Practice Run

It is a week before Christmas and I am lying in bed struggling to sleep, usually the familiar noises of the house settling and the constant flow of traffic outside my apartment window soothe me, but not tonight. I just could not get comfortable. My bedside clock reads 12:00 a.m. come on please just sleep I tell myself.

Suddenly an unfamiliar loud noise startled me, it sounded like a crush outside, as sleep is so elusive to me, I decided to investigate. Halfway to my front door I hear a second louder one coming from my living room. I pause and turn toward my living room. Upon entering I just make out a figure standing in the middle of my beige carpet with his back to my fireplace. Burglar I think and hit the lights before instinctively raising my hands, however this man doesn't have a gun, instead he holds a sack and is dressed like Santa Claus. He is very convincing even having a white beard. I know I should do something heroic like call the police but my legs won’t move. Eventually after a long silence during which my arms begin to feel tired the man dressed like Santa speaks, he has an upper class accent “I'm terribly sorry to bother you at this hour but may I use your phone?” my phone, what kind of burglar uses a phone before committing a Robbery. The man notices my confused expression on my face and clarifies “my sleigh has lost power crashing on your roof. I need to call for help, its an 0800 number you will not be charged”.

My tired brain begins to piece it all together. The white beard, his red suit, black belt and boots and a sack. Is this man Father Christmas? I decided to take a chance, slowly lowering my hands. “You're not here to rob me”? I ask. “Ho ho ho, no I just want to use your phone” Father Christmas laughs. Breathing a sigh of relief “of course” I say “it’s over there”. While Santa uses the phone I go into the kitchen, prepare two mugs of hot chocolate, return to the living room, and put them down on the coffee table to cool while Santa finishes his call. “My breakdown company will be here shortly” he says, smiling. “It's okay I could not get to sleep anyway, please take a seat”. Santa makes himself comfortable on my green sofa putting his present-filled sack next to him. He takes one of the mugs sipping it gratefully. “It is a cold night out there I would not be surprised if it snows this Christmas” he comments, “would you like some biscuits maybe some ginger bread?”
“no thank you , I get enough of those on Christmas eve, I need to watch my weight until then as my wife has me on a diet” . We sat in silence for a while sipping our drinks then I asked him the question that has been bothering me ever since I saw him standing in my living room. “What are you doing flying around this early in the year? it’s a week until Christmas”
"Every year, a week before the big day, I go on reconnaissance to check which countries are safe to fly over, and which are off limits. With the world’s ever-changing political climate, you can't be too careful. I have to check which routes are safe because I don't want to inadvertently fly over a warzone and get shot down by a missile, or deliver presents to a part of the world that has had a regime change and no longer celebrates Christmas, it will throw off my entire schedule. The safety of my reindeer is my main priority”.

“Wont your magic save you from getting shot down?” I enquire, curiously.
“No amount of magic can save you if you fall from a great height”. I nod understandingly. The sound of a vehicle engine interrupts our conversation, we both turn to watch, and my security light comes on illuminating the scene. The red van stops and the man and woman get out, wearing a light grey uniform and caps with pictures of reindeers embroidered on their lapels. I turn to Santa, looking disappointed, “I was expecting Elves”. Santa rolled his eyes and sighed “they are a global breakdown company, not everyone is an elf”.

I turn back to the window just in time to see the repair team walk to the rear doors of their van and get ropes and pulleys. The woman climbs skilfully up the side of my house and attaches two ropes to Father Christmas' sleigh. She then jumps back down and helps her colleague guide the sleigh gently to the ground. It is a seamless operation and wondrous to watch.

Afterwards, the man checks the sleigh for malfunctions, after several minutes, he completes his checks. After the job is done the woman heads back to the van, the man approaches my house and rings the doorbell. I hurry to let him in. He follows me into living room room, “all done Santa, you’re good to go ” he says
“thank you Burt, how much do I owe you?”
“This ones on the house, excuse the pun, after all we need to make sure you’re all ready for Christmas Eve don't we, we can't be disappointing anybody” Burt replies smiling.
“well your children will be getting an extra large present this year for your kindness”
“Thank you sir, now if you could just sign here” Burt hands Santa a clipboard with paper attached, and a red pen. Santa signs and hands it back. “Thank you sir, don't hesitate to ring us again if you have any more problems, Merry Christmas”. Burt walks out the front whistling a festive tune, closing the door behind him. I watch him leave with my guest,
“ I will leave you now, I've taken up too much of your time, thank you for your hospitality, Tim” he says before leaving, walking towards the sleigh
“ I didn't tell you my name” I shout, “ well I am Santa Claus” he answers. Good point, i think before closing the door, only then do I noticed the present that has slipped out of Santa's sack . I wanted to give it back but the sleigh is already long gone, so I put it in a chest of drawers for safe keeping and head upstairs to bed. This time I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

Next morning I woke up refreshed, that was one crazy dream I thought as I got dressed.. Later I go to the draw, searching for my car keys. As I rummage through I find the present, so it wasn't a dream, it was all real, I had met Santa Claus.

Wishing everyone at Story Star a Merry Christmas happy holidays and see you in 2016.