It was Christmas Eve. James was hot and tired. The suit he wore was itchy around the neck and he was trying his best not to be grumpy. He had been laid off from his job as a machinist at an aircraft plant in September and because of the glut of people out of work, there were few jobs so no matter how he looked he couldn't find another machinist job. Unemployment paid a little but not enough to pay his rent so he had lost his apartment and at 39 was sleeping on his brother's couch.
His brother David and his brother's wife Nancy didn't mind, or at least said they didn't, but with two small children they didn't have a lot of room in their apartment and Matt knew it put a lot of pressure on his brother's family for him to be living there. Matt had made his own way since high school and hated taking advantage of his brother and Nancy's goodwill.
He had taken the Santa Claus job just to make a little extra cash, so he might be able to buy his two nephews a Christmas present. The two boys, Jeffery and Timothy were fraternal twins and he loved them dearly. He knew if he couldn't get them at least something for Christmas he would feel terrible. He didn't mind the Santa job. In fact he kind of liked it. It reminded him of those long ago days when his pareused use to take him and his brother to see Santa. Because of those fond memories he tried his best to be a good Santa.
His ruminations came to an end as Robin, the bouncy 20-year-old redhead working as his Elf guided the next child up to him. He liked the girl. She seemed to be a sweet, guileless, genuine, wholesome young woman. She was a very good-looking girl too. He had spent some time fantasizing about her, but each time he did he always felt a bit guilty because of that sweet, innocent way of hers. He had also thought about asking her out, but with a 19-year difference in their ages he thought that would probably disturb her, and since he had no place of his own, he quashed that idea.
During their breaks, he found out she lived in the same neighborhood where he had grown up. They had spent much of their break time talking about it, comparing where they had played as children, about the people who still lived there and the local establishments like Marco's Fine Foods and the Corner Arcade.
During their conversations he also discovered that her birthday was on Christmas Eve. She told him how much of a pain it was to be born on that day because everyone wanted to combine it with Christmas. Their last day was today, Christmas Eve and he had decided to spend a little bit of his meager earnings to buy her a birthday present.
James smiled down at the little boy standing next to him and said, "Hello there young man. Would you like to sit on Santa's lap?"
The little boy nodded and James picked him up and sat him on his knee.
"Would you like to take a picture with Santa?" James asked looking at the boy's mom.
James saw her nod so he pointed at the camera and said, "Look right over there.." again he looked at the boy's mom and the woman quietly said," Scott," in answer to his unspoken question.
"...Scott," He finished his sentence.
The camera clicked as Janet took the picture.
James looked down at Scot and said, "So what would you like for Christmas?"
"I want a little brother," Scot replied in a soft lisping voice.
James had heard requests for all kinds of things since he began as Santa, but this was the first time he had heard this particular request.
James went over his Santa training and settled on a stock reply designed to get past such a question without upsetting the child, "Santa will try his best, but in case he can't get you a baby brother, do you have a second choice?"
"No," came the adamant reply accompanied by a scowl on the tyke's face.
James looked at the mom, grimaced and said to Scott, "Well Santa will try, but it might take some time."
"That's okay. I'll wait." came the reply from Scott, sounding older than the two years he was.
James sat the tyke on his feet and said, "You have a very Merry Christmas Scott."
The boy smiled and replied, "I hope you do to Santa!"
James glanced at the line and saw it was short. Down at the end he could see the sign that Robin put out to signify the line was closed. He glanced at the clock and saw they had less than an 1/2 hour left to work. He sighed and motioned Robin to bring up the next child.
__________________________________________________________________
As Donna guided her son Scott out the department store door she asked, " Scotty, why did you ask Santa for a baby brother?"
"Because I want one!" Came his direct and forceful answer.
Donna nodded and thought about the discussions she had with her husband Gary about having a second child. They both wanted one, but with the job market and the economy in Seattle the way it was, they were both cautious about expanding their family. They stayed ready though. Neither one of them liked condoms, but they knew if Donna used oral birth control it might take weeks or months for her to conceive once she quit taking them and they wanted to be ready to do it when they did decide to have a second child.
"Maybe soon. We'll see." She told her son as they headed for her car.
When they arrived home Gary was in a tee shirt and sweat pants sitting with his feet up on a hassock watching the news.
As she came into the living room he said, "It's getting worse. Boeing is down to 15,000 hourly workers from the 40,000 they had just a few years ago! Seattle's unemployment rates are at 10%! More than twice as much as any place else in the country!"
Donna nodded," Yes I know. It's bad. You're not in any danger of a lay off are you?"
"Not that I know of, but looking at Seattle in general I wouldn't bet on anything."
"Yes I can see that," Donna replied.
"How was the visit to Santa?" Gary asked still looking at the TV.
"It was alright.. Do you know what Scotty asked for for Christmas from Santa?"
Gary looked at his wife and replied, "Well, he loves dinosaurs so I'd guess dinosaur toys."
Donna shook her head and replied, "No, that's not it. You'd never guess it. He wants a little brother."
Gary's brow furrowed as he asked, " What did Santa tell him?"
"He tried to tell Scotty that he might not be able to. But Scotty wouldn't accept that answer, so Santa told him that he would try but it might take some time."
"With everything that is going on that's not a very good idea right now."
Donna nodded and replied, "I know, but it's difficult to expl..."
She was interrupted by her husband, "But we could use that old excuse forever."
Donna looked into his eyes as she asked, "Are you saying..."
"We should think about it and damned the economy and job market."
A smile curled her full lips as she replied, "I agree. We should think seriously about it."
"I'm glad you think so too. But it's 8:00 PM, Scotty's bedtime if he wants to get up early for Santa. And I want my present from you!"
