But the builder did say there were no guarantees
that all would be signed and they’d hand them the keys.
The family had hoped, though, that all would be readied,
By Christmas at least, and their lives would be steadied.

“But we packed all the lights--we can’t have our own tree,
Will Santa find the chimney where we happen to be?
Grandma does have one, but it’s just not the same,”
Said the littlest Bradley when Christmas Eve came.

“Does Santa have x-ray vision for sight?
Will he find us all here on this cloudy, cold night?
And what if he comes to the new house in error?”
The little boy asked with his face hinting terror.

His father said Santa would fly over town
And be sure to find Grandma’s as his sleigh did fly down.
But the littlest Bradley was just not convinced
That on Christmas day morning, his toys would be clinched.

So he slipped out of bed when there was no one was looking,
And he threw on his jacket – in a flash he was booking.
His mission was clear. He’d leave Santa a treat
By the new home’s yet unfinished chimney to eat.

A kind of insurance that all would be covered,
And that toys would be dropped as the magic sleigh hovered.
“I’ll leave him a note with my Grandma’s address,
That way Santa will find us and not have to guess.”

He arrived at the new house and found his way in,
To leave him his note and a gaily-wrapped tin.
As he looked toward the fireplace what then did he find?
A note from dear Santa, all sealed and signed.

The little boy questioned just why he would leave it,
And how Santa would know he’d be there to retrieve it.
“I knew you’d be worried and left this to say
That all would be well on your good Christmas day.”

“I never forget where you little ones are,
And no place is too foreign to me or too far.
So get back to your bed and remember to sleep,
I never break vows that I’ve promised to keep.”

“And next year when you and your family are here,
I’ll test out your new chimney with my sleigh and reindeer.”
And the little boy smiled and thought to himself
That he needn’t leave cookies and a note on the shelf.

In Christmases future he wouldn’t need fear
That Santa would doubt that his family lived here.
So he trudged through the snow and he climbed over lumber
To Grandma’s old house and his warm, happy slumber.

The night was so quiet when he got into bed,
While visions of Santa did dance in his head.
And he heard a deep voice as he turned off the light,
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”