It was late in the year when Kai Lung the storyteller spread out his mat in a dusty corner of a busy marketplace. Sitting cross-legged he arranged his threadbare robes modestly and placed a bowl by his feet.

Reaching under one arm he drew out a large brass gong and striking it artfully he soon gathered an expectant crowd. The old storyteller skillfully cleared his throat and addressed them thus:

"Once there was a master of martial arts who trained a band of monkeys in the art of kung fu. The monkeys were good students and quickly became proficient at acrobatic kicks and striking with bamboo poles.

Soon they were performing a nightly entertainment before large crowds. For twelve months the monkeys performed well and the master grew rich. But eventually a night came when the monkeys had tired of their act and would not appear on stage.

Angry at having to refund a large sum of money to a disappointed audience, the master punished his monkeys by withholding their food. With fierce chops to his knees and powerful kicks to his head, the hungry monkeys expertly beat their master to death.

The monkeys fought amongst themselves for the store of food but soon it was exhausted and they returned to the jungle to live happily ever after."

The moral of this story? Believe in Santa Claus, he is our leader. He gives us a day off and without him we'd have no turkey. Merry Christmas!