11. The Kid Who Ruined Christmas

11 The Kid Who Ruined Christmas "Gasp!" everyone gasped. "Hey," I said. "You're not the real Santa! You're just some guy dressed up like Santa!" "Uh... well... um...," Santa mumbled. The fake Santa guy looked really familiar to me. I knew I had seen him somewhere before. So I picked his Santa hat up off his head. And you'll never believe in a million hundred years what was under there. Nothing! The guy was completely bald, just like Mr. Klutz, the principal of my school! In fact, the fake Santa guy was Mr. Klutz!

"Mr. Klutz!" I shouted. "What are you doing here?" "Uh... earning a little extra money over the holidays," he replied. I knew I was in trouble as soon as people saw Santa wasn't the real Santa. But I had no idea how much trouble I was in. "EEEEEEEK!" some girl shouted. "Santa

has no hair!" "He's a fake!" a boy yelled. "Mommy!" screamed another girl. "You told me that man was the real Santa Claus! You lied!" All the little kids in line started yelling, screaming, crying, and freaking out. Their parents were upset, too. "We've been waiting in line for an hour," a lady shouted, "and now this!" "It's that kid's fault!" one dad yelled, pointing his finger at me. "He ruined Christmas for my son. He ruined Christmas for everybody!" I thought I was gonna die. Mr. Klutz looked scared. He got up quickly and put a sign on his seat that said SANTA HAS GONE TO FEED HIS REINDEER. HE'LL BE BACK SOON.

"I'd better get out of here," he told me. "A.J., what do you have to say for yourself?" I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what to do. I had to think fast. "Uh, peace on earth, goodwill to men?" I said. "Get him!" somebody shouted. "Get that kid who ruined Christmas!" Bummer in the winter! There was only one thing I could do. Run!