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Apologies if you've been through this, but it's that time of year. Think of this story like watching the Grinch; you just gotta do it. It's tradition! :D
Anyhoo. 'Twas two years ago the local Elks lodge talked me into joining their happy league of Santas; the task was to hit every child in the county with a visit and a gift, not impossible when the county is but 4,000 people and you've got a half-dozen eager Elks in red suits, and yours truly.
I was, I'd like to add, the only one there a) under 50, and b) who needed a belly pillow under his suit. :D
I had an "elf" and a list; the elf knew how to get to everyone's house on the list, and drove me around in an old pickup that didn't have four-wheel-drive... in the snow .... And we went from one to the next with a big sack of goodies, marked off for each household with kids' names ...
"Brian, Sara, and John. Got it?"
"Got it!"
And out I'd hop. Doing my best to ho-ho-ho convincingly. After the first few I had the hang of it; I'd be invited in, kids would ooh and ahh, parents would have a chair set up next to the tree and I'd plop kids (and sometimes grandma) on my lap for a picture or two. Often Santa was offered a drink, and I have to say I was glad by the end I wasn't driving. :D
The Elks have been doing this for like a hundred years out here, so there are few surprises.
Except one house.
As we turned into a long driveway, a man intercepted us. We asked if it was the XXXX house, he said it was, his house, and he'd be right behind us. Confused, we pulled to the door, I jumped out, and knocked.
Mom opened the door. "Kids! It's Santa!" she bellowed.
Two nonplussed children, one about 5 and one maybe 7, brother and sister, came to the door and grudgingly took presents. One of them rolled his eyes at mom. I ho-ho'd my best, but figured they'd lost the spirit. Couldn't blame them.
Then, dad came in the front door.
"KIDS!!" he screamed, wide-eyed. "It's SANTA!! It's REALLY SANTA!! Oh MY!!!"
The two kids' eyes became wide as dinner plates. The younger one ran upstairs. The older stammered a bit, thanked me for the present, then followed.
Still baffled, I ho-ho'd my way to the door. Once outside, dad explained.
For several years, dad had dressed up as Santa and gone out with the Elks. He would, naturally, hit his own house. Last year the kids recognized him. This year, he went out the door, saying "I'm going to go see if Santa's outside!" The kids rolled their eyes, mom said "kids, dad really enjoys Christmas, let's humor him, OK?"
So of course when dad came in behind me, the kids could only surmise I was the real deal. :rofl:
Dad got a special gift from Santa. And I got my favorite holiday memory ever. :)
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