Daycare at my house may have been viewed as work by some, but for myself it was... more kids to love. Everyday along with my own two there was at least 10 others to teach and play with. As anyone who deals with kids can tell you, you can't help it, these kids become 'yours' by extension.
It was Christmas time, and the children and I were making crafts along that theme, and of course most of their talk was about Santa. Among these kids was a boy named Shawn, who had just turned 7 and had become rather cynical about the existence of such beings as Santa. I had asked his mother how she wanted his questions handled. I could tell that she was torn between fostering the belief and introducing him into the adult world of denial. It was decided we would tell him the truth - the spirit of Santa is indeed very real, and that was the spirit of giving. The poor boy teetered between wanting to believe and not at the same time.
At that point in time, my older sister and I would do craft shows two or three times a month. At one of these shows, a man named Bo was selling hand crafted wooden toys, and she ordered a doll's cradle from him. Because she lived in Chicago, and this was a local fair near me, it was agreed he'd deliver it to my house and I'd pass it along.
It was Christmas week, and if I recall, my living room was a wreck with a hodgepodge of toys and very active kids being rather stubborn about cleaning up. It was close to the hour of some of them being picked up, when the phone rang. It was Bo, the cradle was ready and he would be passing right by my house, but there was a slight problem - he was on his way to play Santa, was it alright to come in costume? I beamed into the phone and warned him he might get mobbed. His warm chuckle filled my ear as he asked how many kids I had. We rang off, and I ran into the living room. "Guys! Guys! Guess who that was?" A dozen questioning eyes turned towards me. "It was Santa! He's going to store some things here because the sleigh is too crowded. Hurry! Let's pick up!"
Shawn stared at me, eyes wide. "You know Santa? Personally? And he's really coming here now?"
"Yes indeed. Now hurry! We want to make a good impression don't we?" Never had I seen the kids move so fast for cleanup. Of course the younger ones, who didn't understand what was going on, just followed suit of the older ones and soon you would have never guessed that that room had been played in. Even the month old baby stood holding on to the side of the playpen bouncing up and down excitedly.
Shawn's mother arrived, and as he hugged her hello, I heard him whisper. She looked at me quizzically, "he says Santa is coming over, and wants to know if we can stay?"
"Of course you may! Not everyday Santa asks to store some things for later delivery - even knowing kids are awake - is it?" I smiled up at her. "How about a nice cup of coffee?"
She shrugged and laughed a bit, "that sounds good!" But before either of us could move, the doorbell sounded. All eyes riveted to it as I opened it. Bo could have passed as Santa even without the red suit. He entered with a grand 'Ho-ho-ho! Children! Merry Christmas!" I saw 12 mouths gape open. Then cries of 'Santa!' nearly deafened us ! Into the room he came, patting heads and (bless him) handing out small candy canes, one for each. Turning to me, he handed me the bag containing the cradle, "Ah, I know this is in safe hands until Christmas eve delivery! Do you have the list?" I knew he meant the payment, and I handed him an envelope, he didn't even peek in it but nestled it in his coat.
"List?" the word whispered through the older kids.
"Why the list my helper keeps of all your Christmas wishes of course! Just in case one of your letters doesn't make it on time," Bo, I mean Santa laughed. Then with a grand flourish he was gone. For a moment the kids were in stunned silence. then Shawn spoke, "He was here. Really, really here! And YOU know him and are his helper! That's why you're kid sized!" I really had to laugh at that.
Shawn was the most ardent of believers for another two years.. Now, a grown man he often tells his children about meeting the real Santa and that he was sat by an elf.
