary-Bridget in Lisnagry, Barry in St. Maryà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢s Park, Rose in Dromkeen and finally Josephine in Pallasgreen, a few doors up from Jack. After a long night, Jack is delighted to be home but they still have to deal with the sneaky elf Tommy who they find is sound asleep in Jackà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢s bed. Santa rings his bell loudly in Tommyà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢s ear and Tommy jumps up with the fright.

à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”Oh no,à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚  cried Tommy à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”I got caught, please Santa donà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢t be cross with meà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚ .

à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”Well, Tommy, youà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢re going to be cleaning the toilets in the North Pole for next 3 months and weà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢ll see then if we can trust you againà ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚ .

They all say goodbye and a tired Jack gets back into bed until morning time. When he wakes up he wondered if it was all a dream.

Downstairs he finds his present under the Christmas tree. Ità ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢s a Nintendo Wii. He is delighted and wants to run upstairs to show his mum and dad but he notices a note with his name on it. Ità ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢s from Santa.

à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã…”Dear Jack, thank you for all your help last night. Ià ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢m sorry that Tommy tricked you, I will be keeping an extra close eye on him next Christmas Eve. Ià ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã¢”ž ¢m leaving you with an extra present of my own red coat and cap so you will always know that Santa is real. Love from Santa.à ¢Ã¢”š ¬Ã‚ 

And Jack and his family had the happiest Christmas ever.