Last year, we were doing some last-minute shopping at a crafts store. The lines were long, and so there was a certain amount of trepidation about how the experience was going to go. Would my dear husband decide it was time to leave, right now, just before our turn with the cashier? Would a candy bar magically appear in his pocket (Why do they have candy displays at checkout counters?!)? Would he make a rude remark to the woman in front of us in line? These might seem like small things to you, but believe me when I say they pile up like straw. When you get to the last one, well, it isn't pretty.
But none of those things happened. Instead, there was a somewhat fidgety little girl and her mom in line behind us. The child was looking up at my husband shyly. It occurred to me that she thought he looked like Santa. Which, to be honest, he did. Except not as, uh, robustly composed.
Unable to resist the temptation, I smiled knowingly, leaned close to her, and whispered, "Yes, it is! Shhh...don't tell anyone. You see? You never know where he'll be. He's checking to see which children are naughty and which are nice. I would say you're being very nice indeed!"
Her eyes sparkled and widened, and her smile, well, what's more beautiful than a huge smile on the face of a small child? She was so excited! Hardly able to contain herself and with obvious effort, she stopped fidgeting, took her mom's hand, and was quiet as a church mouse. Her mom, having caught the whole exchange (of course), was highly amused and mouthed a quick "Thank you" to me.
I wonder, this holiday season, how many parents are standing in line with their fidgety little ones, exasperated, stressed, and wishing the time away? Perhaps Santa is watching! You never know where he'll be...
Merry Christmas!
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