I wrote this short, short story for a resident of Chester County’s long term care facility.\u00a0 Each year the employee’s of Chester County give generously to the Pocopson Home, helping to make the season a little brighter for folks who live there.\u00a0 In 2017 we sent out over 600 gifts. I’m so proud of my coworkers!<\/p>\n
My office gets the thrill of delivering (with\u00a0a lot of help!) the gifts.\u00a0While we were delivering there were 2 gentlemen sitting in the hall watching us go by with cart loads of presents.\u00a0 I would joke with them each time I went by.\u00a0 When we were done, I flopped down in a chair to chat with them.\u00a0 The one gentleman, John,\u00a0asked what we were doing.\u00a0 I told him we were helping Santa with the residents gift requests. John told me he hadn’t given a list to Santa.\u00a0 I told him he had to have, because there were gifts for him\u00a0in the lot we just delivered.\u00a0 He told me he didn’t because he wanted a Mercedes.\u00a0 This made me giggle because when I was 16 my dad gave me a Mercedes for my birthday.\u00a0 I still have that blue 1982\u00a0Mercedes 350SL Matchbox sitting on my desk.\u00a0 As I was telling John my story, the light bulb went off in my head.\u00a0I could do the same thing for John.\u00a0 This is the story I wrote to go with the Mercedes toy I got for John.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
It had been a long and tiring day at the office and I just wanted to sit down and relax. As I walked to my front door I noticed a tiny little man dressed in green on my front lawn.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is John,\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n
I was a little taken aback at his tone and said wearily, \u201cI\u2019m sorry. No one by the name of John lives here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has to!\u201d demanded the little man. \u201cI have it right here,\u201d he said stabbing at a piece of paper clutched in his hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry. Only David & Tacie live here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSanta is never wrong!\u201d the little man exclaimed.<\/p>\n
Realizing who the little man (who was one of Santa\u2019s Elves) was looking for I asked to see the paper. He clutched the paper to his chest. \u201cNo one can see the Nice\/Naughty List!\u201d he said horrified that I would even ask.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you re-read it?\u201d I asked hoping he would read it out loud. It would be a treat to hear Santa\u2019s Nice\/Naughty List.<\/p>\n
The Elf began to read what was written with a look of horror growing on his face. \u201cI\u2019m going to get fired!\u201d he wailed and began to cry loudly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d I asked worried that the kids next door would come out to see what was going on.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m in the wrong place with the wrong gift!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, what do you have with you and where are you supposed to be?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
The Elf looked at me suspiciously. \u201cWhy do you want to know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI might be able to help,\u201d I replied<\/p>\n
The Elf, still sniffling, thought about it for a moment. \u201cOk. Since it\u2019s not YOUR gift, I guess I can tell you.\u00a0 It\u2019s a Mercedes car for John at the Pocopson Home.\u00a0 But it\u2019s supposed to be a full sized one!\u00a0 But my division only does toys! \u00a0This was supposed to be forwarded to the Full Sized Division. What am I going to do?\u00a0 I need to be in Florida in a half an hour! I\u2019m never going to finish my early deliveries!! I\u2019m going to get fired!\u201d\u00a0 He began to cry again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think Santa would fire you. It was an easy mistake. John & I were talking about toys. And things are always so hectic at the holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at me hopefully, his tears stopping. \u201cYou know about this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know where John is? And you could get this to him? Even though it\u2019s only a toy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAren\u2019t we all elves at Christmas time?\u201d I asked the little man. \u201cI would be happy to deliver it to John.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Elf ran over and hugged me around my knees. \u201cThank you so much!\u201d<\/p>\n
And with a poof he was gone and the Mercedes was left with me. I smiled at the bag sitting at my feet.\u00a0 It might not be the Mercedes that John was looking for, but at least Santa had heard him.<\/p>\n
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