The Night Before Christmas Now

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.

By the time Leo looked back down, the room was empty. The only sound was the faint, fading jingle of bells high in the sky and a deep voice echoing through the wind: "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" Leo realized then that the magic wasn't in catching Santa, but in the quiet wonder of knowing he was there. The Night Before Christmas

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. Just as Santa turned to leave, he paused