Page 1 of The Torment of Two

Tristan “Two” Sheridan (Nine Years Old)

Santa is real.

I hate Dax for lying and saying he isn’t. Dad always tells me you have to believe to get presents. Does Dax not want presents?

Stupid Dax said he could prove it. That if I went and dug around in my parents’ closet, I’d find them and all the candy that goes in the stocking.

I should have just ignored him, but I have to show him he’s wrong. My dads have never lied to me. They wouldn’t lie about Santa.

The garage door rumbles and then silence falls on our house. Dad said he had to run to the office to help Pops with something and that he’d be right back.

Usually that takes about fifteen minutes.

I’m going to have to hurry.

As soon as I’m sure Dad has left, I rush over to the front windows and peek out just in case. Dad’s SUV speeds away, leaving me to my mission.

Dax is going to feel so dumb when I tell him off when we play Xbox later. I can’t wait to laugh at him until my belly hurts.

Backing away from the window, I peek over at the decorated Christmas tree. There are so many gifts from my dads underneath, all of them wrapped perfectly with matching bows. There’s no way they’d also get me all the stuff Santa buys too. I’d be spoiled and Dad is always worried they’re spoiling me.

I’m telling you.

No freaking way.

I race out of the living room and go straight for my parents’ closet in their bedroom. Dad loves clothes. A lot. Pops built him a humongous closet for all his outfits a couple of years ago. Dax’s mom doesn’t have nearly as many outfits as Dad and she certainly doesn’t have a closet as big as my bedroom.

Dad really, really likes clothes.

I haven’t ever had a need to go into their closet much before. When Dad makes me help with laundry, it’s usually just to fold towels or put my own clothes away. Their closet is boring and filled with dad stuff like boots and ties.

Toys and candy too if Dax is right.

Which he’s totally not.

I flick on the light switch and take in all the clothes. Dad’s clothes take up most of the closet. Pops has a small section with the same ol’ blue jeans he always wears and his company T-shirts.

Ha!

No candy and toys!

Just as I’m about to leave, a small bulge behind Dad’s coats gets my attention. Slowly, I walk over to it, readying myself for toys to fall on top of my head. There’s not going to be toys behind these coats. There’s not.

I push one of the big leather coats aside and see a wooden trunk sitting on the floor up against the wall. It reminds me of one you’d find treasure in.

What if the treasure is Santa’s gifts?

My stomach twists at that thought. I’m going to be upset if Dax is right. He’s always right about everything and it’s so annoying.

Kneeling down in front of the chest, I notice my heartbeat is pounding so hard I can feel it echoing in my ears.

I have to know.

Is Santa real?

I hold my breath and force myself to open the trunk. Squinting, I try to shield my eyes from the truth.

Toys and candy galore.

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