This was sent to me by a friend of mine. Wish I could claim to have written it!
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 day 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.
May you always have LOVE to share,
HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care…
And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus!
| Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!! |
Now that is magic. A marvelous story Noelle. Mega hugs!
I can’t claim it as mine – a friend of mine sent it to me – I’d better add that!
Oh that is such a sweet story!
Thank you – it’s not mine, wish I could claim it.
Now that was a lovely story, thanks Noelle. Tissues please! Pass the darn tissues, I’ve something in my eye! Happy Christmas to you!
I’ll have tissues at the ready the next time! Wishing you a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!
That is absolutely gorgeous! If it’s not true, it should be. Magic happens!
Thank you Norah. Had to put it in a post!
Oh that’s made me feel all warm and fuzzy, thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks, GR! How are the book sales going?
Ticking along Noelle, ticking along….and you?
slowing down, but maybe they will pick up when the third book comes out in the spring. I’ll offer some freebies then.
Well that tells me I need to crack on with reading your work to catch up! Sales do pick up with each book I’ve found, there’s a sort of momentum created.
LOVE this! ❤️ Thanks for sharing your friend’s story. It’s beautiful. Happy Holidays.
You, too, Sarah – have a blast and relax!
One of the best Christmas stories, Noelle. Thanks for the share
Thanks, Geoff. It touched me!
Oh goodie; not as good a yours but I’m very touched..
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This is a lovely story.x
Thank you, Judith.
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A sweet story it is! Here goes another Christmas tweet! 🙂 Have a beautiful Christmas, Noelle, and my very best wishes for 2016.
Thank you, Jo. Peace be in your heart and our thoughts are with you.
Great story. I’m not one for Christmas, but it’s beautiful. What Christmas should really be about. Congratulations to your friend. 🙂
Thank you, Olga. Christmas is so much more than the religious ceremonies and the commercialism it’s a spirit, a feeling. That’s what I treasure more than anything else!
Oh I love this story Noelle! And I so want it to be true. Is it true? I wish you could have told us Bobby’s reaction, or if he went out and played in the yard at school break. Very well done. Happy Christmas to you and your family!
Hope your Christmas was wonderful. Does your daughter get into the Santa thing and enjoy it?
Hi Noelle. She has no concept of what is going on, it totally passes her by. She doesn’t care much for new toys or ripping open the paper. Normally she doest like new toys and won’t touch them for weeks. We just leave them sitting in her room until she wants them and then introduce play and show her how to use them . This year though she showed interest in some of them and started playing with them within minutes! I think it’s all te sensory work helping her to realise that anything new is not a threat. So we are delighted! Hope you’re having a great time too. Xxx
I think that is good news, Ali. Carys is responding to this new therapy. I’ve gotten the sense from your posts this year that her development is making progress. Thanks be to God for that And to her parents!
Beautiful story Noelle. It does share what Christmas really is about. Peace on Earth and goodwill toward men.
Glad you liked it Irene!