My Christmas Present

My Christmas Present

I looked down at the girl sitting in my lap. I was tired of playing Santa and trying very hard not to show it to these kids. It was a great job, paid well too, it was just hard to keep up the “Ho, ho, ho,” joyfulness hour after hour. Thankfully just a couple more days and Christmas would be over.

The child looked up at me, squinting just a tad, as if she were trying to figure out something.

“Hello!” I said, in my sweetest voice, “What do you want for Christmas?”

“How did you get this job?” the girl asked.

I was taken aback, but quickly rallied! “You know I’m not the real Santa huh. Please don’t tell the kids that aren’t ready to know that.”

“Why not?”

“Well, my job as Santa’s helper is to give them some Christmas magic! How magic would it seem if they were told I wasn’t the real Santa. We don’t want to make kids sad at Christmas, do we?”

“No, but why do you do this?” she asked.

“Well, Santa is so busy this time of year he can’t possibly have time to be everywhere, so he sends us clones to listen and send the information back to him.”

“Do you call him up?”

“Oh no, it’s just the same old magic. The information goes into our ears, and straight to Santa.”

“Huh, well that sounds like a good plan. So, I tell you I want a train set for Christmas and Santa gets the message?”

“Absolutely!”

“And I get the train?”

“That depends, have you been good?”

“Well... pretty good...”

“Then maybe, I don’t make the rules.”

“Well thanks... Santa,” and she winked and ran off.

That moment was probably the most delightful Christmas present I’ve ever gotten.