Jessie

“What have you heard?” George Clooney asks. He’s stalling. While our son recounts playground gossip I contemplate the ethics of the situation. George says “Santa lives in the hearts and minds of all men. Understand?” The boy shakes his head and turns to me. I don’t want to lie, but it feels hypocritical to dash the hopes of my fantasy child, so I tell him that Santa is as real as he is, and he’s satisfied for now.