Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO FLYING WITH SANTA CLAUS! 'Whatever is the boy talking about?' said Santa Claus, puzzled. 'Wishing-chair! There aren't such things nowadays.' 'Well, we've got one,' said Mollie, overjoyed at Peter's idea. 'Come on, Santa. We'll take you to where we keep it, and then you'll see for yourself. You could fly in it to every chimney quite easily.'

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They dragged the big jolly man across the field and through the hedge into their garden. Binky was just as excited as everyone else. They all went into the playroom and Binky lit the lamp. 'There you are,' he said proudly, holding the lamp over the old wishing-chair. 'There's the wonderful chair. And look! It's grown its wings all ready to take you, Santa. It might have known you were coming.' Santa stared at the rose-red wings that were slowly flapping to and fro on the legs of the chair. His eyes shone in the lamplight. 'Yes,' he said. 'Yes. The very thing. I didn't know there was a wishing-chair in the world nowadays. May I really borrow it, children?' 'Yes,' said Mollie. 'On one condition,' said Peter, suddenly.

'What's that?' asked Santa Claus, putting his great bag over his shoulder. 'Take us with you in the chair for just a little while so that we can see how you slip down the chimneys and into the bedrooms,' begged Peter. 'Oh do!' 'But will the chair hold all of us?' said Santa doubtfully. 'I'm rather heavy, you know.' 'Oh, the chair is as strong as ten horses,' said Binky eagerly. 'You don't know the adventures it has had, Santa. Get in, and we'll go.' Santa sat down in the chair. He filled it right up. He took Mollie on his knee. Binky climbed to the back of the chair, where he always sat -and Peter sat on the sack of toys. The chair gave a creak, flapped its wings fast, and rose into the air.

'We're off!' cried Mollie, in excitement. 'Oh, who would have thought that we'd be flying to the housetops with Santa Claus tonight. What a fine adventure we'll have!' The wishing-chair rose high into the air once it got out of doors. Mollie shivered, for the air was frosty. Santa Claus covered her up with part of his wide coat. They passed

the elm tree where the sleigh and the reindeer had got caught. 'Look,' said Peter. 'There are your men freeing the reindeer from the branches, Santa Claus.' 'Good!' said Santa. 'They will be quite all right now. Hallo, the chair is flying down to this roof. Who lives here, children?'