Santa Clause

Little Jimmy was very excited. At last, it was Christmas. He and his mother had gone to New Market and had bought a lot of decorations for their Christmas tree, and gifts for Jimmy’s friends His mother Natalie had also bought new clothes for him. Jimmy looked forward to the Christmas party, where he was told he could meet Santa Clause. His mother told him that Santa comes on his sled with presents for all the children. The children had only to write to him and tell him what they wanted. Jimmy put down a big list, the spellings were a mess, as it was expected from a five-year-old, but Santa would understand! He looked up at the Chimney every now and then, wondering how Santa would come through the sooty opening, without looking like a chimney-sweep.

The venue was beautifully decorated. There were streamers, tinsels, and flickering lights. The children were all dressed up in laces, frills, and smart attires. They were all enjoying themselves, with balloons, and blowing on their trumpets. Father Christmas in his flowing robe, and silvery beard, was laughing, and joking with children. He was also distributing gifts to them. The children were happy, and ran off with their gifts, as soon as they had received them. They were surprised how Santa was able to give each child what he had asked for in his letter. Then it came to Jimmy’s turn. He was all smiles, as he shook hands with Santa. The last item on his list was a big secret. He did not even tell his Mother. All the children had Dads but he did not have one. So very quietly, he had asked Santa to give him a Dad. His mother had told him that he had left Jimmy and Natalie five years back. His father happened to have an uncontrollable temper. One day when he was in a bad mood, he just left, and Natalie lost track of him.

When Santa handed over his gifts to Jimmy, he looked at Santa expectantly, and when Santa did not hand over the last item he had asked for, he left the gathering, with his head down, and a downcast face. After some time he was seen, standing behind a tree, and sobbing. Natalie rushed to his side, and embraced him, and tried to comfort him, but he would not be comforted. He went on sobbing and saying that his mother had promised that Santa would bring for him whatever he asked for.

It was at that time that Santa took off his mask, and Jimmy was surprised to see that Santa’s face looked exactly like his father’s in the photograph.

Don, Natalie’s husband then came out with the whole story. All the time, Don was keeping a close watch over his family from a distance. And on Christmas day he had opted to be the Santa, just to be with them, without their knowing who he was, behind the mask. Natalie realized that Don still cared for them, as his actions showed that he was still attached to them. She asked him to come back to them, and Don told her that he would never give up such an excellent opportunity. Then Natalie said to Jimmy, “See Jimmy, what I had told you? Santa has given your father to you, as you had asked him.”