Northstar Vale Phyllis -- a woman -- has uslurped my role as Santa.

Ibis had tucked herself in to the den with some care, as Arielle had slept most of the morning away and she did not want to wake her. When the hours progressed and the child remained slumbering the mother began to fret about; she gathered the cherub to her breast and started to groom at her carefully - and then with such gusto that she might have jostled her awake. Bits of dust collected on her tongue but she hardly cared.

After this, Ibis looked for her other daughter - and found her tawdling in to the den with something clutched between her teeth. This sent Ibis in to a small panic. What if Lilitu tripped and swallowed the rock? What if she choked?! The little one plopped the item down and called out, Mama!

Ibis hurriedly scooped the stone away, listening to it clatter against the den wall where it sank in to some soil. Lilitu, no! That could hurt you — that — wait. Did she speak? Was that -- Oh, but that was very good! Can do you it again? Say it - say mama.