A half century ago I was a New Jersey reporter eavesdropping on Santa’s conversations with children who came to remind him of their written requests. Perhaps you will recognize one of the little visitors from Morris County, New Jersey in this excerpt:
They waited in line outside the little house in Santa Land, bundled to the ears and shivering with the cold and excitement. ” Who’s hiding out there?” a jolly voice called out and two large brown eyes peeked inside. Shad Jones pulled himself up to his full three feet and marched in, not noticing the twinkling tree lights or the very large bag of candy canes. He saw only Santa.
“So you’ve grown up to be five,” Santa says to Shad, now nestled snugly on his comfortable red lap. “Last year, as I remember, you were only four.” Shad nods and smiles . Santa’s memory is correct.
“What do you want me to bring you for Christmas, Shad?”
” A fire engine!” Shad replies loudly, without hesitation. Santa nods and asks, “And what else?” Shad is caught unprepared. He wants a shiny red fire engine with ladders. That’ll be enough, but wait a minute. He has an idea! “Okay Santa, bring me another fire engine.”
The little ones keep filing in, sometimes forgetting their list items and even their names. “And what school do you go to, Robert?” Santa asks and Robert starts scratching his head. “I’ll bet it’s a good school,” Santa coaches and Robert whispers, “Yes, Santa, it’s a good school but the teachers yell a lot.”
There’s a glow in the room, more than the tree lights. There are Santa’s twinkling eyes and the love shining from the faces of the little ones and even the warm smiles of the teenagers that were just smirks before they crossed the threshhold into the Presence.
The Duphiney family enters with a squadron of children. Santa smiles down at 3-year old Glen who’d hopped up onto his lap. “Isn’t there somebody missing, somebody bigger?” Santa asks. Glen’s eyes widen. “Yes, Peggy,” he says.
“Ah yes, Peggy “How old is she now, 13?” Glen shakes his head. “No, Santa, she’s 14. She said to tell you she wants a pair of Jeans,” “I know just the thing,” Santa replies, “with bell bottoms and probably patches on the back!”
Gregory Wald leaps onto Santa’s lap with a long list which Santa studies. “Tools? What kind of tools do you want, Gregory?” The 4-year old replies, “Real ones, Santa. A real saw and a real hammer.” Santa is caught up and they begin to discuss construction projects.
A 4-year old future nutritionist doesn’t hop onto the waiting lap. She stands beside her Mommy who is wearing platform shoes and a boutique outfit. “I’m not going to leave you a dish of cookies on Christmas eve, Santa,” she says. “You’re overweight! I’ll leave you some cottage cheese on diet crackers.”
Santa turns to me. ” Apparently she’s been in touch with Mrs. Claus,” he whispers.”
Imagine That 