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"So Santa Claus isn't part of Christmas"
"Of course he's part of Christmas," said Zeck "For most people"
"Just not for you"
Zeck nodded
"All right, I'll talk about this to my superiors," said the counselor "Do you want to knohat I think? I think they're going to tellto let it run itself out"
"In other words, they're going to let the as they want"
"They're children, Zeck Not many of them are as tenacious as you They'll lose interest in it and it will go away Have patience Patience isn't against your religion, is it?"
"I refuse to take offense at your sarcasm"
"I wasn't being sarcastic"
"I can see that you also are a true son to the Father of Lies" And Zeck got up and left
"I'lad you didn't take offense," the counselor called after him
There would be no recourse to authority, obviously Not directly, anyway
 
Instead, Zeck went to several of the Arab students, pointing out that the authorities were allowing a Christian custom to be openly practiced From the first few, he heard the standard litany: "Islaions What they do is their business"
But Zeck was finally able to get a rise out of a Pakistani kid in Bee Ar positive In fact, he looked completely uninterested, even hostile Yet Zeck knew that he had struck a nerve "They say Santa Claus isn't religious He's national But in your country, is there any difference? Is Muhammad--"