Marks & Santa

Emily: "Mummy, why does the chocolate that Father Christmas brought me say 'Marks & Spencer' on it?"

Nevi: "Ummm... I don't know. Perhaps he got a bit delayed this year and had to get some of his stuff from the shops?"

Emily [Staring wide-eyed in disbelief]: "But that's... that's impossible! Santa doesn't buy things from the shops!"

Nevi: "Doesn't he?"

Emily: "Of course not mummy, the elves make everything. [Duh!] So why does this say 'Marks & Spencer'?"

Nevi: [Weakly] "I don't know, darling."

Emily: "There's only one answer." [There is a look of gravity on her face. This is it. The end of innocence. Her childhood illusions shattered. I can hardly bear to listen.] "Father Christmas must go to Marks and Spencer's in the middle of the night when it's closed, and make drawings of all the things there, and then he shows them to the elves and they make them. It's obvious!"

Nevi [Audibly relieved]: "Obvious! Clever old Father Christmas. Who would've thought it?"