Chapter 3

Anna was surprised to see John come down the stairs so soon after taking the tray up to Jack.

"My, that was quick, John! Is he okay after hearing your explanation?"

"I wasn't able to give him it yet. He said he was tired and just wanted to go to bed. I told him you'd be up shortly to wish him good night."

Anna looked anxiously at her husband upon hearing about Jack's refusal to discuss the Santa issue any further. "So, that's it then? He'll just have to deal with what that Fellowes boy told him. He wouldn't hear what you had to say?

"Oh no Anna. He said he does want to listen to me, just not tonight. He's had a big shock today and some sleep should help him release some of the stress he's feeling right now. It might also put him in a better frame of mind to hear what I have to say and accept it as the truth. And, besides now I can tell you what I plan to say to him. We both have to be on the same page on this if we're to salvage Christmas and Santa Claus for Jack."

Several hours later…

John and Anna were both peacefully sound asleep when their bedroom door slowly opened, and young Jackie tiptoed over to his dad's side of the bed.

He started to giggle as he heard his father snoring, wondering how his mummy was able to sleep through such a racket.

"Da!" Jack shook his father's arm… "Da, wake up".

John let out a low groan, nestled back down into his pillow and began to snore again

"Wake up da, wake up!" Jackie shook his dad's arm more vigorously this time. John's eyes popped open followed by him quickly bringing his fingers to his lips. "Ssshhhh, Jack. We don't want to wake up mummy."

Jackie nodded and pulled on his dad's arm… "I woke up a while ago and I can't sleep, Da And you said anytime I want to talk about Santa just to tell you… So, I am telling you, I want to hear the truth about Santa.

John carefully got out of bed, looking back to make sure that Anna had not been disturbed. She looked beautiful, as always, and thankfully sound asleep.

John bent down to Jackie and whispered… "Come on then mate… Let's leave mummy to sleep. Tell me where you want to talk about Santa… your room or downstairs in the parlor?"

Jack pondered the question posed by his father for a few seconds and then told him that he would like to go downstairs in the parlor. Jack liked the idea of having a talk with his dad like a grown-up. Plus, he was afraid if he was in his bedroom he might fall asleep.

Hand in hand, father and son made their way quietly down the staircase. They settled onto the settee with John stretching his long legs forward while Jackie pulled his legs underneath him on the sofa cushion.

"First son, I'm sorry I wasn't the first one to tell you the truth about Santa Claus." John saw Jack bite down on his lip and look downwards. When he lifted it back up, John could see the beginning of tears in young Jack's eyes.

"Then it's true? What Julian said… It's true?"

"Jackie, Julian told you what he believed to be the truth and there are many people who believe the same as he does. But mummy and I don't believe what he told you, because we know better. We know the real secret about Santa. And tonight, I'm going to share that secret with you."

"You are?"

Bates chuckled as Jack straightened up in the couch, his mouth half-open with eyes opened wide.

"Yes. And you want to know why?"

Jackie nodded his head as he leaned toward his dad on the opposite end of the settee.

"Because of how much you have grown this year," was John's simple answer.

Jack grinned as he agreed with his dad. That's true. I've grown up a lot. Mummy says my feet are getting so big I'll be wearing your shoes next year… and my pants legs don't reach my shoe tops anymore. She says I'm all legs just like you da! Then he paused as he seemed to ponder some missing part of the explanation. "But, Julian is way bigger than me. Shouldn't he know Santa's secret too?"

"Well, I'm not just talking about growing up on the outside, Jackie. I'm talking about how much you've grown on the inside…here." John reached forward and tapped his son's chest… right above his heart. "Not only are you taller son, but mummy and me can see how much your heart has grown too."

Jack pulled open the top of his nightshirt and looked at the spot his dad had just touched. Looking for some outward sign that his heart, indeed had grown.

"But how can you and mummy tell, Da?

We know by all the nice and thoughtful things you've done this year. Remember when mummy was really sick with a cold?"

"Yes, and I brought her water and played real quietly so she could sleep more and get better?"

