A Letter To Santa

The next day after school, Pedro went to the front door of Shoemaker’s department store and stood in the line for Santa. He knew the Santa in the department store was not the real Santa, of course. It was just some employee with a fake beard and padding on his tummy. He knew it because last year it had been Dad’s turn to be Santa.

“You see, son,” Dad said. “Santa can’t possibly be at every department store on the planet. Especially at this time of the year, when he’s so busy. Right?”

“Right,” said Pedro.

“So every year the store asks an employee to pretend he’s Santa and this year it’s my turn!” said Dad.

Pedro had been very proud of his dad, the fake Santa. He did not even need any filling to pad out the costume!

Now Pedro stood in the line for the fake Santa with a letter in his hand. This was a brand new letter to Santa that he had written during his lunch hour at school. It was a short letter by Pedro’s standards, the shortest letter he had ever written to Santa.

Usually, Pedro’s letters to Santa had many things he wanted for Christmas: books, toys, videos, and gadgets of every kind. Such a long list, in fact, that Dad always warned him he couldn’t get it all. And he never did get it all, even if he always did get the stuff he wanted most.

Dad called it “Santa’s pick,” meaning Pedro could ask for what he wanted for Christmas, but it was Santa who chose what he got.

This year, Pedro’s letter was short because he only had written one item on it. This year, Pedro only wanted one thing for Christmas and he was sure to get it. After all, this year Santa would not have a choice: he would have to give Pedro the one single thing he wanted.

Pedro’s letter to Santa read:

Dear Santa:

This year, for Christmas, I want you to date my father and give him a fair chance.

He is kind of lonely and being a single father is not as easy as it sounds! He needs help being my father and with the house, too.

He might not be the cutest guy around and he can be kind of a slob at times, but I think you two have lots of things in common and you would get along fine.

Thank you,

Pedro

Pedro stood in line on the cold December day. When it was finally his turn, Pedro just stood in front of the fake Santa and gave him the letter.

“I want this delivered to the real Santa, please,” he said.

“Okay,” said the fake Santa with a laugh.

The department store had gotten a great costume this year. The tummy padding didn’t wobble and the beard seemed real. This fake Santa guy looked like the real thing.

Plus, thought Pedro while he watched his big belly move with laughter, he is merry.

“Are you sure he’ll get it?” asked Pedro.

“Sure,” said the fake Santa. “Scout’s honor.”

And he raised two fingers near his temple.

“Okay,” said Pedro. “Good-bye, then.”

“Wait!” shouted the fake Santa, with the letter in his hand. “Don’t you want to get a picture with me?”

But Pedro was already gone.