WON'T TELL — Mary Korte

We do not promote Santa Claus to our children because Santa is a White thing. These words-spoken by a Black mother-not only shocked me but also served as my driving force to write this wrong through storytelling. Author Mary Korte CAPTIVATING, THOUGHT-PROVOKING, CONVINCING, TIMELY . . . NOBODY KNOWS, and nobody is going to know either. This mentality has worked for Santa since the day he placated his father by saying, Yes, Poppa. I'll keep it secret forever. Years pass. Due to social changes, the fears that led to his poppa taking drastic measures to protect Santa are no longer relevant. Santa knows this, but stubbornness, and lingering fears, cement his intent. He-wedded to the secret-keeping law since he was a small child-will not tell. No one outside the North Pole Region has guessed his secret and no one in his homeland has snitched. Past Christmas Seasons have been routine, but this one brings more surprises than are wanted. Besides someone searching for a way to expose his secret covertly, some serious/sad/hilarious reminiscing by Santa and Mitzi, regarding bygone days and past conflict in their marriage, foreshadows disaster . . . a disaster many elves fear could not only ruin Christmas but also Santa's reputation.