MY CHRISTMAS STORY
by Kathy Murphy
I was fifteen years old, and I had a major crush on a boy I worked with at the hospital where we volunteered. The hospital was for chronic illnesses and most patients actually lived there. I was excited about the Christmas caroling we would be doing that evening. A large group of workers and volunteers would go through the entire hospital caroling and giving away goodies. I wasn’t sure Kevin would be there but just in case, I took extra time on my make up and hair. I bought a beautiful dress, and I couldn’t wait to wear it. I always felt like an ugly duckling but not that night. That night I felt like I was pretty. For once I believed I looked really good.
Arriving at the hospital I found our group. Kevin wasn’t there but oh, well, I still felt like a princess in my shiny, sparkling dress. Mrs. Smith, our volunteer director, approached me. “Julie, we have a problem and I need your help.”
“Of course, what do you need me to do?”
“I need you to be Santa.” She said softly.
“Santa? I thought Mr. Andrews was going to be Santa.”
“He was but his wife had an accident and he had to leave. You’re the only one tall enough to wear the Santa suit.”
I had always hated being so tall, never more than at that moment. I was wearing my beautiful new dress, I had makeup on, my hair was quiet for once, not the frizzy mess it usually was, and she was asking me to cover it all up with a stinky Santa suit. I wanted to say no. I wanted to walk through the hospital singing not ho-ho-hoing.
“Julie, if you don’t do it, we have no Santa. I know that’s not what you wanted to do tonight but we really need you. Please, say yes.” Mrs. Smith looked so hopeful; how could I refuse.
“Okay, I’ll do it.” I said glumly.
Mrs. Smith hugged me, and we went into her office so I could change. When I came out, I was Santa. All the volunteers and workers applauded, I smiled sheepishly, hoping I could keep the tears at bay until we were done. This was the worst thing that could have happened. Okay not the worst but it was awful!
The patients were all so happy to see us and they loved my Santa act. Before long I was enjoying myself, talking in a deeper voice, giving them the goodies I had in my sack. A pack of crackers here, a chocolate reindeer there. The singing was joyous, and I felt consumed with Christmas spirit.
On the third ward we visited, Kevin joined us. Oh no! I wanted to sink through the floor. I wanted him to see me looking pretty in my holiday dress. Instead, I was the jolly fat man in the red suit. Maybe he wouldn’t know it was me. Maybe I could avoid him.
Just then an old woman reached out and took my hand. It was Mrs. O’Reilly; she was ninety-seven years old but sharp as a tack! She was one of my favorite people, full of funny stories about her life in Ireland before she came to New York. By now, I think I knew everything about her, and I loved her dearly.
“Julie, you are the best Santa I’ve ever seen. Why the Christmas spirit is just oozing out of you! Your eyes are sparkling, and even with that horrible beard, I can see your beautiful smile. Don’t ever lose your joy. Hold it tightly.” She indicated I should lean over and when I did, she kissed my cheek. “Thank you, Sweetheart. You have been heaven sent these last months.”
“I’ll come see you tomorrow. I have something for you.” I whispered.
She smiled and let go of my hand. I rejoined the group and for the rest of the evening I was Santa Claus. I didn’t care about the dress, makeup and hair that had seemed so important. I needed to spread the joy! I needed to make this the best Christmas ever for all these people. I was exuberant. I was excited! I was happy.
The caroling was over and I went back to Mrs. Smith’s office to change out of the Santa suit. The other volunteers had gone down to the cafeteria for hot chocolate and cookies. When I came out of the office, I found Kevin waiting for me.
“I just wanted to tell you that I thought you did a great job tonight.” He smiled and my heart fluttered a little.
“Thanks, it was weird at first but then I got into it, and it was fun. Are you coming downstairs for the cookies?” Somehow, I was no longer awkward or shy around him. I decided we could be friends. He was eighteen and my Mom would never let me date him anyway.
Once I got past the crush, being around Kevin was easy. We talked about everything. We went to the movies together and critiqued them unmercifully. We did the same to the books we read. He was the first person I told that I had decided to go to medical school. He became my best friend.
