The floor begins to tingle with warmth, and suddenly, bright red and white candy canes sprout up like train tracks across your kitchen tiles. Peppermint steam hisses through the air. Out of thin air, a sparkly little locomotive made entirely of cookies and frosting rolls into view. Its gumdrop lights flash, and a marshmallow conductor tips his licorice cap at you. Your jaw drops. "That's the cutest thing I've ever seen." The gingerbread men climb aboard, waving tiny hands. "Thank you for not eating us!" one calls. "We'll send a postcard from the elves' workshop!" another shouts. Rex barks in amazement as the candy cane train gives a cheerful choo-choo! The sound is soft and sugary, like wind chimes dipped in cocoa. You wave as the train zooms down the peppermint tracks, looping once around the Christmas tree before shimmering right through the wall and vanishing into the frosty night beyond. The peppermint tracks fade away, leaving only the faint smell of gingerbread and magic behind. You smile, heart full of wonder. "Guess holiday magic really does exist," you whisper. Rex wags his tail, and you could almost swear he smiles too.