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Bryan."
    "I'm a big boy," Bryan replied. "I'll get over it."
    "But will Susan?" Kringle said.
    Bryan didn't know how to answer that.
    Kringle opened the door and stepped into the taxi. "I know what you want for Christmas," he said. "I'll see what I can do."
    Bryan nodded and waved good-bye.
    As the cab drove away, Bryan felt hope. He believed Kringle.
    Thirty-four years old, and Bryan Bedford still believed in Santa Claus.
    It was hard to find Tony Falacchi. He had no known address. Jack Duff and Alberta Leonard looked for days.
    On December 17 they finally tracked him down.
    "Yeah, I did good work for Cole's last year, and they fired me," Tony complained. "They see this old wacko in the crowd and hire him."
    "Tell me about him," Duff said.
    "The old guy? A loon," Tony replied. "He climbed on my float, he was in my face. I had the cops clear him out."
    "Did he get aggressive?" Duff pressed on.
    "He had a cane. He tried to give me a whack with it!"
    Duff smiled. He pulled a one-hundred-dollar bill out of his pocket. Leaning toward Tony with a big grin, he said, "I've got a little job for you."

December 18, 3:37 P.M.

    7 Days To Christmas
    "How's business, pops?" Kriss Kringle's smile faded. It had been a busy, jolly day at Santa's Workshop.
    The last person he expected to see was Tony Falacchi.
    But Falacchi was at the head of the line, among all the children, leering. His chin was unshaven, his clothes ragged.
    "Sir," Denice said, "this is for children. Could you please step aside?"
    Tony turned around to face the waiting line of kids. "That guy up there ain't the real Santa Claus," he announced. "He don't live at the North Pole. He lives in a nursing home on West 114th Street. He's a fake!"
    Kriss Kringle was boiling. He started to rise. Denice quickly brought over the next kid in line, a little boy.
    "Merry Christmas," Tony said with a cackle. He barged back through the line, elbowing his way past the children.
    The little boy climbed into Kringle's lap. He looked up in awe and said, "You live on my street!"
    Kringle had cooled down by the end of the day. He left Cole's, tired but happy, and began walking home.
    He didn't notice Jack Duff, Alberta Leonard, and Tony Falacchi following hm.
    "Hey, goofball!" Tony shouted.
    Kringle stopped walking.
    Tony swaggered up behind him. "Tell me something, you sorry old cripple. Why's a guy your age playing this kind of game? Are you just a lonely, pathetic old mental case?"
    Kriss Kringle turned around. Falacchi was grinning at him.
    That did it. Kringle lifted his cane and charged.
    Shielding his head with his arms, Tony screamed and fell to the sidewalk.
    Alberta Leonard was prepared. Hidden in the crowd, she pressed 9-1-1 on her cellular phone.
    " Stop that man! " Jack Duff bellowed.
    Reeeeoooo-reeeeoooo!
    A siren wailed. Passersby crowded around. Tony moaned on the sidewalk. Alberta kneeled over him.
    Across the street, a photographer stepped out from a shadow and began flashing away.
    Kringle stood there, frozen, bewildered at the sudden swirl of events. "I didn't intend to injure him!" he pleaded.
    "Get the cane away from him!" Duff yelled.
    A man in the crowd took Kringle's cane. Another man and Duff grabbed Kringle by the arms. A police car pulled up to the curb.
    "He provoked me!" Kringle said.
    "Save it for the cops, sir," Duff replied. Alberta looked up from Tony with concern. "He's hurt bad." Then, widening her eyes at the sight of Kringle, she shouted, "Wait a second— you're the Cole's Santa Claus! "
    A murmur went through the crowd. A toddler started to cry. Several parents pulled their children away in disgust.
    Kringle looked around him. His jaw was quivering. Duff was yanking on his arm now, pulling open his coat. A policeman slapped handcuffs on him.
    Click! Click! Click!
    As the policeman pushed Kringle into the car, the photographer's flash exploded in his face.
    All he could do was bow his head.
    And try to ignore the hurt, betrayed, and angry faces in the