His teacher has her hands holding her face as she looks in horror towards an empty bookshelf.

All her little students are looking up at her, as if trying to read her mind to gauge the extent of this dilemma.

All the maths books have been stolen.  All of them!

Now my son’s teacher loves maths.  Her class begins every single day working in their maths books.

It’s the routine and now, with the maths books missing, everyone is unsure of what to do.

Not only is there the question of where the books are, but who took them?  

Sitting silently on the mantelpiece of the classroom is a Christmas Elf who goes by the name of Phillip.

We know his name is Phillip because he graffitied the whiteboard sometime during the night and no one is ever allowed to touch the teacher’s whiteboard.

He looks like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth, sitting up nice and straight in his red and green outfit.

But it appears he is the only suspect and therefore guilty of this classroom crime.

Children are sent flying around the school premises searching high and low.  

From class to class they run, looking through the playground, up trees and under benches, eventually finding the maths books in the Assistant Principal’s office.

How incredibly wonderful is the joy of Christmas through children’s eyes.  

No matter how you feel about Santa or Jesus or presents or turkey, there is no denying that at this time of year children can let their imaginations run wild.  

It’s the one time of the year when magic is as real as you want it to be.  And sometimes the best Christmas moments don’t actually cost any money or take huge amounts of planning.

Sometimes the joy isn’t found in presents under a Christmas tree or the biggest lunchtime spread that covers the entire table.

Sometimes it’s the little simply fun activities that make the magic grow and sweep up our children, and a few of us adults, into the spirit of what this season is all about.

Giving of ourselves to each other; sharing what we have with those around us no matter how much or how little that is; having fun with one another; and above all, letting kids be kids.

My little boy came home from school in such a happy mood after Phillip the Christmas Elf had run amok.  

He later quietly asked me if I actually believed the elf had taken the maths books because he had his doubts. But then answering his own question, he said he hope something else would be stolen again tomorrow.