Here Comes Santa Claus

Here Comes Santa Claus

Right down Santa Claus Lane

Vixen and Blitzen and all the reindeer

Pulling on the rein

Bells are ringing

Children singing

All is merry and bright

Hang your stockings

And say your prayers

‘Cuz Santa Claus comes tonight

Seven-year-old Joe Hardy continued singing the song. He was excited. Christmas was just days away. He couldn’t wait to see if Santa Claus would bring him everything on his list. He had been a good boy. He did get in trouble a couple times, but overall, he felt he had been on his best behavior.

“Joe, would you please come set the table?” Laura asked before he could start singing again.

“Sure,” Joe said scrambling to his feet.

He headed into the kitchen and quickly collected the plates. He stepped into the dining room. As he began setting the table, he noticed he was only setting it for four people. A sadness washed over him knowing his father wasn’t going to be home that day.

His father, Fenton Hardy, was a private investigator and was often called away to help people solve problems. Joe knew his father’s job was important, but he missed him when he was away.

He left the table and returned to the kitchen.

“Mom, when is Dad coming home?” Joe asked.

Laura turned away from the stove. “Your dad will be home when he wraps up his case.”

“But when will that be?” Joe asked.

“I don’t think it’ll be much longer.”

“But you don’t know for sure.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t.”

“But Christmas is just days away.”

“I know, sweetie. Your Dad’s work is important and he can’t just leave it undone. He will be home as soon as he can. He doesn’t want to miss spending the holidays with us. He will be home.”

“Okay.”

“Here is the silverware and napkins,” Laura said, handing him the rest of the items for the table.

“Thanks, Mom.”

Joe took the items and returned to the dining room. As he finished setting the table, he moved to the window, looking over the snow-covered yard. I want Dad to come home for Christmas, he thought. It won’t be any fun without him. 

* * * * * 

As Christmas Eve neared, everyone noticed how saw Joe was getting. Helping make cookies and playing outside in the snow with his friends didn’t do anything to bring the smile back to his young face.

Sitting at the table for Christmas Eve dinner, Joe could not tear his eyes away from the chair where his father normally sat. The family had not heard from Fenton in a couple days and they were all worried something had happened to him. He usually called at a designated time while on a case away from home to reassure everyone that he really was all right, but he had missed that for two days in a row.

“Joey, you really need to eat your dinner,” Laura said. “If you don’t, Santa won’t bring you any presents.”

“And he is keeping watch,” Gertrude said. “He’s very aware of what’s going on Christmas Eve.”

Joe set his for down beside his plate, his sad eyes meeting his mother’s loving gaze. “I’m just not hungry, Mom. Can I be excused?”

“Come here, sweetie,” Laura said gently.

Joe placed his napkin on the table before slipping out of his seat. He moved over to Laura who wrapped her left arm around his shoulder. With her right hand, she placed it against his forehead and cheek.

“You don’t have a fever,” she said.

“I’m just not hungry,” Joe repeated.

“All right,” Laura said after a moment. “Please put your place in the kitchen for me.”

“Okay.”

Joe took his plate and silverware to the kitchen before heading up to his bedroom. He closed the door before heading to the window sear. He pushed the curtains open to see the fluffy white snow falling from the dark sky.

He leaned his forehead against the cool glass pane, watching the empty street below. He couldn’t get excited. His father hadn’t called and he feared that something had happened and he wouldn’t make it home for Christmas. If his father wasn’t there, it wouldn’t be Christmas.

There was a knock on the door a while later. Without moving from his position, Joe said, “Come in.”

He listened as the door opened and closed and then footsteps moving toward him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his brother Frank settled on the window seat beside him. He finally tore his gaze away from the street to look at his brother. He saw the same sadness on Frank’s face that he felt.

“Where is he, Frank?”

“I don’t know,” Frank said. “He’s never been gone this long without contacting us.”

“What if he’s hurt? What is he’s being held by the bad guys? What if…?”

“Don’t do that, Joe,” Frank said. “Don’t think that way or all you will think about are the bad things.”

“I can’t help it,” Joe said.

“I know, but you need to try. Mom is worried as it is, and now she is worrying about you as well.”

“Me?”

“Uh-huh,” Frank said, nodding his head.  “She’s worried because you haven’t been eating much these past couple of days.”

“I just can’t,” Joe said. “After a couple bites, I feel like I’m going to be sick.”

“You should tell Mom that.”

“But I don’t want to go to the doctor.”

“But you’d rather worry her?”

Joe sighed. He knew his brother was right. He had to tell their mother. He was adding more worry and he shouldn’t be doing that.

“I’ll tell her.”

