For weeks, we’ve been planning to take Alexey to visit Santa Claus at our local shopping centre. We tried to get in a few times, but either Santa was off feeding the reindeer or the lineup of folks waiting to see him was just too long.
After these haphazard attempts, we decided that this past Wednesday was going to be the day. We planned the operation with military precision. At 1700 hours, John would leave work. At 1730 hours, we would eat supper. 1800 hours, get dressed and get in the car. 1820 hours, arrive at the shopping centre and get into line.
Operation Claus started without a hitch. John sped home from work, we ate, bundled Alexey into the car, and proceeded to the shopping centre.
We found a nice parking spot and lined up with a bunch of other families. Slowly we moved up in line. Alexey waited patiently for his turn, watching Santa’s every move. One by one, families went in to see Santa, had their pictures taken, and filed out. One of Santa’s subordinate Clauses (sorry) whispered the names of the children to Santa as they went up to see him.
Finally, only two families were ahead of us. The first with two girls dressed in matching dark blue dresses, the second with a boy in a Christmas-red sweater. They processed in awe across the expanse of red carpet and talked with Santa. Flashes flared as the official photographer recorded the moment with the big guy for posterity. Now only one ahead! Next, the boy went forth and whispered in Santa’s ear. Again, flashes flashed, recording history in the making.
Now it was Alexey’s turn. Santa’s helper whispered Alexey’s name, and Santa called out “Alexey” in his best Santa voice. Slowly Monika carried Alexey to the vast blue throne. She sat down beside Santa and put Alexey on Santa’s knee. Here was the moment that we were waiting for. The culmination of Operation Claus!
Alexey looked at Santa’s eyes, at Jolly Old St. Nick himself. Then he looked at Santa’s snowy white beard. And cried and screamed as loudly as he could. Passersby in the shopping centre turned to stare. The next children in line took a step back in fear. Whether they were more afraid of Santa or Alexey is debatable.
Santa is a wily old fellow, though, so he immediately feigned disinterest in Alexey, looking at the ceiling, the decorations, and the shoppers. Monika held Alexey on her knee. The photographer didn’t take a picture, waiting for the tears to subside. Suddenly, Santa leaned closer to Alexey and the photographer took a few shots while Alexey went from zero to sixty. She looked at the pictures on the viewscreen on her camera and told John that a miracle had occurred. She had captured one usable picture before Alexey blew up again.
We thanked Santa and the photographer profusely and left the presence with a present for Alexey: a little stuffed snowman.
Operation Claus had succeeded but only just barely. The official photograph shows a rather grim but tearless Alexey. All done until next year.
