Santa waved from the side of the road, standing in the shade of the historic oak trees at the courthouse in Demorest. A jolly man in a red suit, he arrived in a 1922 C-cab Ford Model A trimmed in garland and a big red Christmas bow. The wheels cradled a frame painted in bright crimson.
Maple Jean, from the back seat, caught sight of the white beard and red hat now familiar due to the influence of picture books and nursery songs. She let out a scream that caused me to slam invisible brakes from the passenger seat. My husband caught the surreal sight of an unexpected Santa and (very legally) moved into the street with the quick reflexes of a veteran video game player, pulling into the parking lot in time to stop a toddler meltdown.
We parked, and from the back, the two-year-old established her intentions with full volume. “Santa Coz. Santa Pwease. I need Santa.” We hunted for her hat and coat while she tried to slip past us, seriously impacting her status on the “nice” list, drawing perilously close to “naughty”. Soon, she pulled her papa toward the oak trees, her small finger aimed at the red figure who waved from the grass. Her face glowed like Rudolph’s nose.
In the past, Maple had met Santa with swinging fists and a sharp smack to his cherry nose, which brought apologies from me and a raised eyebrow from him. Today, went much smoother. She walked straight to the assistant fire chief, Lance Leuliette, who kindly filled in for Saint Nick that morning with Santa’s blessing. He wore the suit and carried the spirit, and he helped run a fundraiser that gathered toys for needy families in his community. The work met its goal before we arrived, revealing the kind heart of the place we call home.
Chief of Police Casey Chastain stood a few feet away. He kept watch with the subdued friendliness and diligence of a man on a serious mission. He guarded the scene with a look that fit the gravity of his charge; it’s not every day that one stands as bodyguard to Santa himself (or his helper).
Maple sat with Santa for several minutes, settled into the warm fur of his coat while the cold November wind moved across the courthouse yard. The event took place on November 29 and ran from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., carried by volunteers who spent their day after Thanksgiving serving the families of Demorest. When another little girl arrived, hurdling forward, Maple left her seat at her papa’s behest, with more than a hint of reluctance.
Yet, Santa softened the blow by reaching into his gold silk bag and handing her a glorious red and white candy cane. Her face split into a luminous smile, and she thrust it forward like a small scepter. Chief Chastain kindly guided us to a table laden with donuts, coffee, and hot chocolate. Grasping the high stakes, she carefully selected a blueberry cake doughnut.
Demorest opened the Christmas season for her that morning and for many children who came to the courthouse. The outreach felt as wholesome and good as only a small-town team can make it, setting the tone for the weeks to come and giving Maple Jean a story and a candy cane, which she clung to for the rest of the day.