“And don’t worry about going to the doctor,” Frank said. “His office is probably closed because of Christmas.”

“Good point.”

Knock, knock.

“Come in,” Joe said.

The door was opened by Laura, who made her way toward them. “You two need to take your baths so you are clean and handsome for when Santa comes tonight.”

“Okay,” Frank said, getting up from his seat. “I’ll go now.” Frank left the room.

Joe knew Frank had opted to go first so that he could talk to their mother.

“Mom?”

“What is it, sweetie?” she asked. “Are you feeling worse?”

“No,” Joe said. “I just wanted to apologize for making you worry because I haven’t been eating much. I’ve been trying, but after a couple bites, I feet like I’m going to be sick and I didn’t mean to worry you because I know you’re worried about Dad too.”

“Why are you worried about Dad?” Laura asked. “Are you afraid he’s not going to make it home for Christmas?”

Joe lowered his gaze to the floor.

“Oh, sweetie,” Laura said as she quickly moved toward him and pulled him into her arms, giving him a tight squeeze. “I am worried because he hasn’t called, but I know he will make it home for Christmas. He always does. And you shouldn’t worry. He knows what he’s doing and is good at his job.”

“I just wish he was home.”

“Me too, but he’s probably finishing up the case as we speak and is on his way to Bayport.”

Joe lifted his head and looked at his mother. “You think so?”

“I do.” Laura nodded. “You know, I have an idea. After you shower, the four of us will put in a movie or two and see if we can catch Santa Claus this year.”

“We can stay up late” Joe asked, his eyes wide.

“As long as you want.”

“Woo-hoo!”

Laura laughed.

“Frank better hurry up. I need to tell him the news.”

“Well, when you two are ready, come on down. Okay?”

“Okay.” 

* * * * * 

Frank and Joe settled on the couch on either side of their mother as the movies played. Gertrude was sitting in the recliner. They were bundled warmly in their robes and slippers as they munched on Christmas cookies and sipped hot chocolate. The twinkling lights of the tree cast a warm glow on the room.

As the minutes ticked by, both boys struggled to keep their eyes open. When they realized their eyes were falling shut, they would jerk them open and focus on what was playing on the television. But it was a losing battle and they both fell asleep.

Joe woke a while later, looking about bleary-eyed. He realized he was snuggled comfortably in his bed under the covers. He wondered what had woken him. He heard footsteps in the hall. Pushing the covers back, he slid from the bed and headed for the door. He reached it and slowly peered around the corner, his mouth falling open in shock.

A person dressed in a red suite, with white fur trim and a black belt and boots was walking down the hall. A red hat adorned the person’s head.

The person neared Frank’s bedroom door as it opened. Laura stepped out and closed the door behind her. The individual took Laura’s hand and pulled her close. They turned slightly allowing Joe to see their lips coming together.

Mommy’s kissing Santa Claus, he thought.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Laura said when they broke apart.

“It’s Christmas,” he said. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.” He kissed her cheek. “Go ahead and get to sleep. I have some work to do downstairs before two young men wake up.”

“Thank you,” Laura said.

Laura continued down the hall to the master bedroom, closing the door behind her.

Santa Claus turned in his direction and Joe ducked back behind the doorframe. He hurried back to bed and slid beneath the covers. He was stunned.

Santa Claus is real, he thought. Santa was here. And he was kissing my mom. I can’t believe it. I just can’t wait. But what will Dad say when he finds out that Mom was kissing Santa? I don’t think he will like that.

I bet he’s downstairs putting the presents under the tree. I wonder if I could sneak down and watch him.  I would love to see him work, but if I got caught, he would probably take all my presents back to the North Pole.  And I don’t want that to happen. I really don’t. I guess I just have to live with the fact that I did see Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. And won’t the other be jealous when they find out. I just won’t tell them that Santa was kissing my mom. No one but Dad needs to know about that.

Joe rolled onto his side and closed his eyes. As his breathing evened out, his last thought was, I can’t wait to see what’s under the tree come morning.  

* * * * * 

The dawning sun streamed through the bedroom window and touched his face, waking him. He rolled onto his back, stretching his arms above his head as he opened his eyes. He rested there for a moment until he realized it was Christmas morning.

Not wasting a second, Joe threw the covers back and slide out of bed into his slippers. He grabbed his robe as he headed for the door. Joe went down the hall to Frank’s bedroom. He pushed the door open and moved toward the bed.

“Frank?” Joe asked. “You awake?”

“Hmm,” Frank said as he rolled away from him.

Joe placed his hand on Frank’s shoulder and shook it. “Frank, wake up.”

“What is it?” Frank mumbled.

