The Santa Files - My Friends Call Me Nick

Christmas Eve in the house was still. Downstairs, the tree blinked brightly with the colors of the rainbow. Upstairs, in the still of the darkness, two-year old Joshua awoke from his crib. Usually, he was the one of the four children, who would sleep soundly through the night. But this night was different. It was Christmas Eve! And noises came from above his head. It was almost as if horse and cart were on the roof. He decided to stand up in his crib and call out to his older brother, five-year-old Andrew, with whom he shared a bedroom.

"ANDOO...ANDOO!" Andrew heard the noise too.

"Yeah, it's on da roof Joshie!"

"Is dat SANDA?" Joshua just learned of Santa Claus from his older brother and two older sisters earlier that month.

"I tink so...Let's get Charlotte!" Andrew, being in a big boy bed, helped Joshua out of his crib by releasing the side panel of the crib. And they both headed to their older seven-year-old sister Charlotte's room. It was apparent mom and dad didn't hear the noise, so they decided it best to tip toe to Charlotte's room. But as they did, Charlotte and their twelve-year-old sister Emma were in the hallway already to greet them.

"Hey, why are you two up too?" Questioned Emma, as she had just a few seconds earlier, asked Charlotte the same question. Charlotte had heard the noise on the roof too.

"We heard a noise on the roof!" Andrew excited responded.

"Oh? And you thought it was the pawing and prancing of hooves?" Asked Emma, and both Joshua and Andrew nodded.

"Emma, we need to get mom and dad up," suggested Charlotte.

"I tried, but Dad just said, 'it was just raccoons on the roof, and to go back to sleep, it's midnight"

Emma knew the sound was too heavy to be raccoons, but mom and dad were heavy sleepers, and nobody was supposed to be up before 7:00 AM on Christmas Morning.

I think we need to go outside and check it out..." Suggested Charlotte, and Andrew and Joshie nodded in agreement.

"Ok," replied Emma, 11But you three stay behind me and we'll go down the stairs in a row. I have my baseball bat. So, if it's a burglar, he won't mess with us!"

“I have my books and my Littlest Pet Shop pets, throw at them too, and Joshie and Andrew can scream real loud, if we need it!" Charlotte added

"Yeah!!! Me and Joshie gots loud voices! But, what about my marbles and Joshie's Teddy bear? Can we throw them too?" Emma sighed. Any burglar would probably laugh his face off at the sight of four kids with toys to defend themselves.

"Ok, guys...This is not Home Alone! And you guys are not Kevin...We need to find out what is going on...So just all of you stay behind me...So follow me!" Now Emma voice was stressed and she was more serious. They all started to feel nervous, but they all went down the stairs in a single file. They were half-way down the stairs, when Emma could see the living room, where the Christmas tree glowed brightly. And there he stood inside the house. He back was turned to the children and he was placing presents around the tree. He was dressed in red with a nice white fur trim, black boots with golden buckles and the classic red elf cap. He stopped laying presents down, and spoke.

“l dare say its way past all your bedtimes, little ones!" He hadn't even turned his head and already he had caught sight of all four kids.

"Are you mad?" Asked Charlotte.

"My dear little Charlotte, why would I be mad? It's just late and tomorrow's a big day! Its Christmas day you know. You need your sleep." He turned and smiled at them, as he spoke. There was something about his eyes, like the poem said, "They twinkled because he was merry!"

"Santa!" the four children chorused.

"My friends call me Nick," he offered politely.

Emma came to her senses, and held up the bat..."Alright...SAN...TA...How do we know you're the real Santa. You could be a robber!"

"HO-HO-HO!" he chuckled, "Why would a robber, bring presents? And then place them under the tree?"

"I don't know San...ta! Maybe you have issues?" Explained Emma.

"I love the fact that you, Emma, want to protect your family, but I am St. Nicolas in the flesh, and I can prove it," countered Santa

"OK! Sure prove it...Show us!" Emma wasn't about to let him off the hook without some proof. With that he held out four candy sticks.

