Haven't you ever heard of Santa Claus?

ANITA. Oh, yes; many, many times. But you _can't_ be Santa Claus.

JACK FROST (_indignantly_). I'd like to know why I can't! It's my
name, isn't it?

ANITA. But you are not the real, real truly Santa Claus. He is an old,
old man. A leetla fat old man with white-a hair just like-a the snow,
and a long, white-a beard.

JACK FROST. Ho, you must be thinking of my daddy.

ANITA. Your daddy? Is Santa Claus your daddy?

JACK FROST. Sure, he is. I'm Jack Frost Santa Claus, Jr. Most folks
call me Jolly Jack Frost. The little fat man with the white beard is
my father.

ANITA (_astonished_). Why, I didn't know Santa Claus had any leetla
boys.

JACK FROST. Sure, he has. Who do you think takes care of the reindeer,
and who waters the doll-tree and picks the dolls?

ANITA. Picks the dolls? Do the dolls grow on trees?

JACK FROST. Yes, indeed, right next door to the taffy cottage, down
Chocolate Lane. I take care of the marble bushes and the popgun trees.
You just ought to see our wonderful gardens.

ANITA. Oh, I'd love to see them.

JACK FROST. We've got a Teddy-bear garden, and a tool garden, and a
furniture garden, and a game garden, and a candy garden, though most
of the candy comes from mines.

ANITA. The mines?

JACK FROST. Sure. We dig out just the kind we want. We have caramel
mines, and vanilla mines and mines full of chocolate almonds, and
rivers of fig paste and strawberry ice cream soda. They flow right
through the picture-book garden.

ANITA. Oh, it must be the most wonderful place in the whole world.

JACK FROST. And I help take care of it. I have fourteen little
brothers, and we're all twins.

ANITA. And have you a mother, too? Has Santa Claus a nice-a, fine-a
wife?

JACK FROST (_laughs_). Of course he's got a wife. Haven't you ever
heard of my mother. Her name is Mary.

ANITA. Mary? Mary what?

JACK FROST. Why, Merry Mary Christmas, of course. I thought everyone
knew that.

ANITA. And does she go round the world with Santa Claus on the night
before Christmas?

JACK FROST. Oh, no, she's too busy for that. She stays at home and
takes care of the gardens.

ANITA. But what are you doing here on the ship? I should think you'd
be with your father.

JACK FROST. Ah, that is a secret. You mustn't tell anyone.

ANITA. How can I tell anyone when I don't know myself.

JACK FROST. Well, maybe I'll tell you.

ANITA. Oh, if you only would. I'd just love to