A Christmas Story: Santa's Amnesia (Revised)

Clip-art by Microsoft Office

-->Santa’s Amnesia 

By R.Andrew
December 23, 2009

Brisk was old Santa as he set out to deliver his gifts to all the good little children who believed in him. The trip was rather difficult this year; he battled his way through wet stormy skies and thick snowy blizzards, flying in caution for fear of lightening strikes and frostbite. “Santa,” cried one of his accompanying elves, “let’s abandon the mission and try again next year!”

Santa turned to shout “NO! What will the children think once they awake to find no gifts wrapped under their tree?” Suddenly, a forceful gust of wind came from the west and detached the reigns of his eight tiny reindeer. Santa called out to them, “Dasher! Dancer! Prancer! Vixen! Comet! Cupid! Donner! Blitzen,” but the wind was so strong that none voluntarily came back. Down the sleigh fell from the dark windy sky as the elves worked nonstop to keep staying up high. Their attention was focused on staying airborne that they did not see Santa bump his forehead. Grasping for something to hold on tight, Santa made a mistake and fell out into the night.  Landing with a bump onto Perchwood Lane, Santa opened his eyes to discover a new scene. There, before him, stood the neighborhood cathedral, full of its members all gathered together.

Santa, bewildered, grabbed his sore head, and said, “I do not know why I am dressed completely in red.” Santa did not know what to do, so he opened the church door and listened to the carols sung, and to the priest’s solemn benediction too. As dear Santa sat, he wondered, “This Christ, how exceptional is he? Why, His gift of life is greater than any gift the eye can see!” As he left the church, still rubbing his head, he staggered into the street with dread. All of a sudden, there crashed his shiny sleigh, including his elves, followed by his reindeer.

“Santa,” the elves bellowed, “we’re going to be late!”

“Santa?” he said, all confused and forlorn. In that moment, snowflakes began to fall from the sky. One happened to land on old Santa’s nose, and as soon as it hit him he said, “Ho, ho, ho.” The memories returned, he remembered everything! Most of all, he remembered his new epiphany. He returned to the sleigh as the elves whistled for the reindeer, and he glimpsed once more at the tall, ancient cathedral and said, “Elves, let’s go home. There is no need to continue with the gifts tonight. Above all the gifts I have given, not even the gifts I still have in my bag, can ever amount to the gift that was given by a man who resides up in Heaven.”