The Polar Express

"All Aboard," the conductor cried out. I ran up to him.

"Well," he said, "are you coming?"

"Where?" I asked.

"Why, to the North Pole, of course," was his answer. "This is the Polar Express." I took his outstretched hand and he pulled me aboard."

"The train was filled with other children, all in their pajamas and nightgowns We sang Christmas carols and ate candies with nougat centers as white as snow.... "

(Impressive wait staff antics on the moving, bumpy train!)

"We drank hot cocoa as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars. Outside, the lights of towns and villages flickered in the distance as the Polar Express raced northward."

"But the one thing I wanted most for Christmas was not inside Santa's giant bag. What I wanted more than anything was one silver bell from Santa's sleigh. When I asked, Santa smiled. Then, he gave me a hug and told the elf to cut a bell from the reindeer's harness. The elf tossed it up to Santa. He stood, holding the bell high above him, and called out, "The first gift of Christmas!"

"At one time most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them....the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe."

**Quoted from The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg.**