“It’s Christmas morning,” Joe said excitedly.  “We need to go see what Santa left for us.”

Frank’s eyes opened and he looked at his brother. “Let’s go.”

After putting on his slippers and grabbing his robe, Frank followed Joe quietly down the stairs knowing that if they woke their mother too early, they would get into trouble and have to wait until after Christmas dinner to open their presents.

When they reached the first floor, they made a beeline for the living room. They stopped in the threshold staring at the sight before them.

The tree, with its rainbow of lights, cast a glow on the beautifully wrapped packages that billowed out from underneath its branches. There seemed to be hundreds of presents.

“Wow,” Frank said.

“We must’ve been really good,” Joe said, moving closer to the tree.

“Merry Christmas, boys,” a voice said behind them.

Frank and Joe turned to see their Aunt Gertrude standing by the couch.

“Merry Christmas, Aunt Gertrude,” Frank said.

“Merry Christmas,” Joe said and turned his gaze back to the abundance of gifts under the tree.

“I have breakfast ready in the kitchen,” Gertrude said. “I’ve made cinnamon rolls and there is also a bunch of chocolate chip pancakes and bacon.”

“Yum yum,” Frank said.

“I love your cinnamon rolls,” Joe said, his eyes wide as he looked at her again.

“Then let’s get started,” Gertrude said.

“Is Mom up yet?” Frank asked as they followed their aunt into the kitchen.

“She is up and will be down in a few minutes,” Gertrude answered. “I told her that I’d get you two started on breakfast if she wasn’t down here when you got up.”

“Is everything all right?” Frank asked as he sat down at the table. On Christmas morning his mother was always with them enjoying the delicious breakfast before they decided to see what Santa Clause had left for them under the tree.

“Everything is fine, Frank,” Gertrude said. “Don’t worry.”

The two of them settled at the table and quickly got to work on the wonderfully smelling breakfast that their aunt had made. They were just finishing up when they heard footsteps coming down the stairs. They looked down the hallway as their mother made their way into the kitchen.

“Merry Christmas,” Laura said, placing a kiss on the top of each of their heads.

“Merry Christmas,” Frank and Joe chorused.

“How did you two sleep?” Laura asked, sitting down at the table with them.

“Fine,” Joe said.

“I can’t believe I fell asleep,” Frank said. “I thought I would have been able to stay up to see Santa Claus.”

“We had a busy day yesterday,” Laura said. “We’ll just have to give a try again next year.”

“You’re right,” Frank said.

“So, do you two want to open presents or do you want to have some more breakfast?” Laura asked.

“PRESENTS!!!” Joe yelled.

“Well, if you’re done, we can go see what has been left under the tree,” Laura said.

“Let’s go,” Joe said, dropping his napkin on the table after wiping his mouth.

Frank and Joe quickly left the table and headed for the living room. They slid to a stop, their mouths hanging wide open.

“Merry Christmas, boys.”

Fenton Hardy stood by the Christmas tree, adjusting one of the ornaments. Frank and Joe didn’t wait a second. They ran to the their father and he quickly gathered them in a bone-crushing hug.

“You’re home,” Joe said, tightening his hold on his father, afraid that he was dreaming.

“I am home. I’m home for Christmas.”

“When did you get here?” Frank asked, loosening his hold on his father to look him in the eye.

“That’s a very interesting story,” Fenton said. “Do you want to hear it?”

“Yes,” Joe said, leaning back from his father.

The boys settled on the floor as Fenton got comfortable in his recliner. Laura perched on the arm as Gertrude settled on the couch.

“Well, I was working on the case and the weather got really bad,” Fenton said. “I finished the case and was ready to head home but I couldn’t get out. The storm knocked out all communications and I was stuck.” Fenton reached over and took Laura’s hand in his own. “I wanted to get word to you knowing you all would be worried, but there was no way. I just kept hoping and praying that there would be an opportunity to let you know that I was safe and would be home as soon as I cold get there.

“And then the opportunity came. I found a very special person who knew that I needed to get home to the family that was worried about me and offered me a ride,” Fenton continued.

“We’re just glad you’re home,” Laura said leaning into her husband.

“I’m glad to be home too,” Fenton said. “This is the only place to be at Christmas.”

Laura leaned her head down and they kissed.

Joe looked at his parents and the image of Santa Claus kissing his mother came to the forefront of his mind. He had a good idea as to who had brought his father home. He also knew that the kiss he had seen had been nothing more than a thank you from his mother for bringing their father home for Christmas. And the kiss didn’t matter because they were together, just like they were supposed to be.

“Merry Christmas,” Joe said.

“Merry Christmas,” the others chorused.

-The End- 

Merry Christmas Everyone!