EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the sixth chapter in a 12-chapter fictional tale that will run through Christmas Day. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to their children.

A beautiful sleigh was waiting for them outside the toy store, pulled by horses with shimmering white coats. They traveled the quiet, snow-covered streets until they came to a stop in front of a gray brick building. The weathered wooden sign above the door read “Cottonwood Cove Children’s Hospital.”

Gabby shifted a box of toys in her arms, glancing back at the sleigh, which held stacks of brightly wrapped packages tied with shiny bows.

“Are you sure we should just walk in?” Gabby asked, looking at her dad, who had another armful of gifts. “What if they think we’re weird for just … showing up with all this?”

Her dad smiled and nodded toward the door. “I’m sure they’re expecting us, right? C’mon, let’s spread a little Christmas cheer in there.”

As they stepped inside, they were greeted with the scents of cinnamon and pine. The lobby was modest but inviting, with a small Christmas tree in the corner and garlands of paper snowflakes strung along the walls.

A woman with silver-streaked hair and kind eyes greeted them. “Welcome, welcome! I’m Maggie Everett. Let me show you to our common room — most of our current patients are well enough to move around, but not quite well enough to go home just yet.”

Maggie smiled over her shoulder as she led them down the hall. “The kids will be so excited! Sometimes it’s hard to find things to be happy about here — I think you’re just what they need.”

As they went farther down the hall, muffled giggles and chatter grew louder. When they reached the common room, every head turned toward them and a dozen children stared with wide eyes.

“Who are they?” a little boy with messy brown hair whispered loudly.

Maggie chuckled. “Everyone, these are some special visitors who have something very exciting for you.”

Gabby stepped forward hesitantly, setting her box of gifts on a long table. “Hi, um, I’m Gabby, and this is my brother Noah, and our parents. We helped make these gifts just for you guys.”

“For us?” a girl with pigtails asked, her eyes sparkling.

“Yup,” Noah said with a grin, pulling out brightly wrapped packages and lining them up on the table. “And I promise they’re awesome. I should know. I made half of them.”

The room filled with the sound of ripping paper, gasps and laughter.

A boy unwrapped a wooden train set and immediately began pushing it along the table, grinning as it let out cheerful whistles.

A girl carefully opened a box to reveal a plush puppy. When she hugged it, the puppy’s nose lit up like a little lantern.

Gabby smiled as she watched the kids’ reactions. Seeing the joy on their faces filled her with warmth, and made her feel like they were truly part of something special.

As the afternoon went on, the family played with the children, sharing stories of how they made the toys. When it was time to leave, the kids hugged them goodbye, their faces glowing.

A nurse named Eve led them back through the hospital to where the sleigh was waiting for them.

“Oh my,” Eve said, her eyes wide with curiosity as she took in the sight of the horses and sleigh.

Mom laughed. “I know,” she said, gently rubbing the neck of one of the horses. “The folks over in Merrywood Falls certainly like to go all out, don’t they?”

“Merrywood Falls?” Eve asked, her forehead wrinkled in confusion.

“You know,” Dad replied, “the village a few miles from here that looks like Christmas exploded all over it? These toys all came from there.”

Eve just stared at them with a puzzled expression.

“Hmm…I’ve never heard of Merrywood Falls. As far as I know, we get the toys from a statewide toy collection program.”

Gabby and her dad exchanged a look, and he chuckled. “There must be some confusion. It’s definitely very real.”

“Oh, well, I’m sure it is! I’m no geography expert, after all,” Eve said with a laugh.

As they settled into the sleigh, Gabby couldn’t help wondering if there was even more to the mystery of Merrywood Falls than she had thought.

Read chapter 7 in tomorrow’s newspaper.