"Thomas M. Disch - The M D" - читать интересную книгу автора (Disch Thomas M)

"No," said Billy,

"I saw him come down the chimney. He wasn't the Santa's helper at
Dayton's, I've seen him too. This was the real Santa Claus."

There was a giggle from the front of the classroom. Many of the
children already understood that there was no Santa.

Indeed, Sister Symphorosa sometimes speculated that the deceit of Santa
Claus was one that children practiced on their parents rather than the
other way round, that they all understood the practical impossibility
of flying reindeer and of Santa's simultaneous appearance on a global
basis, but that they knew they'd get more presents if they went along
with the whole charade. This was a possibility she found extremely
angering.

"William," she said quite sternly, 'you must not tell lies."

"I'm not lying."

Sister Symphorosa bit her lip. In the face of such obstinacy the only
proper course was to administer corporal punishment.

But since the boy was now behaving sedately she decided to restrain
herself. Let Sister Fidelis solve the problem, if sshe could, with her
liberal principles!

Sister Symphorosa wrote out a note to Sister Fidelis, folded it, and
handed it to the Michaels boy.

"I want you to take this note to the principal. Do you know where her
office is?"

The boy nodded.

"You tell Sister Fidelis what you told me, and if she agrees that you
saw Santa Claus come down the chimney, then she will give you a note to
me saying that you are not a liar. But if she does not, then you will
have to apologize to me and to the entire class for wasting our time
with such ridiculous nonsense.

And you will not be allowed back into my class without either that note
or an apology. Because I cannot tolerate liars. " When he was out of
the room, Sister Symphorosa, as a kind of reward to the rest of the
class, told them the true story of St Nicholas, bishop of Myra, how
he'd miraculously brought back to life three rich youths whom a wicked
innkeeper had murdered, dismembered, and hidden in a salting tub.

"And that," Sister Symphorosa said, rounding off the wonderful tale
with a lesson, "is why St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children,