Santa Claus

23^rd December

           Half-yearly exams are going to finish today for Agnes, who was studying in 2^nd standard. The last exam is not a tough one. Only drawing exam is going to happen today. So from yesterday itself, she was in holiday mood. She waked up at 7 and wasted no time to get ready to school. She didn’t even cry to take bath and without her mom’s help she had eaten the breakfast. And her mother Elizabeth is watching all this with smile and happiness, as she was able to spend more time with her child. She took her child’s bag with her and they started to walk towards the school which is nearby their home. She spotted brightness in her child’s face, on leaving her at school and Agnes asked her mom to come early to take her to home in the afternoon.

               The whole class was in joy as the next 10 days are leave with special days like Christmas and New Year are there. As the bell rings by 9, everybody went to prayer and came back to class. Exam is started by 9.30 and the topic given is Christmas and Santa Claus. Agnes doesn’t know about Santa Claus so she called up her teacher and asked, “Who is Santa Claus?” Her teacher said, “He is a saint who lived long back. He now lives in Finland and will distribute gifts to children on the eve of Christmas.” Agnes can’t understand and she is thinking that why Santa didn’t gave gifts to her on the previous Christmases. She has drawn a Church, with some stars hanging infront of it and some Christmas trees beside the Church. Exam is over by 11 and the school has provided cake for all the students as a Christmas note. By 12, everybody left the classes. Agnes hurried to her mom and given the bag to her.

               As they started to walk, Agnes asked, “Is it true mom, that Santa Claus will give gifts to children on Christmas?” Her mom replied, “Yes dear. He has great love for children and will distribute gifts to them.” “Then why he didn’t give a gift to me? Is he didn’t likes me?” asked Agnes. Elizabeth didn’t expected this question but after giving a thought she replied, “No, my child. As he lives in a far-off place and also you didn’t request him for any gift, he didn’t give you.” By this time they reached their home. She took a pencil and a notebook from her bag and started to write. Her mother asked her, “What are you writing?” “I am going to send a letter to Santa with gifts of my wish” replied Agnes. After finishing the letter she has shown the letter to her mom. “Why you have mentioned 7 gifts here? He has to give gifts to every child right” said her mom. “The other six are my missing gifts of previous years mom” said Agnes. But now Elizabeth is worrying as Agnes asked her, “If I post this letter by today, when Santa will give the gifts to me mom?” “He will come and give it as soon as this letter reaches him” Said Elizabeth. “I have made a note in it to give my gifts before Christmas” said Agnes and forced her mom to come with her to post the letter. They posted the letter and came back. Agnes now started to ask her mother continuously about when Santa will come. Elizabeth said to her that as you have mentioned, he will come and give you the gifts before Christmas.

 24^th December

                Now her mom can’t sleep as she likes to fulfil her child’s wish. By nearly 5,  Elizabeth has got an idea and she started to have a short sleep. Agnes had wake up well before her mom and started to wait near the gate, so that she will not miss Santa. Elizabeth wakes up by 7, to see her child sitting near the gate. She called her up and said, “Get ready Agnes. We are going to buy new dress for you for Christmas.” “No mom. I am not coming. Santa may come to home and also I mentioned dress in my gift list. If you want you go and get for you” replied Agnes. “I called up him. He said he will visit you by night” said her mom. But nothing made Agnes to move from home. Elizabeth too didn’t go to store. Agnes sat near the gate all the day with the breaks for having food. By evening 6, she is tired and once again asked her mom when will Santa come? She asked her to take rest and promised that he will come before we go to church by night. Agnes started to sleep, by thinking about the Santa.

             When she woke up Santa is standing there infront of her, with a red bag on his back full of gifts. He took seven gifts asked by Agnes and given it to her. He asked her, “Are you happy now?” Agnes can’t believe her eyes and as she opened her mouth and called, “mom”, Santa vanished. As he vanished, her sleep is also vanished, she wake up and sit on her bed to see the Santa with Red and white costume infront of her. Her mom arrived there due to her cry and has seen Santa giving the gifts to her child. She started to smile silently with her hand on mouth. She asked Santa to have some food in her home. But Santa didn’t spoke and shook his head in rejection. Elizabeth said to Agnes with a mild smile, “That costume is so heavy so he can’t wear it for long… no, no… he has to distribute gifts for other children before Christmas, so he got to go.” Agnes moved with Santa till the gate of her house and waved her arm at him with joy.

                 Agnes come into home and asked her mom, “Why dad didn’t come to home until now? If he came early means he may also have seen Santa.” “Yes. I asked him to come early. But he didn’t come. We will tell him about this when he returns. Now go and get ready. We must go to Church” said Elizabeth. As she went to bathroom, her mobile ringed and she attended it. “Is she believed it?” asked her husband. “Yeah, after all idea is mine right” replied Elizabeth. As she started to talk about how he was not able to speak due to makeup both were burst into laughter. She asked him to come soon to home.

               Agnes is ready to go to church with the new dress given by Santa… errrrr… her father. When he entered into home, Agnes said to him, “Now only Santa came to our home dad. I asked him to stay but as he is so busy, he left.” She has shown all the gifts given by him to him. Her father heard it with excitement in his face and when Agnes asked, “Have you seen Santa before, dad?” “No dear” replied him. “Maybe your father may not put up the makeup” said Elizabeth to her husband. As they both started to laugh, Agnes gives a puzzled look.