I wore the Red Suit (6 page)

“Weapons” I ask?”

“Yeah weapons, you know guns, knives, bombs. Real ones!”

“I am sorry; I just have toys that I bring for Christmas, not real weapons.”

“Well, where is the Santa that has real weapons? Will he be here later?”

“There is no Santa or Santa’s helper that would have what you asked for. Real guns and knives hurt people, do want that?”

“Yeah, that is what I want!”

Trying to change the subject I say, “how about if I just bring you some nice surprises.”

“I guess that will be ok,” he says. He walked away a little glum. I wonder if he was watching the wrong TV show or movie.

I managed to talk with the parents afterwards and let them know their child's unhealthy request. They said they knew, and where trying to help him correct his view on life.

“How about a new sister” one girl asks while standing in front of me? “My sister Melissa takes my toys, so I want a new baby sister who will not take my toys and break them.”

That is a different request I think to myself. “I am sure that she does not break your things on purpose. How old is your little sister?”

“She is almost two years old, and her name is Jenny.”

“Since you are the big sister, can you talk to her about being careful with your things? She might be old enough to understand. Besides, you may get a new baby sister, or brother who could do the same thing. Would it not be better to teach Jenny; she might surprise you and be more careful.”

         
Remember that young girl who wanted a Tarantula. Well, she came back and told me that after thinking about it, asking for a spider was not fair; she wanted two tarantulas, so they would not have to be alone.
 

Kids Speak Out

Have you ever just sat and listened to one child talk to another child, or to an adult? Really listening close and watching their facial expressions and mannerisms. I have the pleasure of watching my children as they grew up from little babies to men. Kids hold nothing back. They do not seem to be hampered like adults when it comes to speaking their minds. We become closed mouth as we get older and experience the world. Some of us adults would like to return to those times when we were young children, and everything is new.

Children will say some of the dandiest things to Santa. They do not hold in what they want to say. For a child, this is remarkable because they speak from the heart. Kids are not embarrassed for what they want to say or do. Thinking like a child changes when we grow up and become guarded and reserved. Children are not like that. They tell you exactly what they are feeling or thinking. Take for example these very special kids; “Santa, why is it only you that go out in your sleigh and deliver presents to all the good children around the world? Does Mrs. Claus ever come and help you, and what about all those elves; do they all need to stay at the North Pole? They can help, and you could be done even faster and relax.”

One little boy wanted what was in the big book. “What big book I ask him?” “You know, the "
J.C.Penny
Catalog Book." Once I overheard this from a child in the Santa visit waiting line. “But mommy, I do not believe in this Santa Claus thing. Why do I have to talk to him?” “Frankie,” says the mother; “if you do not believe in Santa and tell him what you want for Christmas, he will not be able to bring you anything.” “I believe in Santa Claus says another kid right behind them. Can I have his toys?”

The five-year-old girl who asked me if all the reindeer were coming with me on Christmas? “I have many toys to deliver this year, so I need all my reindeer. Why do you ask?” “Well,” she says, “my mommy told me Comet had to stay at the North Pole and clean the sink.” I watch the corners of her mouth curl up as she starts to smile. She played a joke on Santa. I gave her some really big ho ho's after that one.

The little boy who asked if the reindeer were my pets like his dog, Spencer. “No,” I answer. “The reindeer that pull my sleigh are there because they want to be. They like little children, and that is why they help me. It makes them feel good to make little boys and girls happy. We even have a veterinarian elf that takes care of them and keeps all the reindeer healthy, so they can be strong to pull the sleigh.” Now here is my favorite Christmas time animal, the reindeer are what I believe are the hardest workers in Santa's workshop. Besides hauling Santa and a sleigh full of toys on Christmas Eve, they work with the elves at the North Pole. The reindeer are tied to sleds that move materials and completed toys around the workshop. In addition, since Santa comes from the North, then why not reindeer?
 
Several children have asked me, how are the reindeer tied to the sleigh full of toys? Who is paired with whom? Where do children think up these questions? I have checked and here are my findings. Rudolf is first as he is there for any bad weather. Followed by the team of Dasher on the left and Dancer on his right. Second pair is Prancer and Vixen, behind them is Comet and Cupid. The last two with the sleigh and Santa just behind them are Donner, and Blitzen.

