Yes, Patricia, There Is a Santa Claus
It was Christmas Eve and my family had just come from mass. As our car pulled up to the garage, I was extremely giddy—I was certain that Santa had dropped by while we were out. It was, after all, the best time for him to swing by without being seen.
The anticipation had been building on the days leading up to this night, the night when no five-year-old could even think about sleeping. It was way past my bedtime, but I was wide awake, excitement coursing through my veins. I jumped out of the car and rushed into the house—only to find a Christmas tree, ablaze with lights…but with absolutely nothing underneath.
To a kindergarten-age kid, this was heartbreak. Was I to agonize until the next morning? Did Santa happen to forget about me? Had I not been nice enough that year?
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