When I was little, my sister and I always strained our ears on Christmas Eve, listening for reindeer. We figured that they didn’t need snow for the sleigh. After all, everyone knew they were magical. Why would they need snow? And of course, Santa had to use his reindeer. Everyone knew that! Whenever the wind would blow a pinecone on the roof, we would swear that we had really heard reindeer. We were true believers.
Now, like any child, we knew that Santa Claus would not come while children were still awake, much less while they were out of bed. But one Christmas Eve, when I was about five years old, I lay in bed, trying to hear reindeer, and watching my sister sleep. Suddenly, I realized that I had forgotten to brush my teeth. Well, Santa Claus knows everything, and I wasn’t about to take any chances. I hurried to the bathroom. While I was busy brushing my teeth, I heard someone knock at the door. I didn’t think anything of it. After all, Santa Claus doesn’t need to knock. He comes down the chimney. But then I heard a deep, rumbling “Ho, ho, ho!”
I peeked out the door. Yes! It really was! It was Santa Claus! Red suit, white beard, round belly – there was no question about it. I was doomed! Santa Claus was here, and I was out of bed! Not even in my bedroom! I considered trying to sneak back to bed, but then my parents called me into the living room. I was caught! Santa told me that he was checking his list one last time before his deliveries, and he wanted to make certain what I wanted to get. He was also checking with my parents, to verify that I had been good, and that I deserved Christmas presents.
When Santa left, I looked out the window, and saw him drive away in a black car. (This made sense, given the lack of snow. Maybe the reindeer really did need snow after all.) My brother and I looked worriedly at each other, both obviously thinking the same thing. (He must have come in at some time while Santa was there, but I never noticed him. All I was aware of was Santa.) Together we crept into the living room, and felt the stockings. They were empty! Not even a tangerine in the toe! We looked around. The only presents under the tree were the ones that the family was giving to one another. We were certain that we weren’t getting anything for Christmas! My parents reminded us that Santa said he was just checking his list, and that he could come back. And, of course, he did. It was probably 25 years later that I found out that Santa was our next-door neighbor, stopping by on his way home from a Christmas party. I don’t remember what presents I got that year. But it was a Christmas I’ll never forget.