It was a cold Christmas morning, and TJ woke shivering--his ploy of leaving the bedroom window open so that the chill of the night would wake him worked. Luckily, Sam, his brother didn't seem to be bothered by it, so TJ quietly snuck down the stairs in hope of a sneak peek at his presents.

TJ had a bit of difficulty with stairs since he started using crutches--they made a click-clack sound that seemed so much louder in the still of the night. Still, he didn't seem to wake the rest of his family, so when he kept around the corner into the living room, he was surprised to see a figure lurking by the tree.

"Ho, ho, ho!" the dark shape exclaimed as TJ approached. Slipping his glasses on, and coming closer, TJ saw that the stranger wore not a fur trimmed coat and boots, but a sensible suit.

"Are you...?" the young fox asked in astonishment.

"John Smith," the stranger said, handing TJ a box wrapped in blue paper, "Merry Christmas!" The stranger in the suit headed out the front door, and TJ heard a whirring noise, then the click of the bolt latching.

TJ sat down on the floor, wondering what could be inside his box.

TJ © me
Art by  BabyChrisTheFox
Commissioned by  Pieforberries1
Blue Boxes © The BBC