10. Santa

Chapter 10

Santa

“Santa, you okay?” Sprinkles joined my side.

I didn’t need him to know I was sad the reindeer left. I still wasn’t sure why it mattered so much. It wasn’t like he was gone-gone. He was going to get his clothing. So instead, I did something I didn’t like to do—I deflected and pointed to the Santa house, which was still filled to the max.

“There are a ton of children who still need to get their gifts, and that line is now a blob.”

Being the bad guy and having to tell adorable cuties they needed to stand in line and wait their turns was not my idea of a good time. I was 100% happy to pass it onto Sprinkles. And honestly, it was nearly impossible to be the slightest bit cross with Sprinkles. They had joy and Christmas spirit pouring out of them. They were perfect for human-based events.

“I’m here to help.” He pulled out a candy cane and began sucking on it. He never went anywhere without the pepperminty treat. “Nothing more.”

He tacked on that last part, probably because he saw my skepticism. I wanted to believe he was here only to assist me, and most of me did, but there was a nagging part way in the back of my mind that said he might be there for something more… what that something was, I didn’t have a guess.

Wasn’t that the way of all of this? Everything about today was confusing to me. It didn’t make matters any easier having Dario here. I wiggled my nose and blinked a few times, making sure his reindeer could disappear as he walked around to his clothes.

The second he started walking into the enchanted area, I called out, “Ho-ho-ho! Merry Christmas, everyone!”

Suddenly, all eyes were back on me, exactly how I had planned. If I could keep the focus away from him, he could have this time in peace. After all the grabby hands, gross veggies, and sneezing kids… Dario deserved at least that.

“Ho-Ho-Ho! Sprinkles and I have many presents to hand out!”

We walked back in, and I went and took my spot back in the fancy Santa chair. Sprinkles took his spot, ready for traffic control, and off we went. The children took turns asking me more questions about Dasher or telling me their wishes. And our time together would end with me giving them their gift, which was 9/10 off of their list.

By now, word had gotten out to the children that I was, in fact, the “real” Santa. I loved it. It meant that the magic of Christmas was going to live inside them for so much longer. When their friends at school told them I was make-believe, they would have this day to remind them I existed. And maybe, just maybe, some of them would carry that throughout their lives. It saddened me how many people lost their whimsy as they grew up thanks to society pushing so hard for people to “grow up” and to “leave childish things behind.”

It saddened me how many parents had experienced the same day as their children and still considered me being “real” to be subjective and not accurate. There were a few, though, that had held on to the beliefs of their childhood. I was going to be sure to give them a little something extra on Christmas Eve to help solidify it. Maybe I’d bring them something they’d always wanted as a child for Christmas this year—fuel that spark of joy and imagination a little more.

Sprinkles was great at helping find the presents for the children and it helped speed up the process without filing the children through like an assembly line. If we were going to get done before it was pitch black outside, I needed to step up my game and their help was huge in making that happen. I’d never been one for rushing children, and I didn’t plan to start now. For a lot of them, this would be as close as they’d ever get to a once-in-a-lifetime chance to talk to me.

Probably, in ten years, they’d look back on today and think, Yeah, he was a pretty good Santa. Wish we had his card to hire him for the company party, or the library, or wherever they were working.

But for now, in this little pocket of time, I was the real deal.

Quicker than I thought it was possible, the gift pile was down to one gift, and the kids were all on their way. I was surprised when I looked at the last present and saw my own name on it.

"Sprinkles?" I held it up for him.

He shrugged.

"Don’t give me that. You know something."

"Just open it."

And when I did, inside was a little reindeer Christmas tree ornament.

"Did I even want to know?"

"No." Sprinkles giggled, putting his hand to his mouth and shaking his head.

Except, I kind of did.

The event was pretty much over, and normally what I’d do after the last present was handed out and the kids started to get sleepy or leave was the same as what I’d done for Dario—I’d make myself unnoticeable, wander far enough away just in case someone noticed me anyway, then with a wink and twitch my nose, I’d take myself home. Done.

But I... I couldn’t leave. Not yet. Not without talking to Dario.

I mean, I could. But I refused.

There was this connection between us. I didn’t understand it, and maybe I never would.

But as sure as marshmallow snowmen, I wanted to try.