Caroline and the Christmas Wishes

Chapter 2

Try as he might to be a sourpuss, the more Richard watched Santa, the more his heart softened. Oh, he was skeptical of him at first, especially when kid after kid sat on his lap, and Santa just winked at the nodding parents, promising that they'd get what they want.

And sure, some kids were greedy, but most approached Santa with a mixture of wonder and awe. Santa was always smiling and in good cheer, no matter how many kids there were. This was despite the fact that some were crying, some were demanding, and some were spilling food as they sat on his lap.

A self-proclaimed grump, Richard found himself intrigued by Santa's unflagging good cheer. Despite the lack of intellectual challenge or artistic creativity in his tasks, Richard found he wasn't bored with this job (unlike gift wrapping) and the time flew by.

During their next break, Richard became alarmed.

"Uh-oh."

"What's wrong, Richard?"

"I just saw that cop in Men's Apparel and I think he spotted me."

"What cop?"

"The one whose ring I lost. The ring I was looking for when I ransacked your bag of toys… Uh, did I ever apologize for that…?"

Santa tried his best to glare at Richard, but there was still a twinkle in his eye.

"Uh… I guess not. Well, I'm really sorry, Santa. But look at him! He's scary, isn't he? And he's got a gun… Oh my god, he's walking over here? What am I going to do? Can you help me out, Santa?"

"Is that your Christmas wish, to not be bothered by the policeman?"

"You bet!!!"

"Okay, hide behind the chair, I'll take care of this."

The cop approached Santa. "Excuse me, Santa…"

"Ho, ho, ho. Can I help you, officer?"

"Yeah, I'm interested in one of your elves." He almost growled the next sentence. "I think he used to be in gift wrapping."

"Perhaps you're mistaken. The elves have been with me for a week now."

"Are you sure?"

"Would Santa lie?" Santa smiled such a smile at him, even his heart was softened.

"I guess not. Maybe it was a guy that just looked like him, I was pretty far away. They probably canned his ass, anyway."

As he walked away, Santa called out to him "Officer."

The cop stopped and turned around. "Yeah"

"Merry Christmas. And good luck with all your endeavors this holiday season."

The policeman smiled "Back at ya', Santa." He turned again and walked away.

After he left, plus an interval to just to make sure, Richard heaved a huge sigh of relief and came out of hiding.

"Thanks, Santa. I really owe you one… Hey, we still have a little time left on our break. Sorry I can't afford any more, but why don't we go to the employee break room, I'll get you something from the vending machines, my treat."

"That'd be nice. Thank you, Richard."

As they were walking downstairs, Richard remarked "You saved me, you were really convincing towards that policeman. 'Would Santa lie?' – That was inspired!"

"Well, Richard, the officer may have been misled by my words, but technically I didn't lie. The elves that I was gesturing to have been with me for a week. I didn't say all of my elves were… Santa doesn't lie. That's why kids believe in me."

"Wow… you're really into this Santa gig, aren't you?"

"Yeah, that's how I get this Macy's gig every year. They know that during the holidays, I am Santa. And this job is important to me, it's the only one I can count on every year."

As the reached the break room, Richard saw a row of vending machines.

"Knock yourself out, Santa. Anything in the room is yours. Here's some change."

Richard found a table and sat down, waiting for Santa to make his selections and come over. When Santa sat down with his snack, Richard laughed.

"Milk and cookies…? I should have guessed…" Richard patted his belly. "Trying to make sure you stay in character, huh…? So, Santa…" Richard asked "What's you're real name?"

"Kris."

"Chris…?" (Richard erroneously assumed Kris used the usual spelling of his name.)

"Kris… Glenrik. Kris Glenrik."

"Glenrik…? Is that an eastern European name, Chris?"

"Actually Richard, I don't know a lot about my father, so I'm not sure."

Feeling a bit uncomfortable, Richard didn't pursue the topic, and changed the subject.

"So… Chris… You said you do this every year. How many years have you played Santa?"