“You know Santa; I can tell you are the real Santa Claus.” “How” I ask as I let a little giggle escape my lips. “Well, he says, your beard is white and not shiny. There is no wire or piece of string around your head. Your boots are real too. They look old and tired. Not like those make believe kind of boots, you can wear over shoes.” I guess this child thinks my boots have seen a million Christmases. It was just an old pair of motorcycle boots with the buckles removed. I slapped on several coats of polish. It is just another fine point to detail. Kids notice these things. Even if they are young, kids are smart.
 
In addition, they do not miss anything. Their minds are constantly working to figure out the world around them.

More Gems

“Santa! I know all the reindeer names.
 
Listen, now Dasher, Dancer, Comet, Vixen, Cupid, Comet,
Donder
,
Blitzen
, Rudolf, and Randolph.”

“Randolph? Who is Randolph,” I ask?

“You know Santa, Randolph the reindeer with the brown nose. He is just a good as Rudolf, but cannot stop as quick”. I have never heard a kid laugh as that little one that told me a joke, and got me giggling.

A little boy and his mother came up and stood in front of me as the child removes his baseball cap and asks? “Are you the real Santa Claus?”

“Sure,” I said already knowing his name thanks to my heads-up elf crew.

“Ok he says. What is my name?”

“It is Jeffery and your seven years old.”

“I knew it” he says. “I was here yesterday and the man wearing your clothes said he was the real Santa. I told him bullshit, I knew the real Santa, and you are not him.”
 
At that point, the mother wraps her hand around his mouth and drags him away apologizing with an embarrassing look at her face and forcing a weak smile. Meanwhile, Jeffery is still trying to talk through his mother's hand.

A young girl acting a little shy told me what she wanted from Santa. However, she whispered every word. I could just barely hear what she said. I handed her a coloring book and put her off my lap. As I reached to help the next kid up, she turned to me in a voice so loud that you could not help but hear her, she says. "I can go in the potty all by myself now." Her parents hid their heads in their hands. I watched the women at the store across the way laugh uncontrollably. I smiled and told her thanks for telling me. She beamed. For her, it was something very important, and she wanted Santa to know it.

“Santa! Santa! Where are your reindeers?” A young boy comes running up to me with a painful expression upon his face.

“All the reindeers that pull my sleigh are at the North Pole helping my elves get ready for Christmas.”

“Are you sure Santa, are you really sure?”

“Why do you ask?”

The lad was quiet for several seconds before he answered.

“I think my daddy shot a flying reindeer, and now it is hanging from the wall in my house.”

“What makes you think it was one of the flying reindeers that live with me at the North Pole?”

“Well, my daddy said when he shot it; it jumped very high through the air. But, it fell down because it was shot dead. My daddy has a man going to give us some of its vent-you-son.”

“I know for a sure it is not one of my reindeer friends” I return.
“My elves just told me an hour ago that all the North Pole
reindeers were busy at my workshop.” The boy seemed relieved that his daddy did not shoot one of my reindeers. “Are you happy now that I told you all my reindeers are ok?”

“Yes, Santa, but when I grow up, I am not going to shoot anything.”

A very young boy, I think about four clings to his mother’s leg and would not come any closer. He keeps yelling with these huge tears in his eyes; “Mommy...mommy, Doctor Foster.” The kid was so scared he put me in the same league with their family doctor.

I have had parents tell me that their children would plead to them to find the real Santa and not one of his helpers. So, the parents would go from mall to mall looking for the real Santa Claus. The children knew the real Santa was out there, somewhere, they just had to keep looking until they found him. They would wait patiently in line with the other children, and when it was their turn, they would sit on his knee and gently pull on his beard, if it came off, then it was on to the next mall. If it was real, and this man knew their names, then he was the real Santa, and they were happy.

Sometimes looking like Santa no matter what I wear is rewarding at times. I was standing watching Santa working at another Mall while in my normal street clothes. A little girl was next to me with her mother. The little girl would look at Santa, then back at me. She would look at Santa again, then back to me. I can see this action out of the corner of my eye. She tugs on her mother's sleeve and asks. “Why are there two Santa's here mommy?” The mother looks over at me and says to her daughter. “That is the real Santa next to you sweetheart, he comes to check up on his helpers.”

Try to Judge for yourself the impact of Santa on a child trying to please. Emily age five, climbs onto my lap and holds my hand. She wants to know when I would be coming into her house to deliver the Christmas presents, because she has been extra good this year.