This story was inspired by multiple people this year. One very important source was this blog post. Open Letter To Santa The post is by a wonderful author, "Cedrix E. Clarke" Click his name to find his books on Smashwords. This author is definitely one you don't want to miss.
The other piece that inspired this story is someone close to me said, "Just imagine the heartbreaking things Mall Santas' hear." With both of these ideas floating around in my head this was the result. I do hope you enjoy. Merry Christmas Everyone!
A Christmas To Remember
Waiting in line was like waiting for anything else. She
shifted her weight around, trying to be patient. She remembered his words. They
rang nonstop in her mind like the Salvation Army bell ringer outside the mall.
Sharp, loud, and rapid like gunfire, utterly disturbing.
"I'm. Sick. I don't have very long left." The
words haunted her even when she tried to sleep. He'd tried to be gentle yet
strong when he told her. She saw right through his act. Fear lit his eyes with
a quiet desperation. How she wanted to clear that away, to see happiness again,
not for herself or the newly secret life growing inside.
How does one process beginnings and endings at Christmas?
She tried to ignore the thickness in her throat, a warning of the coming
tears. I can't cry again. Not that the thought would stop the onslaught,
but it might slow it.
She hadn't told a single soul. Not him, not her family.
Nobody knew of the tiny life they had created. She had been planning on telling
him when he had shocked her with his own secret. Seeing the pain he was
suffering, she couldn't burden him with knowing what he was losing.
She was surrounded by children riled up with excitement,
waiting to see Santa. Cheery Christmas music was a momentary distraction from
the sad futility that tried to overwhelm her.
She sighed frustrated with the lack of progress. She slid
her phone out and glanced at the time. Fifteen minutes felt like years when the
clock of doom was ticking. It had already been three weeks. She couldn't think
past this moment, until she knew for sure. It's
all about believing. Renewed determination mingled with faith to replace
her frustration.
The line moved again as kids danced forward to whisper their
wishes into his ears. Two more and she would reach her destination. This has to work. It was the only thing
she could pray that would work. It is
supposed to be a season of magic and miracles. She let the soft music
distract her as she waited.
### ###
###
Santa ran a hand up to scratch at his beard again. Damn...how did I get suckered into this job?
Another toy truck, he thought before he nodded and chortled, "Ho Ho
Ho, be a good young man and Santa will see what he can do." He handed the
wide-eyed tot a candy cane, before waving at the next children in line. Two
young children walked forward wide-eyed and shy.
Santa immediately began soothing them when he used their
names. Thank god for the elves. They
always asked for the children's names and then whispered them to Santa in the
nick of time.
"Okay you two...be good little children for your mom,
I'll be watching you." He smiled and pulled out two candy canes. The
children turned back to wave before wandering towards their parents.
He looked up startled to see his girlfriend next in line. What? A thousand questions floated through
his mind as time slowed. She moved forward and his heart thundered in his ears,
afraid he was about to be found out. The very moment he regretted not telling
her about this side job. She sat gingerly on his lap. He cleared his throat and
deepened his voice a touch.
"Well hello there young lady, what can Santa do for
you?" Her hair tangled in his beard and he almost laughed at the absurdity
of the moment. He could see that she was distracted, and only saw what she
expected to see.
"Well Santa...I need a real miracle." He watched
as she took a deep breath before continuing. "You see my boyfriend just
found out he doesn't have much time left." He watched as a tear slid down
her cheek. His gloved hand started to rise and dropped back to his lap.
"He doesn't know, but I found out we're expecting our first child."
His eyes widened hearing such startling news. He stayed very
still frightened the slightest move would give him away. "I will sacrifice
anything to see him healthy again."
She paused staring out at all the happiness around the
shopping mall. "I believe in you, Santa." She swiped at another tear,
before continuing. "He of all people deserves this. Please...please, Santa
I need you." She hastily leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
He pulled himself together, and pulled out a candy cane.
"That's a tall order, but I'll see what I can do. Ho Ho Ho, Merry
Christmas young lady." I promise... He
signaled to the elf waiting to send the next kids.
### ###
###
The call came in at four-thirty, right as Andrew was
struggling to remove the Santa suit in the mall office. His phone began pealing
with Christmas Eve Sarajevo. He grabbed
it and poked the button.
"Hello?" He pinched the phone between his ear and
shoulder and tried to hang up the suit. An unfamiliar voice spoke.
"I am trying to reach Mr. Andrew Lawson. Andrew paused
in confusion. "This is Andrew Lawson." He waited puzzled by the call.
"This is your doctors office, Health United
Medical."
"Did I miss an appointment?"
"Um no actually, I am calling to inform you that there
was some kind of mix up." He froze, afraid to breath for the second time
that day.
"Mix up?"
"Yes mix up. We discovered today that your test results
were mixed up with someone else's by mistake, just know that your test results
were completely normal, and we regret any suffering this error may have
caused."
Andrew sat down hard on the bench.
"Mr. Lawson are you still here?"
"Yeah...yes. Sorry just a bit surprised." He
trailed off.
"Well Merry Christmas Mr. Lawson." She hung up,
leaving him to make another call.
### ###
###
Santa sat in his recliner watching the fire merrily burn. He
smiled and then glanced at his wife.
"So what has you so cheery?" Mrs. Clause asked.
"Well you know how sometimes I have to confirm people's
faith?"
She nodded, just letting him continue. "Today was one
of those times. Ebeneezer called from his Mall helping the Santa there. I saved a family, by giving someone their life back." He
smiled, knowing of their celebration.
FIN
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