When I finished my education, I returned to that hospital as a doctor. It wasn’t the most lucrative position I could have had but it was the one I wanted. Kevin graduated from NYU with a business degree and had an amazing job that more than covered our bills. Oh yes, I forgot to mention that we were married when I finished school. And Mrs. O’Reilly would be happy to know that I have never lost my joy! This year, when we go caroling through the hospital I’ll be Santa again. I found I like being Santa and its fun when my patients guess who it is under that itchy beard. Merry Christmas! And hold onto your joy!
Arriving at the hospital I found our group. Kevin wasn’t there but oh, well, I still felt like a princess in my shiny, sparkling dress. Mrs. Smith, our volunteer director, approached me. “Julie, we have a problem and I need your help.”
“Of course, what do you need me to do?”
“I need you to be Santa.” She said softly.
“Santa? I thought Mr. Andrews was going to be Santa.”
“He was but his wife had an accident and he had to leave. You’re the only one tall enough to wear the Santa suit.”
I had always hated being so tall, never more than at that moment. I was wearing my beautiful new dress, I had makeup on, my hair was quiet for once, not the frizzy mess it usually was, and she was asking me to cover it all up with a stinky Santa suit. I wanted to say no. I wanted to walk through the hospital singing not ho-ho-hoing.
“Julie, if you don’t do it, we have no Santa. I know that’s not what you wanted to do tonight but we really need you. Please, say yes.” Mrs. Smith looked so hopeful; how could I refuse.
“Okay, I’ll do it.” I said glumly.
Mrs. Smith hugged me, and we went into her office so I could change. When I came out, I was Santa. All the volunteers and workers applauded, I smiled sheepishly, hoping I could keep the tears at bay until we were done. This was the worst thing that could have happened. Okay not the worst but it was awful!
The patients were all so happy to see us and they loved my Santa act. Before long I was enjoying myself, talking in a deeper voice, giving them the goodies I had in my sack. A pack of crackers here, a chocolate reindeer there. The singing was joyous, and I felt consumed with Christmas spirit.
On the third ward we visited, Kevin joined us. Oh no! I wanted to sink through the floor. I wanted him to see me looking pretty in my holiday dress. Instead, I was the jolly fat man in the red suit. Maybe he wouldn’t know it was me. Maybe I could avoid him.
Just then an old woman reached out and took my hand. It was Mrs. O’Reilly; she was ninety-seven years old but sharp as a tack! She was one of my favorite people, full of funny stories about her life in Ireland before she came to New York. By now, I think I knew everything about her, and I loved her dearly.
“Julie, you are the best Santa I’ve ever seen. Why the Christmas spirit is just oozing out of you! Your eyes are sparkling, and even with that horrible beard, I can see your beautiful smile. Don’t ever lose your joy. Hold it tightly.” She indicated I should lean over and when I did, she kissed my cheek. “Thank you, Sweetheart. You have been heaven sent these last months.”
“I’ll come see you tomorrow. I have something for you.” I whispered.
She smiled and let go of my hand. I rejoined the group and for the rest of the evening I was Santa Claus. I didn’t care about the dress, makeup and hair that had seemed so important. I needed to spread the joy! I needed to make this the best Christmas ever for all these people. I was exuberant. I was excited! I was happy.
The caroling was over and I went back to Mrs. Smith’s office to change out of the Santa suit. The other volunteers had gone down to the cafeteria for hot chocolate and cookies. When I came out of the office, I found Kevin waiting for me.
“I just wanted to tell you that I thought you did a great job tonight.” He smiled and my heart fluttered a little.
“Thanks, it was weird at first but then I got into it, and it was fun. Are you coming downstairs for the cookies?” Somehow, I was no longer awkward or shy around him. I decided we could be friends. He was eighteen and my Mom would never let me date him anyway.
Once I got past the crush, being around Kevin was easy. We talked about everything. We went to the movies together and critiqued them unmercifully. We did the same to the books we read. He was the first person I told that I had decided to go to medical school. He became my best friend.
When I finished my education, I returned to that hospital as a doctor. It wasn’t the most lucrative position I could have had but it was the one I wanted. Kevin graduated from NYU with a business degree and had an amazing job that more than covered our bills. Oh yes, I forgot to mention that we were married when I finished school. And Mrs. O’Reilly would be happy to know that I have never lost my joy! This year, when we go caroling through the hospital I’ll be Santa again. I found I like being Santa and its fun when my patients guess who it is under that itchy beard. Merry Christmas! And hold onto your joy!