"Some Candy sticks, each flavored to you four," he held out what appeared to be peppermint sticks, and handed one to Joshua, one to Andrew, one to Charlotte and one to Emma. And they all took them and tasted them. Emma paused and put her hand in front of the other three.

"Are there Candy Cane Stick legit?" Emma asked suspiciously.

"I assure you Emma, that these Candies are especially made for all four of your taste buds" Santa Smiled and Emma was a little less nervous. Charlotte, Andrew and Joshua grabbed their sticks quickly from Santa.

"Root beer!" Giggled Charlotte, "My favorite!"

"Mint!" Exclaimed Andrew, "MMMMM!"

"Cherry" shouted Joshua, "YAY SANDA! You knowed I don't like mint!"

Emma hesitated, looking Santa over, and then finally said, "Ok, if my taste like orange, you're the real Santa," And with that she took a lick. The other three looked at her intently, as if this would be the defining moment, as to whether this man in their living room with all the toys and candies, was really Santa or some strange man dress up in a Santa costume.

"It's Orange! You really are Santa!" Exclaimed Emma. The other four giggled, "But Santa, I thought you didn't like children being up so late or seeing you work? Why are we allowed to see you?"

"Oh, my Sweet little Emma...It because you asked for brother or sister for Christmas a couple of Christmas's a go, I just wanted to see your huge family now, and see the love you all have for each other. One day I will be visiting all of you in your homes to bring gifts and joy to your little ones as I have done for so many years. "It was then Santa stopped, and went over to the living room chair and began to tell a story of Christmas Past.

"Years ago, I met your great-great-great Grandfather, who was kind enough to give me free oats for my reindeer, one night a few days before Christmas in 1886, because he knew I was in a pinch and had to deliver presents, but the reindeers had been pushing so hard that week, they were famished in the snow storm of that year, even though he had a wife and new born baby to feed. I suggested he make a cookie dish for his new baby, who was about to be born. And you have the cookie dish, right over there, from your Mommy's family." Emma nodded.

"I remember you told us Charlotte would be born years ago, with your note on the plate." Emma remembered.

"Santa?" Charlotte asked, "Was that you in 1979, at that motel talking to Daddy about Rudolph?" Santa nodded.

"So, your elves made that rope for our toboggan?!? It's the strongest rope I've ever used". Andrew exclaimed.

"Well, who else would it be?" Countered Santa, "it's made from Christmas love!"

"Cool " replied all four kids.

"But the point is this, I have such love for this family, who has so much Christmas spirit, I always want to check in every couple of years, and see how you are all doing. Remember as the baby born in Bethlehem lives in human hearts throughout eternity, so should we keep Christmas in our hearts."

"Santa, we love you!" Exclaimed Emma and all four kids gathered around and hugged Santa. At that moment, mommy and daddy had come down the stairs to see Santa and the children hugging.

"Nick?" Daddy looked amazed, "Honey, it's Nick! And he hasn't aged a year, since I was eight!"

"Yes." Answered mommy fully knowing it was Santa that had been there so many times in her family's history.

"How are you, Matt? Grew up really strong, healthy and happy I see!" Said Santa, as Daddy reached out to shake his hand.

"Nick, I always knew it was you! You were there when I took the toboggan out for its first run."

"And, you were there for my 3 times great father too, so we could inherit the Christmas Cookie Plate, that was made for my great-great grandma!" Realized Mommy.

"Indeed! And I'll be there every Christmas for all your descendants!" He paused, "But now I must take my leave of you all. It's Christmas Eve, and I still have half a world to bring presents to...But this has been just lovely!"

With that Santa placed his finger aside of his nose and magically disappeared. But Joshua could hear the hooves on the roof, and he exclaimed:

"Happy Christmas Sanda! We love you!"

In the distance of the night, a soft Ho-Ho-Ho chuckle could be heard.