Della’s Stocking Sneak Game — Behind the warm mantel, Della held a tiny striped box and whispered, “Tap, tuck, don’t get stuck.” She had invented the Stocking Sneak Game: creep three steps, drop one gift in Santa’s stocking, and giggle only after. Read the full story →
Behind the warm mantel, Della held a tiny striped box and whispered, “Tap, tuck, don’t get stuck.” She had invented the Stocking Sneak Game: creep three steps, drop one gift in Santa’s stocking, and giggle only after. The fire popped. The pine tree smelled sharp and sweet. Della’s knees wobbled, but she took her first brave step.
Step two squeaked on the rug. Step three was almost perfect—until a puppy lifted his head. He had a bone between his paws and a jingly bow on his neck. Then Della saw it: the puppy wasn’t guarding Santa’s stocking at all. He was waiting for his turn.
“Judge Wiggles says yes,” Della whispered, and tucked the box in. The puppy thumped his tail, bump-bump-bump, like a tiny drum. Next time you spot the bone on the rug, you’ll know where the game began: tap, tuck, don’t get stuck.