"I've done it for so many years now, I can't even remember."

"Well, you're great in the role, Chris. But don't you ever feel a little bit guilty? I mean, perpetuating a myth so that Macy's can make higher profits. And the kids are bound to find out sooner or later that there isn't a Santa Claus to grant their Christmas wishes."

Kris became thoughtful and answered. "I'm here to spread good cheer, Richard. If Macy's makes some money, there's no harm in that. I help young children experience the joy of receiving gifts, by helping their parents find out what they want. When the children grow older, they find out that their parents have been placing 'Santa's' presents under the tree. If they're lucky, they'll learn from their parents the joy of giving, which is greater than the joy of receiving. Maybe that's why Santa's such a jolly fellow…" Then Kris looked at Richard with that twinkle in his eye. "Besides, how can you be sure that I can't make Christmas wishes come true…? Yours did, didn't it?"

Richard thought back to the close call with the cop, and laughed. "Maybe you're right, Chris. Maybe you're right… C'mon, we'd better get back to your toy workshop, Santa."

******

Most of the remainder of the shift proceeded as before – innumerable eager younger children came, sat on Santa's lap, and told him what they wanted for Christmas. Just before Macy's closed, one final mother with her young son approached. Richard helped lead the lad to Santa, and put him on Kris's lap.

"Why, you're a cute lad. But you don't seem very happy. What's your name, young fellow?"

"Bobby."

"So… Bobby, what would you like for Christmas?"

Bobby hesitated. He turned to his mother, then back to Kris. "I want my Daddy to come home!" he cried. "I miss him. I want Mommy and Daddy to like each other again."

Bobby's mother's heart fell to the floor.

"Isn't there some toy you'd like? A ball, a wagon, a fire truck?"

Almost bawling, Bobby replied "No…! I want my Daddy!"

Sympathetically, Kris looked directly into Bobby's eyes and answered "I'm afraid I can't do that, Bobby."

"Why not…?" Bobby wailed.

"It's beyond my power to mould the human heart. That has to come from within. Let me explain… Bobby?"

"Y – y – y – yes?"

"Is there someone at school that you don't get along with?"

"Yeah. Timmy. He's a bully."

"So, if a teacher came over and made Timmy shake your hand, do you think that would stop Timmy from bullying you the next day, if he had the chance?"

"N – n – n – no."

"And why not?"

"C – c – 'cause his heart hasn't changed?"

"That's right, Bobby. And why hasn't it changed?"

"'Cause it has to come from within?"

"That's right, Bobby. Maybe I could arrange for you father to visit you…" Kris looked up, and saw Bobby's mother nod. "…but that's not really all you want, is it?"

"No, Santa."

Kris smiled. "Cheer up, Bobby. I might not be able to mould the human heart, but I can nudge it a little. I can let both your mommy and your daddy know how much you love them both, and want them to be together…" Kris looked up again to see Bobby's mother fighting back tears and nodding. "That might help, but I can't promise anything. Okay, Bobby?"

"Okay, Santa."

After helping Bobby down, when Bobby and his mother had gotten out of earshot, Richard remarked "Boy, Chris. I didn't know Santa was a psychologist."

"Sometimes things are complicated. I can't always cheer a child up. But lying would make it worse. I just do the best I can."

From a loudspeaker they heard "Attention shoppers. Macy's will be closing in five minutes. If you wish to make any more purchases tonight, please take them to a register now."

"Oh boy! It's almost quitting time! Say Chris, you want to walk to the subway station together when we're done here?"

"That'd be nice."

"Where do you live, anyway?"

"In Brooklyn, on Bond Street."

"Bond Street… Isn't that where the Salvation Army opened up a new homeless shel-…" Richard stopped in mid-sentence. "Oh boy" thought Richard. "Say Chris, I live in a pretty crummy dump, and I don't have an extra bed, just some blankets, but would you like to stay with me for awhile?"

Kris gratefully replied "Thank you. I'd really appreciate that."

"I hope I don't live to regret this" thought Richard.