"Exactly. And remember that nifty chain for my pocket watch that you got me for my birthday? How you paid for it yourself with money you'd save by doing extra chores around home?"

Jackie shook his head yes.

"And just recently, how you stood up to Julian for pushing down Sally in the schoolyard?"

At the mention of Julian's name John saw Jackie's face darken momentarily. "That's when he told me about Santa. He couldn't push me down so he laughed at me and said there was no such thing as Santa."

The signs quickly became apparent as John saw that his son was about to start brooding over what happened. He knew he had to move forward before Jackie succumbed to what Julian had told him in the schoolyard.

"In fact, Jack… Your heart has grown so much that I think it is time…"

"It is? Time for what?" Jackie eagerly asked his dad.

"Mummy and I think that it is time for you to become a Santa Claus!"

"M-m-me? Santa Claus?"

"Yes son. You've probably noticed around Christmas time that most of the people you see around the village, looking like Santa are just people dressed up, pretending to be Santa?"

"Mr. Carson always pretends to be Santa when you go to Downton." Jack eagerly chimed in. "He couldn't fool me. I knew it was him! And in Ripon I've seen them dressed up ringing bells in front of the stores!"

"Right, And that is why a lot of people, including Julian think that there is no such thing as Santa. It's because they aren't ready to be a Santa yet… But You ARE! Can you tell me what you think the best thing about being Santa Claus is, son?"

"Hmmm well there is cookies and hot chocolate that you get from the homes you visit. I always thought that was why Santa had such a big belly, from all the sweets he got at Christmas."

John chuckled and nodded. 'Yes…yes… that is a very good reason, Jack. But can you tell me what the best reason to be Santa Clause is?" John reached over and touched his son's chest again.

Jack bit on his lower lip as he looked at that magical spot his dad had just touched. His face lit up and he said, "I know, Da! I know! It's the good way your heart feels when you make someone happy by doing something for them!"

"Well done, son! I think it is now time for YOU to do your first job as Santa."

"It is… really?" Jack could barely contain his excitement. His first job as Santa…But where to start. "Uh, can you help me think of something to do for my first time? I want to be the best Santa I can be!"

"I'll be happy to help, Jack." John paused for a moment and then made a suggestion. "Here's a thought. Let me know what you think about this idea as your first act as Santa. Why don't you pick one friend or neighbor and find out something that they really need. Then we can go into town and get whatever it is for that person… You'll wrap it all up and seeing as tonight is Christmas Eve we'll go out late, place it on their doorstep and most importantly, never reveal to them who it came from…And you know why we will do it this way, Jack?"

"That's easy Da. Because when you're a Santa, Christmas isn't about getting credit for nice things you do. It's about giving to others and making them feel good."

"You're absolutely right, Jack! And now, what say we go to bed and tomorrow morning you can tell me who you want to give your first gift to as Santa."

"Okay da. Good night. Thank you and thank mummy for sharing Santa's secret with me."

Christmas Day…

At the Bates's the stockings, which had been hung by the chimney with such care, had been emptied and their contents strewn upon the parlor floor. Young Jack was as excited as he could be as he played with the new puppy that John and Anna had given him. When pressed with a name, Jackie immediately responded.

"Rudolph!" He exclaimed. "Every Santa needs a Rudolph!" John and Anna laughed at the new puppy's name as a warm fire blazed in the hearth and the heat from the oven further warmed their cottage full of love and the Christmas spirit.

Far across town in a less merry part of the city, a colorfully decorated package sat on the doorstep of a rundown flat. Mid-morning a person emerged from the house and picked up the package, their hands covered by threadbare gloves with holes through which their fingers peeked out of. Looking from side to side thinking this must be some mistake, the package was quickly ripped open and found to contain a pair of warm leather gloves with fur lining. In a blink of an eye the old gloves were thrown aside replaced by the newly gifted ones.

The wrapping had been discarded onto the ground but just as they were set to go back inside the glint of a white tag caught the recipient's eye. Bending down to see if it held some clue as to the benefactor, they were shocked to read the inscription.

The tag contained only two lines:

To: Julian

From: Santa