I was shocked to see the Dear Abby letter on Dec. 10 in which she replied to the letter writer that “the jig is up” and that she is “no longer fooling your daughter” about the reality of Santa Claus. My son would read this Dear Abby when he got home from school in less than six hours. How many other believers had already seen it?

My 11-year-old son is a believer. I know that “the bell” still rings for Alec even though it has long ago extinguished for my husband and I. But every year, there is always a gift from Santa. It still continues to amaze me.

How can Dear Abby and The Gazette take away from my husband and me this decision to tell Alec that Santa isn’t real? That is in effect what she did. By printing her letter, The Gazette said “OK, time to tell the world.” It was a mistake for which The Gazette should apologize.

Believers have a right to believe in Santa Claus. Even if the bell doesn’t ring for The Gazette.

Debra Matzat

Cedar Rapids