When the car phone rang, we could hardly contain our laughter. Santa had his chat with James via speakerphone. Grandpa’s “Ho-ho-ho” was convincing and we were all giddy with pulling off the surprise.
And then we turned the corner. Standing at the curb was a magnificently dressed Santa, reaching inside his car trunk for a sack full of gifts (or finishing a cigarette. I can’t quite recall which). We adults were dumbstruck, but little James simply pointed and called out, “Santa.”
Once I caught my breath, I rolled down the car window and shouted like some lunatic Santa groupy, “Hey Santa, we’ve been driving all over town looking for you. We have a little boy here who’d love to say ‘hello.’”
Santa was nice enough to stick his head in the car window and say all the requisite things: “How old are you, James? Have you been a good boy this year? Now go home and get to bed so I can deliver your presents.” Meanwhile, the guy who was waiting for Santa’s grand entrance to his Christmas party, could do nothing but stand there holding his front door open.
It all happened so fast, there was barely time to thank him, let alone slip Santa a tip for his efforts. The party host may have been annoyed but we were ecstatic with our unforeseen Santa sighting. It was pure magic!
This is the quilt I always associate with that Christmas. I'd just finished it for James’ third birthday.
On the back is a quote from Charles Dickens: “ ... it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas when its mighty Founder was a child himself.”
It was certainly good to be James that Christmas!
It was certainly good to be James that Christmas!
What a fantastic story! The funny thing is I would have done the same thing. Oh well, you made your son a happy boy with Santa and the beautiful quilt!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous story . . . . just a perfect memory *s*
ReplyDeleteI remember when the local television station (okay, we only received one station anyway) would have a little crawl on the bottom of the screen from NORAD with information on an unidentified object in the sky making it's way across North America. It was always the inspiration I needed to get the butterflies out of my tummy and get to bed right away!
sweet quilt and story. Merry Christmas, Diane!
ReplyDeleteoh that's a funny story! Boy, we parents are expected to do a lot of ad-libbing aren't we! Yet again, I love the quilt - is that fabric or did you stencil the lovely Christmas designs on?
ReplyDeleteMy 5 year old nephew was watching the NORAD coverage on CBS Christmas eve morning and to my surprise there was my stepson in the background! Boy was that one impressed kid! At the store later he told the cashier that his cousin was on Santa's sleigh team!
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