"Ho ho ho," Chortled Santa "A tasty treat for Santa"
He picked up a cookie and popped it in this mouth. Declan watched with anticipation, but nothing happened. It must've been one of the store cookies.
"What a nice boy to leave out these cookies!" Santa commented when he bit into a second cookie and munched it down.
"Doesn't he ever shut up?" Declan thought. He wasn't even talking to anyone. He watched as Santa slowly savoured a third, fourth and fifth cookie, giving a cheery commentary every time. Declan was getting antsy, only two cookies left. Santa popped the second last cookie in his mouth and Declan leaned forward eager not to miss a thing.
"Mmmm, how delicious, and a glass of milk to wash it down" Santa laughed, picking up the glass and slowly glugging it all in one swig.
Declan wanted to groan but kept quietly watching, holding his breath.
"And the biggest cookie for last!" Santa exclaimed, he lifted the last cookie slowly to his mouth and paused "...but where are my manners, you've been watching me this whole time, you must be hungry"
Santa turned to face Declan and a twinkle flashed in his eye. Oh humbug! Declan turned to run, but before he could even stand he found himself bumping head-first into Santa's big brass belt buckle and falling on his butt. What the heck? Since when could Santa teleport!?
"Why don't you have a cookie Mr Hall?" Santa offered, with that jolly voice of his.
"Uhh, no." Declan declined nervously "That's ok Santa, the cookies are for you!"
"That's very generous Mr Hall," Santa boomed. "But I'm trying to watch my figure, why don't you listen to old Saint Nick and take a bite?"
Santa waved the cookie in front of Declan's mouth. It doesn't look like he was getting out of this.