Santa's breath puffed up in a big fog as he walked stiffly back home. Checking on the reindeer was becoming more and more of a task in this cold. Hig big, fluffy red overcoat, that used to be so warm, now hung loosely around his powerful shoulders.

"These are practically rags,” he spouted to himself. “If only Mrs. Claus wasn’t always so busy, I could ask her to sew me up another one.”

            As he walked through his huge, double doors the warmth and hot cocoa smell engulfed him. There were only two more days until Christmas; so much work to do and so little time. Santa never liked to rush his elves but he decided that maybe it was needed this year. They all worked so hard, and to have to speed them up was unfortunate. Mrs. Claus was hard at work too, knitting robes, dresses and slacks for all the children of the world. Even Santa was full of responsibilities! Training and prepping all the reindeer was proving to be more difficult this year. There was no time to sew Santa a new jacket.

“Oh my, I’m sure to freeze this Christmas,” Santa proclaimed to Mrs. Claus.

“Why do you say that dear?” Mrs. Claus questioned.

“My jacket is so thin, it’s like rags now.”

Santa held up his jacket for Mrs. Claus to examine. She looked over the red, satin tatters of overcoat.

“Santa that just won’t do. We’ll have to find a way to make you a new jacket,” Mrs. Claus said with a worried expression on her face. “Have you checked with the elves?”

Santa shook his head but explained that this year everyone was simply too busy.

“What a problem we have here, oh dear, oh dear!” Mrs. Claus said.

Santa and Mrs. Claus thought about it all day and still could not come up with a solution. Santa paced while Mrs. Claus fretted, and still they couldn’t think of anything. That night they ate dinner and barely said a work to each other until Mrs. Claus cheerfully exclaimed,

“Now Santa, we have always fixed our problems in the past. We will this time, too.”

“I know, I know, but I have thought it over all day and my coat is still hopelessly in rags.”

They both decided to go to bed and maybe by morning they would have a solution to the depressing dilemma.

In the midst of Mrs. Claus’s dream of dancing sugarplums, she awoke with an idea. She didn’t want to waken Santa so she wrote down her thoughts and snuggled back into bed, knowing she would sleep better.

Santa awoke and yawned, still bundled under the covers. It was so cold at the Northpole but cozy warm inside there strongly built gingerbread house. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a tablet of paper with some scribbled words. The words read,

“Teach him.”

“Now what in the world could that mean?” Santa’s voice curiously questioned. “I suppose I’ll wait for Mrs. Claus to wake up, and then I’ll ask her.”

It was not too much longer before she did awaken; the smell of cocoa and toast never failed to shake her from her dreams.

“Mrs. Claus, what is this note on the pad of paper of mean?” A bewildered Santa asked.

“Oh, I’m so glad you saw it Santa. I had an idea last night!”

            Mrs. Claus went on to explain that after breakfast she was going to teach Santa how to sew.

“Well, that’s the most foolish idea I’ve ever heard of!” Santa puffed.

“Now Santa I realize you have been busy with the reindeer, but if we all work together you will have a warm, new jacket for Christmas.”

Although Santa was reluctant at first, he decided to go along with Mrs. Claus’s plan. All morning Santa sewed and stitched and sewed and stitched until his fingers were plum tired. Mrs. Claus, of course, was a wonderful teacher and didn’t hesitate to answer any and all of his questions. By noon they had nearly completed Santa’s new jacket.

“Oh it’s of no use,” cried Santa. “Tomorrow is Christmas, and the jacket is only half done. I have to check on Dancer, Prancer, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. They all have shown signs of a cold.”

“They’ll be fine dear, don’t you worry. And as for the jacket, I have finished all my day’s work early so I’ll finish the coat for you.”

Mrs. Claus had solved the Christmas Day dilemma. The next day Santa had his new jacket and was able to spread cheer to all the good little kids around the world