The Case of the Missing Santa
written by: Rosemary McKinley
Christmas was his favorite holiday, even though he was in his sixties. Since he never married and had children, he took delight in buying the perfect gift for all his nieces and nephews. Every December for thirty years he carried this plastic 5 ft Santa from the attic and muscled it though his bedroom window to place it on the porch roof, cracking a windowpane every time. He delighted in it, as it brought him back to his youth.
When our children were young, he couldn’t wait to show them when it was lit. It was all part of the Christmas ritual that my husband and I loathed because of the arguments with his brother. He wouldn’t let us tape the wire without breaking anything. Another holiday ritual.
So, when it was time to take it down in January, the window had to be repaired, and he wasn’t the one who had to do it. We braced for this every year. We were the helpers so we couldn’t change this ritual, without a fight.
Years later, when he had to leave the house and go to an assisted living home, we were the ones to pack up just what he needed in his new apartment. Santa had to go, along with most of the Christmas decorations. We couldn’t mention any of this to him because it would cause an argument. So, we packed a truck full of furniture, kitchen goods and bedding to bring to his new place.
A year later, we were back at the house again emptying it for the final cleanout, so it could be sold. My husband smiled as he packed Santa in our SUV to bring to the local dump. He met a few former classmates and started talking. He got back in his truck and began to drive away when he looked back and saw Santa sitting there, staring at him. Quickly, he drove back in and gleefully threw Santa into the garbage area. Santa sat near the edge and was waving as my husband drove away. When he returned, he laughingly told me how he almost brought him back.
A year later, I was walking past one of the antique stores in our small town, eighty miles away and something red caught my eye. A duplicate Santa was staring back at me! I was amazed and took out my phone to take a picture. My husband would get a kick out of this. I sent the photo to everyone in the family who remembered the story. Talk about Christmas past!
- The Case of the Missing Santa - December 15, 2024
