A Reversible Santa Claus

"A Reversible Santa Claus" by Meredith Nicholson is a story set in the early 1900s, about a former criminal named The Hopper trying to go straight. On Christmas Eve, The Hopper, who is trying to avoid getting caught, plans on stealing a car but instead finds a young child in the backseat, landing him right in the middle of a very questionable situation. Throughout his journey to return the child, called Shaver, amidst a holiday backdrop, The Hopper struggles between his old habits and his wish to become a better person. The story balances humor and moral questions as The Hopper works his way around the law and his own past, hoping to discover redemption during the festive period along his unexpected journey.