Santa
The day was turning to monochrome as I helped remove the anorak on an early November evening. You could feel the frost on the grey green fabric. I tugged on the elasticised cuffs as the arms were pulled away from me. All the while the chatter continued and you had to listen carefully, because she would say things only once! Soon I had the coat in my hands and despite the outer fabric of the garment feeling like ice, the inside was as warm as a furnace. I held it close to me as I looked into the glowing face standing before me. Automatically I reached out to touch the rosy cheeks and almost squealed at how cold they felt.
Taking the coat from me she headed off to hang it up and find her slippers. I went back to the task in hand. The door burst open and she was back in the centre of the floor with hands on hips, and a very determined look in her eyes.
“Its Ok, I know!” she blurted.
“What do you know?” I asked as I continued to peel potatoes.
“There is no Santa Clause!”
“Who told you that?” I asked as I removed an eye from a potato.
“Lucy! She knows.”
“Well if Lucy says so, then it must be right” I say as I put the potatoes on to boil.
“There is no Santa!” she repeated raising her voice, a little surprised at my lack of interest.
“That’s fine, if you say there is no Santa, then there is no Santa! I believe there is a Santa and your dad believes there is a Santa. Wouldn’t it be terrible if Santa filled your dad’s stocking and my stocking, but left your stocking empty because you don’t believe in him? Now would you ever gather up your Library books they need to be returned tomorrow” I added quickly.
With the mention of books she was away as fast as she had appeared. Books were her world and her room was full of them. No doubt with the first book to catch her eye, the topic of Santa was forgotten. It was never mentioned again.
The weeks passed. The tree was decorated, presents bought, menus decided and the shopping done. All too soon it was Christmas Eve. Little Miss said her goodnights with the usual hugs and kisses and we trundled down to her bedroom for the bedtime story. About 20 minutes later I snuggled her down, switched off the light and came away.
Once she was asleep Jack and I set about leaving out the stockings and presents around the tree.
Before going to bed ourselves we always checked on her.
That was when I found this little beauty:
Darren said,
December 12, 2008 at 10:06 am
You know, I was having a bit off an offbeat morning, but that’s just cheered me up. Lovely.
Ciara said,
December 12, 2008 at 10:34 am
When I was 8 or 9 I left a note out for Santa asking him for his autograph, believing that I could prove his existence to the folks in 4th class if I had it.
I got it
That was a triumphant march into class after the holidays…
Eileen said,
December 12, 2008 at 10:37 am
What a beautiful tale! I love that you kept the note too. Mum used to say to us there is a Santa, you just find out who it is when you’re a little older.
Merry Christmas!
Eileen
Magpie11 said,
December 12, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I can’t remember believing in Father Christmas when I was a child but I’m sure I did! Because the sherry was always drunk and the mince pie was always eaten.
Darren said,
December 12, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I think I’ve just been convinced to vote Yes.
Nancy said,
December 12, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Grannymar,
I loved the story of Elly and her doubts about Santa.
When my Steve was about 7 my neighbor came knocking at my door,furious, because Steve had told her son,Billy, that there was no Santa Claus.
I took Steve aside and whispered to him,”Steve, you shouldn’t have told Billy there was no Santa Claus. You know, I never let our Chris tell you that there is no Santa, and you shouldn’t be telling other younger kids.”
With that, Steve burst into tears and threw himself on the floor crying,” You mean it’s true? There really is no Santa? I was only teasing Billy, and now you tell me it’s true?”
You know, GM, after all these years, Steve still remembers that day…..
Kathleen said,
December 12, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I had a similar experience with my Daughter Shannon when she was 5 or 6. She was having a bath and seemed deep in thought, finally asking me if Santa was real. I told her I believed he was and she said “okay, WHO actually puts the stuff in my stocking” which lead to the truth. She was disappointed but suddenly her eyes opened wide and she said “so the Easter bunny and tooth fairy are you too!” We both clearly remember this day.
Lorna said,
December 12, 2008 at 4:54 pm
I was talking to someone last night who said she believed in Santa until she was 12! I remember I was about 9 and a half when I figured it out. My two are 4 and 6 and the excitement is mounting! Long let it continue.
Merry Christmas everyone and I hope Santa is good to you all.
Lorna
steph said,
December 12, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Ho! Ho! Ho!
Wonderful story, GM
I love the picture you paint with your words.
Elly was one lucky little girl to experience your loving nurture.
If I happen to see her with her hands on hips…
should I be worried?
Lottie said,
December 12, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Ah that’s such a sweet story. Does she know now? We wouldn’t want to let the cat out of the bag.
Did anyone hear that piece on Today FM of the sotry about the “big sister” on Christmas morning finding that Santa had forgotten them?
Baino said,
December 12, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Oh that’s so gorgeous! I told mine that when they stopped believing in Santa there would no longer be a stocking, just a present under the tree . . .this is the first year there will be no stocking (Do you think I may have been duped for 23 years?
Grannymar said,
December 12, 2008 at 8:29 pm
@Darren - Glad I cheered you up! What was the question by the way?
@Ciara - Did you keep that autograph?
@Eileen - Santa is always with us, if we want him to be!
@Magpie - I don’t remember leaving food out for Santa when I was young, mind you we never wrote letters to him either. We just lived in hope that he might leave us a surprise!
@Nancy - Poor Steve, I hope he has forgiven you.
@Kathleen -
Shannon is a clever girl!
@Lorna - Enjoy the fun and thanks for the good wishes.
@Steph - If you see Elly with hands on hips she means business!
@Baino - Santa still fills stockings for us!
Betty said,
December 12, 2008 at 9:47 pm
What a sweet story! My daughter believed in Santa until she was almost a teenager, or at least she wouldn’t admit otherwise.
Grannymar said,
December 12, 2008 at 9:55 pm
@Lottie - I missed you there. Now I wouldn’t like to spoil the surprise for my daughter so pleeease don’t say a word!
@Betty - There was plenty of pretence going on back then.
Paddyanglican said,
December 13, 2008 at 12:10 am
Having a child who still believes makes Christmas just that little bit extra special - In a sense as long as he is real to him he is real to us - I cherish every year that we believe.
Grannymar said,
December 13, 2008 at 9:26 am
PaddyA,
That is so true. Leave all the hype and consumerism behind and give me the look of wonder in a child’s eyes, it is pure magic!
Thriftcriminal said,
December 13, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Nice
Magpie11 said,
December 13, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I forgot to mention the carrot for Rudolph!
When Our boys were young they always left a mince pie and sherry or port for FC and …Reindeer moss (bought from a local Garden Shop) for Rudolph…Rudolph often left a note (dictated to FC) to say how wonderful it was to have real food for a change….he said carrots gave him wind.
Grannymar said,
December 14, 2008 at 9:26 am
Magpie,
Moss? I never thought of that on…. Oh I feel another post coming on!
Tommy said,
December 14, 2008 at 9:51 am
What a fantastic story - well done GM. Master storyteller strikes again.
I still remember John [my older brother] telling me - this’ll be my 3rd christmas without the-man-in-the-suit
Grannymar said,
December 14, 2008 at 10:24 am
Thanks Tommy.
I hope you have forgiven John by now!