During the festive Thanksgiving family reunions, one of the most popular questions asked is, “What do you want for Christmas?” Most people do not answer immediately. Gradually, after everyone has said their “good-byes” everyone departs, goes home.
On the following Saturday, my family and I went to visit my sister, Helen and her family in Orange, California. We stayed for lunch.
During the festive Thanksgiving family reunions, one of the most popular questions asked is, “What do you want for Christmas?” Most people do not answer immediately. Gradually, after everyone has said their “good-byes” everyone departs, goes home.
On the following Saturday, my family and I went to visit my sister, Helen and her family in Orange, California. We stayed for lunch.
Soon after, I needed to make a brief sales call on the manager, Mr. Chelley, at the J. C. Penney store in downtown Orange. Soula took our three minor children to do some shopping in the store while I was busy. The store was full of shoppers; many standing in lines to complete their purchases. Christmas music was a happy sound. Delightfully colorful, appropriate decorations were everywhere. Many parents were a bit preoccupied with their children.
At the end of my visit with Mr. Chelley, his secretary told him, “Jack, the man who was supposed to play Santa phoned a few minutes ago. He said he was at a hospital and wouldn’t be coming in today, because his wife had fallen in the kitchen and hurt her back, and he had to take her to the hospital.”
Mr. Chelley thanked her and quickly said, (more or less to himself) “Oh great!” Now what am I going to do? We advertised in the papers that we would have a Santa in our store. We have a space where we placed a chair for Santa. We’ve got lots of small gifts for each kid–candy canes, too. I’ll get one of my men clerks to fill in as Santa, but they’re all very busy at their sales counters serving our customers.“
“Excuse me, Mr. Chelley, I overheard what your secretary told you… and if you need a Santa, I can do that.”
He stared at me for a few moments, and excitedly said, “You’re about the right size, your height, your body… oh great! Will you do it… really?
“Yeah, sure. I’ve played Santa many times–at home, at our church. If you’ll get me the Santa suit?”
“Oh, yes. I think it’ll fit. Oh, I’m so glad. Thank you.”
“OK, get the suit, and show me the dressing room.”
“Oh, that’s a problem… all our dressing rooms are busy with customers.”
“Well, that’s no big deal. I’ll change right here, in your office. Incidentally, will you ask one of your employees to get a couple stacks of 3 x 5 index cards and a felt pen so they can hand-print, in large letters, each child’s first name on the card, and give the cards to the parents. Also, I’ll need a two-foot roll of narrow, plain paper to take with me.”
About ten minutes later, I was clad in a slightly loose Santa suit, and I wore a beautiful, long, white beard, and carried a large, white cloth bag over my left shoulder, holding a huge variety of small toys and colorful doll-boxes. I used my right hand to wave, and shake people’s hands as I shouted, “Merry Christmas to all.” I also carried the rolled-up roll of paper so everyone could see it. This was to make everyone believe this was “Santa’s List of all the ‘Good’ Kids.”
I was ready to play Santa but not with a lot of HO, HO, HO’s.
Mr. Chelley whispered, “Merry Christmas and good luck.”
I began my short walk from Mr. Chelly’s office to the mid-part of the store as I shouted, “Merry Christmas” repeatedly until I reached my Santa’s Chair close to the toy department. I heard a model train whistle and saw the small train engine and attached railroad cars going around a huge railroad track.
As a quick flashback, I remembered my first part-time job in downtown Long Beach, in the toy department of Buffums Department Store. My job was to demonstrate the “Lionel Toy Trains” choo-chooing around a long, wide railroad track. I trained myself to emulate the sound of a train engine whistle. The manager of the toys area was well pleased as my personal train whistle attracted more prospective customers to his department.
As I slowly sauntered toward my Santa’s chair, I saw dozens of kids with their parents and many other happy, young people standing in a large crowd surrounding my chair. Suddenly, there were many happy cheers and loud applause as many people yelled, “Merry Christmas.”
The first kid who sat on my lap was about six or seven. I gave him a cellophane-wrapped candy cane. His mother had already held up the 3 x 5 card so I could see the child’s name.
When I said, “Merry Christmas, Richard” he stared at me and asked, “How did you know my name?” “Well, I’m Santa, I know everyone’s name. You are on my list.”
I pretended to read his name off my blank roll of paper.
A minute later, I allowed him to pick one of the small gifts in Santa’s bag.
One of the salesclerks stood by to tell the parent he or she could trade gifts, if the child wanted to. This was one way to expedite such a large crowd.
In this crowd of kids, some of the youngest were terrified, some sniffled or sobbed, but most were smiling and happy to see a Santa, sit on his lap, and receive a gift from him.
This similar procedure continued for over two hours. Two things bugged me a bit. One was the camera lights that flashed at the same moment I was trying to read a child’s name from the 3 x 5 card one of the parents held up for me to see, while the other parent shot the picture.
The other nuisance was when one lady placed her baby on my lap–the baby had wet diapers.
At the end of the line of kids, I saw Soula and our three kids getting into line to sit on Santa’s lap. Zoe, age 2, smiled especially when I mentioned her name, in my disguised voice of course. She was most happy when she picked a Barbie Doll from Santa’s bag. She showed more delight when she received a candy cane.
Our son Tim, was 9, and as the big brother, he allowed our five-year-old daughter, Mary, to go next in line. Tim helped her unto Santa’s lap.
I really had to alter my voice so she wouldn’t realize who is playing Santa. We went through my Santa’s usual routine.
Mary was all smiles until at one point I happened to raise my left arm and my Santa sleeve slid back far enough where Mary saw my wrist watch. She screamed in horror, “Santa is wearing Daddy’s watch. Santa is wearing Daddy’s watch.”
Soula calmed Mary by telling her, “Many people have the same kind of wrist watch. Santa’s just happens to be the same kind of watch.”
Mary felt better after she was assured Santa had not stolen my watch.
Soula led our kids away from Santa’s chair so I could stop playing my temporary role as Santa, and allowed me to walk back to Mr. Chelley’s office to change clothes.
I rejoined the family and we drove home. On the way, each of the kids excitedly expressed how happy they were to see Santa, sit on his lap, and enjoy the gifts they received, and the candy canes, too.
So, perhaps, this is the way Santa sees and hears Christmas on earth?
Our very best wishes to you and your family for a wonderful holiday season and all the years ahead.
Merry Christmas.
