All Jim had ever wanted for Christmas was a Shortstop of his own. He dreamed about a bright new Shortstop all day long in school. He went to nearby fields and watched other kids' shortstops. He even asked Santa for a Shortstop, but all Santa said was "You'll Poke your eye out." Jim did not know what Santa meant.

On Christmas Eve, Jim went up to bed before the sun even went down. He hoped and hoped for a new Shortstop even though his parents told him not to expect anything more than clothes. They said he should be content with his old Shortstop Barry, who Jim had owned all his life.

But Jim was tired of Barry because Barry cost too much, always seemed lame, and wanted all his playtime. Jim figured that a new Shortstop would be more fun and cost less. Jim hoped that Barry would leave and he could spend his meager allowance taking care of his new Shortstop.

Carl, Jim's Dad, tucked him into bed. He warned him not to come downstairs or he might scare away Santa.

"Don't come downstairs or you might scare away Santa," said Carl.

Jim was too excited to sleep. He really wanted to see Santa, but he also really wanted his new Shortstop. He slowly drifted off to sleep with thoughts of a new Shortstop drifting through his head.

Jim awoke with a start on Christmas morning. Sunlight poured through the window, gleaming off the new blanket of snow that had covered his neighborhood.

He tore off the covers, ran out of his room, and leaped down the stairs, two at a time. He skidded around the corner, almost falling on his face as his socks slipped over the newly polished floor. He righted himself and flopped into the living room, only to see under the Christmas tree.

A * Brand * New * Shortstop.

Jim wondered why he heard Bob Barker's voice announce his thoughts.

Jim's face broke into a smile over a mile wide. He gazed up at his dad. Carl stood there with a stern look before breaking into a small grin of his own.

"Jim, look at what Santa brought you. You better take extra good care of him as I don't have time or money to pick up his arbitration-induced costs."

Jim wondered what was this "arbitration." He spent a moment of thought on it, before replying to Carl, "Gee, Dad, I'm gonna take extra good care of him to make you proud of him. You'll see. He'll be the bestest Shortstop ever. And I'll name him Pokey."

Jim and Pokey went everywhere together. They played together, they ate together, and they slept together. They were the bestest buds ever.

All the other kids wanted a Shortstop just like Pokey. Many even offered Jim other Shortstops in trade.

But Jim wouldn't give away Pokey for anything in the world, even the most expensive toys owned by the kid on the Northwest side of town.

He instead offered Barry to anyone inquiring about Pokey, but no one wanted Barry except in exchange for the smallest return. A couple of marbles and a stick of bubble gum couldn't replace his fond memories of his years with just Barry.

Seeing Jim's obvious discomfort of having to choose between his Shortstops, Carl offered to take care of Barry and pay his ever-increasing appetite costs. Jim felt much better with less responsibility, and even though he loved playing with just Pokey, now he felt the strangest feelings.

Much to Jim's surprise, he found himself missing Barry, who had been just resting lazily around the couch. Jim felt sorry for Barry, and remembering all the good times they had together, he started including Barry in his activities with Pokey.

Jim, and Pokey, and Barry went everywhere together. They played together, they ate together, they…well, you know this part already.

Seasons passed. Jim grew older but never stopped loving his two bestest Shortstops ever. Pokey and Barry alternated between Jim's right and left sides, each wanting to establish himself as the better playmate.

Christmas started nearing again, and Jim started getting nasty visions. He wanted another new Shortstop, and to keep making his pets' names weirder, thought to name this one Gookie. Jim knew he'd love Gookie even more than Pokey and Barry, so he tried to figure out what to do.

Pokey knew what to do. He started barking at Jim, demanding more food and better chew toys. He turned downright nasty in front of Jim's friends. He wasn't even a very good playmate any more, since he never seemed to be around when Jim needed him.

Many of those who had begged to trade for Pokey in the past now no longer even wanted him when Jim considered giving him away.

Jim didn't know what to do. He still loved Pokey, but knew he wanted Gookie, and he still remembered fondly his many years with Barry.

Near Christmas, Jim finally made the toughest decision of his life. He traded Pokey with some other pets to his friend Dan. It didn't matter what he received in return. He just needed to get rid of Pokey and move on with his life.

Jim cried after Pokey was gone, but Barry consoled him. They realized that it was better for everyone this way, and that Pokey would find a good home somewhere. Then they curled up near the fireplace and waited for Gookie's arrival.

Dan took Pokey with him back to his mountain home, but he didn't want Pokey for himself. He had his own young shortstop, so immediately started calling all of his friends. Eventually, Dan's friend Dan agreed to take him for the holidays. Dan was thankful.

Pokey's new Dan had no intention of paying for Pokey's food and shelter. He was a mean animal hater, and after a couple days of ignoring Pokey's whimpering for more food, he tossed him out on the street five days before Christmas.

Pokey spent Christmas on the street, looking for a new home with someone to love him. He knew he'd been bad by barking at Jim and his friends, and sulking when he didn't get lots of extra food. Pokey was a bad, bad, Shortstop, and now had to contemplate his fate in the cold.

And everyone lived happily ever...well, no, that's not right. Pokey wouldn't live nearly as happily as if he'd just agreed to take what Jim was giving him in the first place. But after getting rid of Pokey and just enjoying Barry and his new Shortstop Gookie, Jim was happier than ever. So the moral of the story of the Pokey Little Shortstop is:

If you get a Christmas Pokey, don't let him get you down.

That's what it's all about.

Today's Fantasy Rx: Don't bother returning your unwanted gifts for at least a couple of days. Enjoy any time off you may have, and unless you want to exchange them for something you really want now, take your time in getting out to the stores. Half of the rest of the world will be returning, exchanging, and grabbing post-Christmas bargains, so there's no reason for you to add to the crowd.