Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Of Course There Is A Santa!


I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her. On the way, my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!" My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true. Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted .... "Ridiculous! Don't believe it! That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go." "Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's. I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down."Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas. That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers. Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby. Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team. I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.
~Anonymous

Of course there is a Santa! Are you on his team?



21 comments:

Letti said...

What a great story. I will remember that when my kids ask me. Thanks for sharing it Shaila.

Shannon said...

I love that story...how are you guys? And yes I am on his team!! (:

Beth at Aunties said...

What a beautiful story and you have a very wise Grandma! I will remember it as a lesson if I get the chance to with my own grandchildren.
Thanks Shaila!

Shannon said...

Melissa Mcrae Hyde took them...her business blog is on my bloglist..moments matter. she has a webiste too. She will be coming back to California in 2009. I told her she doesn't charge enough..so its a very good deal. I get the rights to ALL the pics taken adn she touches ALL of them up and even puts in picture collages and creations..and my Christmas cards. We went to the Mission Inn and then over to the Old Spaghetti Factory adn train tracks on teh other side of the freeway. We had a blast!

Elisa said...

I love Santa. I get all emotional every! single! time! I take my kids to see him.

Of course he's real!

Amanda said...

What a sweet story. I had a girl moment and started to tear up!

tammy said...

Love this! Gave me chills. And now I'm craving cinnamon buns too.

Jan said...

That was the cutest story ever. What a heart full of love that girl had. Do you know her? And that Grandma was the sweetest too.

I believe in Santa.

The Berry's Patch said...

Sweet story!

nikkicrumpet said...

I love this story! It really is true that its more fun to give than receive...now can we just convince our kids of that!

chelle said...

How sweet! If I wasn't on his team before, I am now. m

heather said...

I absolutely LOVE that story!! LOVE IT!

Pancake said...

this is one of my fav stories!!

Anonymous said...

what a lovely story. just lovely.

SwainstonFam said...

We believe in Santa and are on his team! Love the story!!!

The Kooky Queen--Rachel said...

You commented on my blog awhile back and I loved it! What a great story!!! I loved that...Santa's helpers everywhere.

Sher said...

I love this story!
Have you ever read the picture book "I believe in Santa Clause"?
I love it! It compare Santa to Christ, and why he is important for Christmas.
I LOVE it. I like to read it to my kiddos at Christmastime.

Melissa said...

What a touching story! I think you should turn that into a children's book.....So very sweet. Your Grandma sounds wonderful!

Jen said...

I absolutely LOVED that story! Thanks for sharing. And YES I am on his team. THis is a perfect story because my daughter is beginning to question the reality of Santa this year and this is a perfect story to read to her! Thank you!

Kaci said...

I love that story! :( and :)

American Homemaker said...

That is a great story! I love it!