Julia heard the loud rap on the door and nearly jumped out of her skin. She tried to move away from the front of her house towards her bedroom, but her sister and mother stopped her.

"Come Julia, St. Nicholas is here. Let's let him in," said their mother.

Julia's sister Susie was six years older than Julia and she was braver.

"I hope my package has chocolates in it," said Susie. "And licorice." She looked down at her little sister who was moving reluctantly towards the front door, slightly dragged by her wrists with her mother and Susie on either side of her. "Julia, if you get licorice in yours and I don't will you share yours with me?"

Julia nodded in assent but didn't say anything. Their father was already opening the door.

A gust of freezing winter air blew in from the Vienna woods outside their door and two men with long beards entered. The first was St. Nicholas with a long white beard and robes of red and gold. He walked carrying a staff and a satchel filled with gifts for good girls and boys.

But Julia had her eye trained on the man behind St. Nicholas. He had a wild black beard and hair, a painted face and his eyes glinted in the light, immediately fixing on Julia's who scuttled behind her mother. He was Krampus and he carried birch sticks to spank naughty children and a satchel to carry them off into the night.

Julia's father beaconed the men to enter and he poured them each a glass of schnapps. Julia's father toasted the men and they took a sip together, then they refocused their attention on the children.

Susie paid Krampus no attention but stood straight and tall before St. Nicholas.

"Did you bring us any gifts St. Nicholas?" asked Susie.

St. Nicholas stroked his beard and gave Susie and Julia's parents a wink.

"Why, I bring all good girls and boys gifts," said St. NIcholas. "Have you both been good this year?"

"Why yes," answered Susie with a confident smile.

"Well," said St. Nicholas setting his satchel on the floor and opening it, "then I'm sure there is something in it for you."

Susie moved forward to look inside the satchel and even Julia moved out from behind her mother and to look into the sack with her sister.

"Wait!" said the Krampus and both Susie and Julia jumped back. "I'm not so sure they have been all that good St. Nicholas."

"Oh," said St. Nicholas, looking sad and starting to close his bag full of toys.

Krampus moved forward and peered down at Julia who stood frozen with fear. "You!" he pointed down at Julia, "stole sugar out of the pantry."

Julia's heart began to pound. How did he know? This was it. She would be taken from her home.

"Wait, is this true?" asked Julia's father, looking down at his youngest daughter. But Julia was too scared to say a word. Tears welled up in her eyes. Slowly she nodded her head, 'yes.'

"Well, then I will take her away with the other naughty boys and girls," said Krampus, opening his sack.

Now even Susie looked uncomfortable. Their parents exchanged meaningful glances, and possibly even a hint of a smile.

"Well, Krampus," said Julia's father, kneeling down by his petrified daughter and wrapping his arms around her. "Maybe that isn't necessary because most of the time she is very, very good. Aren't you Julia?"

Julia nodded 'yes,' tears streaming down her face.

"And you will never steal sugar again, will you Puppa?" said Julia's father using his favorite term of endearment. Julia nodded her head, 'no.'

Krampus looked disappointed and closed his bag. St. Nicholas stepped forward with two packages and handed one to Julia and one to Susie.

"Frohe Weihnachten," he said.

Then the men turned and went back out into the dark night.