SANTA?
She knew Santa Claus wasn't real and now as a grown up woman, she felt foolish to be standing in line to see him. There were mostly small children with their parents and a few kids with their older siblings. The line was long as she sipped her cup of Tim Horten's hot chocolate.
She'd been at the mall all evening and was tired from shopping but didn't want to go home again to face her lonely apartment. The tree was lit, candy filled the red and green dishes and even a Christmas carol could be heard now and then. But still, this Christmas she was lonesome and blue.
So she decided that since it was Friday night and she could sleep in tomorrow, she had no reason to go home. She'd sit on Santa's lap and ask him to bring her someone special next year. Maybe even buy a photo of them together........
She listened carefully as she watched the people in line. There was laughter but mostly they were impatient and argumentative. The fathers kept looking at their watches; the wives were on their cell phones and the kids were playing with their Gameboys. Life in the fast lane, city style.
She'd never had any children and wasn't sure she wanted any, though her ex husband sure did. That was one of the reasons they'd split up after nine happy years. He wanted a family and she just wasn't ready and maybe never would be.
But she missed him and their life together. This was their first Christmas apart and it made her sad. She had loved being married but next time, she wanted him to be a different sort of man. She longed to love and laugh and live again!
The line was getting shorter now and she could hear Santa's big "HO HO HO." He had a fake white beard and a very large tummy but was smiling at every small child, especially the babies. What a nice caring Santa!
Her turn came and she nervously approached his wide lap. "Hello, Santa; I'm Angie and I have been good and....."
Suddenly, he was trembling and she stopped to look at his face and saw those brown eyes and dark complexion and she knew! My God, it was.......no, it couldn't be!
But it was him, her ex husband and she hurriedly rose to leave, embarressed and bewildered. Kids were close by and waiting their turn too so she just said "Merry Christmas, Santa."
He replied, softly and slowly "Santa won't forget you on Christmas Eve; or ever."
As she drove home in the new snow, the tears started. The radio played a carol: "there's an old Christmas card, in an old dusty trunk".......and she turned it off as she pulled into the driveway of her new apartment. Her front door was covered in snow; she couldn't see to find the right key.
She found out for sure that there really isn't a Santa Claus that night. But she'd still leave his favourite pie and milk out on Christmas Eve. Just in case......
She knew Santa Claus wasn't real and now as a grown up woman, she felt foolish to be standing in line to see him. There were mostly small children with their parents and a few kids with their older siblings. The line was long as she sipped her cup of Tim Horten's hot chocolate.
She'd been at the mall all evening and was tired from shopping but didn't want to go home again to face her lonely apartment. The tree was lit, candy filled the red and green dishes and even a Christmas carol could be heard now and then. But still, this Christmas she was lonesome and blue.
So she decided that since it was Friday night and she could sleep in tomorrow, she had no reason to go home. She'd sit on Santa's lap and ask him to bring her someone special next year. Maybe even buy a photo of them together........
She listened carefully as she watched the people in line. There was laughter but mostly they were impatient and argumentative. The fathers kept looking at their watches; the wives were on their cell phones and the kids were playing with their Gameboys. Life in the fast lane, city style.
She'd never had any children and wasn't sure she wanted any, though her ex husband sure did. That was one of the reasons they'd split up after nine happy years. He wanted a family and she just wasn't ready and maybe never would be.
But she missed him and their life together. This was their first Christmas apart and it made her sad. She had loved being married but next time, she wanted him to be a different sort of man. She longed to love and laugh and live again!
The line was getting shorter now and she could hear Santa's big "HO HO HO." He had a fake white beard and a very large tummy but was smiling at every small child, especially the babies. What a nice caring Santa!
Her turn came and she nervously approached his wide lap. "Hello, Santa; I'm Angie and I have been good and....."
Suddenly, he was trembling and she stopped to look at his face and saw those brown eyes and dark complexion and she knew! My God, it was.......no, it couldn't be!
But it was him, her ex husband and she hurriedly rose to leave, embarressed and bewildered. Kids were close by and waiting their turn too so she just said "Merry Christmas, Santa."
He replied, softly and slowly "Santa won't forget you on Christmas Eve; or ever."
As she drove home in the new snow, the tears started. The radio played a carol: "there's an old Christmas card, in an old dusty trunk".......and she turned it off as she pulled into the driveway of her new apartment. Her front door was covered in snow; she couldn't see to find the right key.
She found out for sure that there really isn't a Santa Claus that night. But she'd still leave his favourite pie and milk out on Christmas Eve. Just in case......
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