BRUSHY PRAIRIE, Ind. (AP) — A northeastern Indiana soldiersurprised his mother Friday with an
early return home, masquerading asSanta Claus while she sat on his lap at a school staff Christmasbreakfast
while she gave a wish list of gifts.When PrairieHeights High School math teacher Kim Harris told Santa her
son hadreturned from a tour in Afghanistan and was at Fort Campbell, Ky., heasked her if she was sure of his
whereabouts. Army Spc. Ethan Harristhen pulled down his fake beard and revealed his identity, eliciting ahug
and tears from his mom."This tops the list and couldn’t be a better Christmas," Kim Harris
said.TheNews-Sun reported (http://bit.ly/1hrGNit) that Ethan Harris arrivedback in the community about 40
miles north of Fort Wayne a few daysearlier and hid at his sister’s house until Friday’s breakfast.He said
he was so excited Thursday night that he couldn’t sleep.Alottery to see who would sit on Santa’s lap had
been rigged in advanceso the honor would go to Kim Harris when Superintendent Alan Middletondrew her name
from a gift bag.She wasn’t expecting her son to be in town until Monday, when a surprise party for him was
planned.It turned out the surprise was hers."This is Christmas," her husband, John Harris, said.
"I have an awesome family."___Information from: The News-Sun, http://www.kpcnews.comCopyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.