Santa Got Lost

Last Christmas, we decided to spend the holidays with my husband’s parents. My little boy, Sam, sometimes gets funny ideas into his head and on the drive over he was unnaturally quiet. After a half hour, my husband looked back and saw a very sad looking little boy in the booster seat.

“You okay back there, Sammy?” asked Tim.

“How will Santa know we're not at home Daddy?” he asked, seriously.

“Santa’s magic, he knows these things,” said Tim, smiling.

“Like Harry Potter?” asked Sam.

“Yes, only better,” said Tim. 

I watched as Sam frowned, thinking, but he didn't say any more on the subject. Soon he was playing his Gameboy, lost in a world of his own. 

When we arrived, Tim’s dad was waiting for us.

“Grandpa,” shouted Sam, as he rushed up the porch steps.  Tim’s father swept him up in his strong arms and twirled him around. The house glittered with fairy lights and our breath fogged the chilled evening air. Now it felt like Christmas.

For the next few days we ate till we burst, watched old movies in the middle of the day, and went for walks in the woods. In a blink of an eye, Christmas Eve was on us and Sam was so excited, he trembled.

“Dad, are you sure Santa will be able to find us?” he asked.

“I promise, Sam. Santa knows where every kid in the world is tonight."

“OK Dad,” Sam said, trusting Tim implicitly. 

Around eight, I managed to get Sam into his PJ’s, and get his teeth brushed. We put out a glass of milk and a ham sandwich for Santa, and a bowl of apples for his reindeer.  Only when all that was done to Sam's satisfaction would he agree to go to bed. 

“I won’t be able to sleep, Mom, I just know it. Santa will fly right past the house,” Sam said, when I tucked the duvet under his wobbling chin. I could see the tears forming in the corner of his eyes.

“What if I stay with you and read a story?” I asked. 

He nodded and scooted over in the bed. I got under the covers and read from Thomas the tank until he was sleeping soundly and making little boy snores. Later that night, Tim and his Dad went out for a beer while I sat in with Tim’s Mom, watching A wonderful life. Just after eleven, the sitting room door opened. Sam stood there with huge tears running down his chubby cheeks.

“Santa didn't find us MOM!" he wailed, pointing to the empty space under the tree in the hall.

“Oh Sam,” said Tim’s Mom, taking him up on her lap “It’s not Christmas yet. See the little hand is not at the twelve yet," she said pointing at the clock over the fireplace. Sam rubbed his eyes and looked at the clock, his little brain taking in this new fact.

“You woke up too early, sweetheart," she said, rocking Sam in her arms. "Let me tuck you back in bed for a few more hours. I'm sure Santa is on his way." 

“OK,” he said slowly, and she carried him back to the bedroom. I heard him ask, “Grandma, are you sure he didn't get lost? It's a long way from our house to your house?”

“I’m sure, sweetheart. You know, Santa has been coming to me for nearly seventy years and he never once got lost, even when I was somewhere else on Christmas night.” 

Later, when Tim got home, I told him how upset Sam had been when he found no presents under the tree. Tim looked a little hurt but said it would be fine in the morning.

Once the house grew quiet, and the beds were filled with sleepy people, I heard the branches of the Christmas tree whisper. I knew the floor was now piled high with gaily wrapped toys, the milk would have vanished, and all the apples would have big bites taken out of them. Santa had been. 

In the morning, Sam landed on the bed like an un-exploded cannon ball. 

“MOM! DAD! He came, look,” Sam said, excitedly pushing a huge red truck in my face.

“It’s lovely Sammy,” I said, still feeling groggy, but happy in the haze of his enthusiasm. “We told you Santa was magic.”

“No one's magic, Mom,” he scolded me.

“Well how did he find you so, Mr Smarty Pants?” I teased him, tickling his belly.

“He used the, Find Sam App on his iPhone,” said Sam, between gales of laughter.

“Has Santa got an iPhone?” I asked.

“Mom, EVERYONE has an iPhone!” Sam said, running off to open more of his presents.