The Writer: December 2020

Everybody knows that Santa Claus visits children all over the world each year on Christmas Eve to leave presents but what people don't know is that one year, Santa talked to me over the radio to assure me that he was still coming despite what was going on in the world that year. It was December 2020 in Springfield, Illinois during the awful COVID-19 world pandemic. COVID-19 was the scariest virus that made people really, really sick. To prevent this icky virus from spreading, people wore surgical masks, didn't hug, kiss, or high-five, and stood six feet apart. Churches, restaurants, movie theaters, the library, and schools were also closed. I had to go to school on a laptop at home. The grown-ups called it virtual learning. I just missed my school friends and my teacher.

I, Petrina Mae Knight, was seven years old. I always wore my copper-red hair up in pigtails, I had violet eyes, and had dark-brown freckles on fair-skinned cheeks and nose. People told me that I had a smile that could light up an entire building and if I smiled hard enough, my nose would crinkle. During that year, I wore costume clothes more than regular clothes because we rarely went out. My favorite costume was my Tinkerbell dress and wings. Because it became so cold, Mommy said that I had to wear a green sweatshirt and leggings under the Tinkerbell dress to keep warm but I still loved it.

I was usually a very happy girl and normally got even more excited for the whole month of December but during the COVID-19 stuff, I felt sort of lonely and sad. I couldn't play with my friends. I couldn't see my grandma and grandpa, or my aunts, uncles, or any of my cousins. All that we could do was stay home. We even wouldn't be able to visit anyone on Christmas either but I didn't say anything about how I was feeling because I didn't want to worry my mommy and daddy.

My mommy and daddy always looked tired and stressed or they just would start arguing about things that I didn't understand. I was determined that we would have a merry Christmas though, despite the stupid COVID. We had sparkly decorations around the house, there was cheerful Christmas music on the radio, and fun Christmas movies and specials on TV. I was constantly listening to the radio and watched movies nightly.

On a Friday night, two weeks before Christmas, I just finished watching "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" in the living room. The news just came on. I normally didn't watch the news because it was so boring. I was about to turn off the TV and go to play with my toys before my mommy came to tell me that I had to get ready for bed. Then, I heard Mommy and Daddy arguing again in the kitchen so I left the TV on and tried to wait for the yelling to stop.

I wasn't listening to the news until a crabby-looking anchorman with gray hair and an equally gray suit said dryly: "Reports are being circulated on the internet that Christmas should be canceled because of the pandemic. With the number of positive COVID-19 cases and the death toll rising, people feel like we shouldn't be celebrating the holidays this year. The CDC has neither encouraged nor discouraged this idea but people are even questioning if Santa Claus would risk traveling on Christmas Eve. Experts say..."

I couldn't listen to the rest. It was too heartbreaking. People wanted to skip Christmas and there was a chance that Santa might not come that year. If he did come, the grown-ups thought that he might get sick. Despite my mommy and daddy still yelling, I ran past them to my room and slammed the door behind me. I would usually get scolded for slamming doors but they didn't seem to notice or care.

Trying to cheer myself up, I turned on my portable boombox to the radio station that always played Christmas music. The lavender colored, portable boombox had an AM/FM radio and a CD/cassette player. It was an early Christmas gift from Mommy. She was tired of me playing Christmas music on the Echo speakers throughout the house.

I sat on my bedroom floor and played with my tall, Halloween dollhouse that my grandma got me the year before, which was home to my two cloth angel dolls with velvet wings that my Aunt Alice made for me. I was making my dolls fly and dance to the Christmas music but I couldn't stop thinking about what the grumpy anchorman had said. Even though my daddy had always told me that not to believe everything that was on TV or the internet, questions kept tumbling in my head.

I then decided to get some answers. I put my dolls in their beds in the dollhouse and sat at my desk, pulling out a pencil and a piece of paper from my crafts bucket. I already wrote a letter to Santa, asking for a Peter Pan costume and some new baby dolls, but I was going to write to him again to get the truth.

Dear Santa, I wrote, I know that I already wrote you a letter but I'm not asking for more presents. I have questions and I know that only you will know the answers. Can people cancel Christmas? Will Christmas even feel the same without all of my family and friends? I miss them. I'm kinda lonely this year. Are you still visiting kids and leaving gifts this year? Will it be safe for you? The virus is like a scary monster. It can get anyone. Santa, will anything be normal this year? Love, Petrina.

As I carefully signed my name, I suddenly realized that the letter probably won't reach him in time.

Devastated, I burst into tears and ran into my bed. I cried into my pillow until I fell asleep. Later that night, the sound of loud static woke me up. My radio was off-station. Wiping my sleepy eyes, I slowly walked towards my boombox to fix it.

When I turned my radio back to the Christmas station, I heard a man chuckle: "Ho-ho-ho, Merry Christmas!"

I thought that a DJ was just pretending to be Santa but then, he said: "I have a message for Petrina Knight of 918 Gulley Drive."

I froze. I looked at the radio with shock and confusion when I heard my name and address.

"How does that guy know me," I thought, slightly nervous, "or can he be...?"

"Santa?!"

"Yes Petrina," he replied with a smile in his voice, "it's me, Santa Claus."

I almost jumped out of my skin when he actually answered but my heart was beating with so much joy.

"But how can you hear me through the radio?"

"Ho-ho-ho, I'm Santa," he laughed in a booming voice, "I have my magical ways!"

"Oh Santa," I exclaimed excitedly, "I have so many questions for you!"

