I first saw this old gentleman as he pulled what looked like a child's soapbox on wheels. The box itself held a huge sack from the top of the sack a teddy Bear's Head was poking out. As I passed the elderly man I greeted and I swear blind the teddy bear winked at me.
I must admit that I am nosey and offered to help the elderly gentleman to pull his soap box for him. Smiling I saw his face or better his beard a long silvery coloured beard. His Raincoat was a little too big for him but I started to think now where have I seen this face before?
The soap box seemed to be heavier and heavier the Elderly Gentleman asked me if I would like a rest. To tell you the truth nothing would have suited me better than to have given him the rope so that he could pull his heavy soapbox himself.
My pride would not let me give him the rope after all he is an elderly Gentleman and normally I could have picked up the soap box the sack and the Teddy Bears head still sticking out of the top of the sack and carried as if it was of no weight at all.
My mind fell back into wondering where I had seen this elderly man before. It must have been a very long time ago. Suddenly a wind came from out of the blue and the man's raincoat billowed up over his head.
Then flash I knew this elderly man with his long beard, My I must have been five years old when I first shyly sat on his lap and whispered into his ear that all I wanted for Christmas was a blue racing car like the one that Sir Stirling Moss had driven.
Straightening his raincoat the elderly man smiled at me and said, “Give me the rope.” He took the rope and smiling that wonderful smile he reached into his sack and pulled out a blue racing car exactly the same as that driven by Sir Stirling Moss. I did not forget you know and believe me there are so many children with so many wishes that sometime even I with all of my helpers cannot keep up with them.
All I could do was stare at the car and then I remembered my manners “Thank you Santa Claus you did not forget me after all.
Suddenly a gruff voice asked me if I was well. I nodded I could not speak.
Me a grown man meeting Santa Claus after so many years. I must admit a little more Christmas is now in my heart. I hope that you all may too meet your own Father Christmas if not this year sometime soon in the near future. From your scribbler Bern