Santa Just for One Day: A Gay Christmas Romance by Declan Rhodes

Author:Declan Rhodes [Rhodes, Declan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Noel

Christmas in Yuletide Valley turned out to be as hectic for me as the holiday season was for anyone anywhere. I’d nearly finished cleaning out the Santa House Workshop, and I decided to take a day to prepare myself for the upcoming Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

When I woke up in the morning, I already felt a knot of anxiety in my stomach. I was going to step into my father’s boots, quite literally, and make trial run appearances as Santa Claus. Staring at the ceiling, I wondered whether I’d bit off more than I could chew. Was it possible for me to fully live up to his legacy?

I pulled on my winter coat and set out to fortify myself with a solid breakfast. The chill in the air was biting as I walked four blocks to Cozy Café. I’d enjoyed a delicious lunch there with Mrs. Grace and expected their breakfast would be just as good.

Seated near the storefront window, I had a perfect spot to watch the snow fall gently outside while local people hurried along to complete their errands and arrive at work on time. Since my stomach fluttered with nerves about playing Santa, I ordered a simple breakfast—scrambled eggs and toast.

As I waited for my meal, I pulled out my phone and read an article titled “How to Play the Perfect Santa Claus.” It was a detailed guide.

The article suggested tips ranging from the tone of voice (deep and jovial) to perfecting the legendary “Ho Ho Ho” laugh. I read about the importance of listening attentively to children while never promising anything specific.

Many of the suggestions were logical, such as radiating warmth and kindness. While I read, my confidence grew. I was pretty sure I could do everything called for in the article.

I barely noticed when my breakfast arrived. I was too engrossed in reading about how to be Santa Claus. I did my best to commit all of it to memory. When I read the last tip about relaxing, I sighed. How could I completely relax while I tried to make sure I followed twenty specific guidelines?

The article advised focusing on embodying Santa Claus's spirit rather than just ensuring the suit fit. It stressed the need to be a beacon of joy and hope. How did Dad make all of this look so effortless? Did I have a prayer of doing the same?

When I glanced up from my phone, I looked around at the other customers. They laughed, chatted, and enjoyed the holiday season in their own ways. None of them precisely followed rules about how they should celebrate.

A sudden realization hit me. Being Santa wasn’t about perfection. It was about making even a tiny part of someone’s day better.

I left the payment on my table, stood, and took a deep breath. My father left big boots to fill, but they could be flexible. I didn’t need to follow his example point by point. I could be my own version of Santa brought to life. That would be my best way to convey the spirit of Christmas.

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