Mary’s Son by Darryl Nyznyk Read Free Book Online Page B

turned back into the study. Slowly, from between Stevens’ feet, Nicholas pushed himself up off the steps where he had been lying on his stomach in the shadows.
    “Are you all right?” asked Stevens.
    “I really am too old for this, you know.” Nicholas smiled and motioned Stevens onward.

     
    SARAH lay on her bed, her right arm clutching a large stuffed bear under her chin. She was watching the movie,
Miracle on 34 th Street
, when suddenly she heard a soft knock at her door. She reached for the remote control, turned off the TV, and scurried under her covers. The door opened slowly andNicholas’s round, white-maned head pushed through the opening.
     
    “May I come in?” he whispered.
    Sarah breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn’t Miss Grundick. She wasn’t quite sure how to react to Nicholas, however.
    “I came to apologize to you, Sarah,” Nicholas started.
    The effect of that statement was immediate on Sarah. She now knew she had the upper hand, even though she had no clue what she had the upper hand in. She sat up and looked imperiously at Nicholas, who ignored the look, to her dismay. He reached for a desk chair and pulled it up to the bed.
    “I’m sorry for what happened this afternoon, Sarah. I’m not quite sure how to say this,” he began again.
    Sarah leaned forward, surprised that an adult would confide his weaknesses to her.
    “I have this terrible need inside me to help other people,” Nicholas continued. “Particularly at Christmas time. I just want to help people enjoy and appreciate this happy time. When I saw all those tired, busy people running around the mall and no one was smiling, I realized there was little joy there. I wanted to brighten things up a little, and you and Mr. Stevens seemed quite happy with what you were doing. I guess I was wrong.”
    He eyed her in hopes she would soften with his apology and explanation. But she didn’t.
    “Yes…you were wrong,” Sarah scolded. “I needed you to help me.” Sarah folded her arms in front of her, nodded, and stared at Nicholas.
    He stared at her sadly. Finally, he shrugged resignedly. He put his hands on his knees and began to stand. “Well, I’ll leave you to your movie. It’s a very good one. You really should watch the end of it. Good night, my dear.”
    Sarah was taken aback. She’d turned the TV off before he’d entered. How was it possible he knew it was on, much less what movie she was watching?
    “Wait! What do you mean? I’m not watching any movie.”
    “No, that’s true, but you were before I came in. You were watching
Miracle on 34 th Street
, one of my favorites.”
    Sarah’s mouth opened slowly. How could he have known? There had to be an explanation for all the magic she’d witnessed surrounding this round man with the constantly smiling face, but all she could do was stare and come up with one simple question.
    “You’re not
really
Santa Claus, are you?”
    “Why yes, my dear.” Nicholas turned and responded quickly. He started to walk hesitantly back to the vacatedchair. When she appeared interested, he sat again. “I am the real one. Why is that so hard for you to believe?”
    “Well…Miss Grundick and my father told me there wasn’t a Santa Claus. It was just a story…that’s all.”
    “Don’t I look like the real Santa Claus?”
    “Yes…but there are probably a lot of men who do.”
    “What does Mr. Stevens say?”
    “Stevens?” Sarah hesitated and thought for a moment. “Well, I’ve never asked
him
. But my father and Miss Grundick wouldn’t lie to me.”
    “Oh no, Sarah. I’m not suggesting they’re lying. They have simply forgotten. Unfortunately, a lot of adults forget. They start thinking the thing forgotten doesn’t exist. Then they teach their children to forget, and it starts a terrible cycle of lost hope.”
    Nicholas realized he actually had the young girl’s attention for the first time. He prayed that he could keep it as he settled in and began to tell her a