Santa Claus

[Bawanna]

I thought this was fitting for this group many of which fit the profile especially Auntie.

For anyone that don't believe in Santa, well I hope your knives and sled runners rust!

Enjoy. Have your hanky ready.

To All Santa Clauses

This is too good not to share...

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"
My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted.... "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my Second World-famous cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything.
As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.

I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class.



Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.



"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.



That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one ofSanta's helpers.



Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were, ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.



May you always have LOVE to share, HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care. And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus!

 

[Steely_Gunz]

That was awfully sweet. Someone cutting up some dang onions in here or something? Man, I must have some dust in my eye or something.

 

[gurkha berserka]

Thank you so much for sharing that. I read every word as if I were feeling it. You are a wonderful narrative writer. I enjoyed it very much and I am glad there are people like you serving in law enforcement. Your good heart has obviously been an integral part of you from a very young age. My grandmother has also played a huge role into who I am as a person. I still visit her every Saturday morning to chit chat for a couple hours. Thanks again buddy for putting a smile on my face.

 

[cul4u01]

Enjoyed it immensely. Grandparents and their wise advice and teachings.

 

[Bawanna]

Truth be told that's a shared narrative, not my own but there was no mention of it's origin.

I do have a very similar story in my youth as well, also a second good story but it was grandma, Halloween and there was no red jacket involved. Grandma was a feisty woman she was. Lucky we didn't get arrested.

 

[Shavru]

Thanks for sharing this, a touching story about truth and viewpoint. Santa does indeed exist, in the hearts of people all over the world.

 

[Gehazi]

you guys should try elf on a shelf, is pretty fun for all-- also neat story , I always liked crimmas because of the atmosphere everyone works to make

 

[ndoghouse]

My friend told me about that elf yesterday He He! I remember leaving grandmas house and we had to travel about an hour and a half to get back home and get there before Santa or we wouldnt get any presents. There was a big radio tower in the distance on the way home with a red light on top. Well we thought that was Rhudolf so we were pokin dad to hurry up to get home. Then we had to be asleep. Santa wouldnt come till you fell asleep! Probably the one night mom and dad didnt have to fight with us to go to bed Nice story Bawanna!

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Elf on the shelf is evil...but soooooo nice for parents

When my daughter starts showing her rear end all I have to do is point at the elf and say, "Ohhhhhh. I wonder what she's going to tell Santa tonight?"

Straightens her right up
On good nights, the elf will have a candy cane for her. Bad nights, arms crossed and no candy

 

[Gehazi]

I like leaving hersey kisses where the elf was the last night, so it looks like elves are unsanitary and poop chocolate on your books and toys

 

[dld]

hey Bawanna

Nice story, my name isn't Bobby but my last name is Decker, my mom says I can't go out and chop wood because I don't have a 18" M43, she will write a note if need be.
just saying you got to mind your Momma even though I am 60yrs old. hint hint!!! ( if'n you want a story of your own)

Makes you feel good when you can give secretly and see the smile. Everyone ought to do it at least once just to feel it

guess my little 15 all around will have to do for a while but just saying

 

[Yangdu]

Great story, thank you for sharing

 

[Bookie]

Reading the Dalai Lama's book Many Ways to Nirvana and your story goes hand in hand with the teachings, so I concur about the story. It is great and I know of several who are on Santa's team from this forum....all year long.