"I know, my dear, that's why I'm talking to you. Ask away."

"Can Christmas be canceled?"

"Well," he said slowly, "Christmas was outlawed a long time ago."

My heart dropped to my tummy for a second.

"But," he continued, "they wouldn't do that now. Anybody can celebrate any holiday that they want. What you heard was just a silly rumor. Even if someone tried to cancel it though, no one could cancel the feeling of Christmas. It's a time of kindness, selflessness, and compassion. No one can take that away."

I was relieved by his words. I then asked: "But will Christmas feel the same without seeing my family and friends face to face?

"Ah," he replied, "it will be different this year. To keep everyone healthy and safe, they won't able to see you in person but you'll have phones and computers to spend time with each other. All of their spirits will also be with you on Christmas."

"What do you mean Santa?"

"The love that you have for them in your heart will make it feel like they're right next to you," he explained, "whether if they'll be an hour away, or a state away, or a country away, or even up in Heaven, their spirits will be there with you. You never alone because love keeps everyone connected while you have to be apart. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, I think so." I hugged myself, suddenly feeling comforted and loved.

I had one question that I was very eager to ask him but I was sort of dreading his answer.

As if reading my mind, he said: "I am still coming on Christmas Eve."

I was so happy but I asked: "Will you be safe? COVID-19 is really bad."

"Ho-ho-ho," he chuckled, "of course! I'll take all of the necessary precautions that night. I'll wear a mask that covers my nose, mouth, and beard. I'll wash my hands. The reindeer will also wear masks and the elves that handle the toys will wear masks and gloves. The only thing that I won't do this year will be eating the cookies that are left out for me."

"Kids always leave out cookies and milk for you!"

"I know," he replied, "but I'll do anything and everything to bring gifts and most importantly, hope to children. Besides, I really should lay off the sweets."

"Will the kids see that you didn't eat the cookies or drink the milk and be sad?"

"To avoid any hurt feelings, I'll make the cookies and milk disappear with my magic. Do you have any more questions for me, dear Petrina? Do you want to add something to your wish list? You only had a few things on your list."

"Can you just give something to my mommy and daddy," I asked softly, "so they'll be happy again?"

"Oh dear one," he said tenderly, "I have something special for them. Don't worry, I know that this year has been difficult for them."

"Thank you for talking to me Santa," I exclaimed, "I feel so much better!"

"It was my pleasure, dear one. You've been so good about everything this year! I don't usually do this but..."

My school laptop that I kept next to my boombox turned on for a second. Santa's jolly face appeared on the screen and he quickly winked at me. Then, the laptop abruptly turned back off. All of a sudden, a large, green box with a red ribbon appeared at my feet.

"You can open one gift early this year," he said.

I sat on the floor with bright eyes and open the box. It was the Peter Pan costume that I wanted so bad; the green hat with a red feather, the green tunic, a brown, leather belt, a toy dagger, the dark-green tights, and the brown boots. I was ecstatic.

"Oh, thank you, Santa!"

"You're very welcome, my dear Petrina. Ho-ho-ho! Just don't wear it until Christmas, okay?"

"I won't," I promised.

"Now," he said cheerfully, "you better get back to bed. It's three A.M. there! Ho-ho-oh my! Tuck yourself in and I'll play all of your favorite Christmas songs until you fall asleep."

"Okay."

I crawled into bed and snuggled with my Tinkerbell doll.

"I love you Santa," I said sweetly.

"I love you very, very, very much Petrina," he whispered, "Have a merry Christmas."

Then, he played 'Away in a Manger.' I smiled contently, as I drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up later that morning, the regular DJ was talking about the weather before playing 'Jingle Bells.' At first, I thought that I had an incredible dream last night but then seeing the opened gift on my floor, I realized that I really did talk to Santa. I'll never forget our conversation from that night. Mommy and Daddy were still asleep but before I woke them up, I closed my gift from Santa and hid it underneath the Christmas tree in the living room so I could open it in front of them on Christmas morning.

Two weeks later on Christmas Eve night, I asked Mommy if I could leave out bottled water and a small bottle of hand sanitizer instead of milk and cookies to keep the germs away from Santa. She giggled at this but said okay. I left the two things on a piece of paper that simply read: To: Santa. Love: Petrina.

The next morning, I ran into the living room. There were dozens of presents underneath the tree. Santa also left a note, where I left the water and sanitizer, reading: Thank you very much, Petrina. Merry Christmas!

I would always open the first gift but I saw a huge gift for my Mommy and Daddy. I remembered that Santa said that he had something special for them so I decided to give them their gift from Santa first.

They opened it silently but when they saw what it was, they began crying happily and laughing. It was their old wedding picture. Mommy looked as beautiful as a Disney princess in her flowing, silk, white dress and her blonde hair up in a silver tiara. Daddy looked like her handsome prince in his black and white tuxedo and white gloves. Some moving men lost this picture during a move two years before and Santa found it.

Seeing the picture reminded them how much they loved each other. They hugged each other for the first time in months, holding hands. It felt so good to see them being affectionate towards each other. Then, I opened my Peter Pan costume. I even put it on to model it for them. I also got some baby dolls, an Elsa dress, a remote car, and much more.

Later, we talked to the rest of our family and friends on the phone or the computer on Zoom. Santa was right. Even though everyone wasn't there in person, it still felt like everybody was in the room with us, as we sat down for Christmas dinner. COVID-19 ruined a lot of things that year but it couldn't touch hope, love, or the magic of Christmas.