Santa’s Secret - Part 2/3
This is a three parter for @breakfast-at-bateses as part of the @batesessecretservice Secret Santa program. I’ll be posting the first two chapters now and the third and final one tomorrow.
Santa’s Secret – Chapter 2
John Bates uncharacteristically whistled a cheery Christmas tune as he made his way down the snowy path to his home, the little cottage that held all that was near, dear and important in his life.
He could picture the fire in the hearth, the smell of something delicious coming from the kitchen and being greeted by his beautiful wife and their bonny son Jack, as soon as he stepped in through their front door.
However, two out of those four mental images were all that he received as he walked through that door this evening. The fire was burning and there was the distinctive aroma of baked biscuits coming from the kitchen, but Anna and Jack were nowhere to be found downstairs.
Just as he was about to call out. He heard a bedroom door upstairs close and saw Anna walk slowly down the stairs. She looked like the weight of the world was on her shoulders and John’s mind instantly shifted to concern for his wife. And Jack, where was Jack?
“Darling, are you all right? What’s wrong? Is Jackie okay?”
“Oh, John!” Anna threw herself into her husband’s arms. I’m all right, but Jack… he’s”
‘Jack is hurt? How badly? How did it happen? Has Doctor Carlson been called?”
“John, please, calm down. Let me finish please.” Anna grabbed John’s coat by the lapels and forced him to look at her as she explained what had happened.
“Well, you know that Fellowes boy…” Anna started to explain.
“Julian? That ruffian? He’s twice the size of Jackie and several years older. Did he hit Jack or harm him in some way?”
Anna saw John’s eyes flash and his cheeks redden at the thought that his child had been bullied by Fellowes”
“Calm yourself, and please listen to my entire explanation before you say anything, please John? “
John nodded his head in agreement and Anna proceeded.
“Yes, he did hurt Jack, but not in a physical way. And truthfully, I’m not sure he knew how badly what he said would hurt our son. He just told him something that Jack wasn’t ready to hear just yet. He lost a bit of his childish wonder today.”
“Childish wonder? I don’t understand what you mean, Anna. You’re scaring me a bit, love.”
Anna sighed and looked directly into Johns’ eyes. “Julian told Jack there is no such thing as Santa Claus.”
“He what?” John roared. “Why, I’ve got a mind to march down to Fellowes home now and throttle that boy. How dare he tell our son that!”
“Nevertheless, it’s not about how you feel, Mr. Bates, the point is that he’s told Jackie and now he knows. He’s so trying to keep up a brave front, but I know inside there’s a part of his little boy’s heart that has been broken. We need to help him through the disappointment and pain he’s going through.”
“You’re right, Anna. Of course, our first concern, as parents is to help Jack deal with the knowledge that one of his childhood heroes is someone who just isn’t real.”
“Yes, exactly, love. But how can we fix this? I don’t want to lie to our son and tell him that Santa is real and that Julian was lying to him. Though part of me must admit it’s the easy way out for now, but then when or how could we ever tell him the truth when he is the right age to hear and accept it?”
“Let me think about it, Anna. Do you think that Jack will be coming down for dinner this evening?”
“I doubt it. Despite trying to play the big boy, I know he’s still upset about what happened. He’s been up there for hours. I’ve been checking in on him every 15 minutes or so, but he says he wants to be left alone for now. I plan on bringing him up a tray after we finish dinner. Which reminds me, I’d best start on supper now. In the meantime, you’ll have time to think of what you want to say to Jack. I know he’ll accept anything you tell him, John. You’re also his hero.”
“Then, let’s just hope he doesn’t lose two of his heroes tonight, love. I’ll start thinking what to say to him and hopefully, by dinnertime, I will have figured out the right words.”
Supper time arrived and John still hadn’t come up with a good enough explanation concerning Santa Claus.
Anna could tell by John’s demeanor as he came to the dinner table that he still hadn’t figure out what to say to their child. His brow stayed furrowed as he worked to formulate what to tell his young son that would ease the pain of knowing. He thought and thought and then halfway through dessert his face lit up with a smile.
“Anna, I’ve got it. I know what to say to Jack!”
“I’m so glad to hear that, John. I was just on my way to take the tray up,” Anna responded. “Would you like to take it up to him instead?”
“I agree Mrs. Bates, the timing couldn’t be better.”
“Good luck, John,” Anna whispered as she placed the food tray in her husband’s arms.
“I’m afraid it will take more than luck to get through this, love. Just say a prayer that Jackie is going to accept my explanation and feel better by the end of it.”
“I trust you completely, Mr. Bates”. She moved closer to her husband and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek. “You can save Santa for Jack. On this I’m positive.”
With Anna’s blessing, John carefully made his way up the stairs to Jackie’s room.
John stood just outside the door, deftly balancing the tray on one arm as he knocked softly on Jack’s bedroom door with his cane. “Jack, it’s Da. All right for me to come in? I’ve got a delicious tray of food, cooked especially for you by mummy.”
At first, John heard nothing, then picked up on the soft voice of his little boy coming through the bedroom door.
“I’m not hungry, but you can come in Da.”
John carefully opened the door, prepared to maneuver himself through a landscape of scattered toys and books on the floor. Anna mentioned Jackie’s meltdown over supper, but to John’s amazement the floor had been cleared, and everything appeared to be in its place. He walked over to Jack’s desk, cleared some items to the side and gingerly placed the tray on it.
“Just in case you get hungry, little man.” He then walked over to Jack’s bed and sat next to him. He felt his son lean into him as he placed his arms around Jack’s shoulders.
Mummy told me you had a bad day at school, son.” Jack silently nodded and buried his head further into his dad’s side.
“She said that Julian Fellowes told you there’s no such thing as Santa Claus, didn’t he?” Again, Jack nodded accompanied with a little sniffle.
“Your mummy and I truly wish you hadn’t heard about Santa like that, Jackie.” Jack wiped his nose with his sleeve and snuggled closer to John.
“It’s okay da. I’m a big boy now and big boys are always able to handle hearing the truth about things.”
“But, that’s exactly my point, son. What Julian told you is just part of the truth. It’s Julian’s truth, but there’s more. Would you like me to tell you the whole truth?”
Jack pushed back from his dad and looked up at him with eyes as big as saucers and his mouth slightly open. Then he dropped his head down and stared at his hands, neatly folded in front of him.
The silence was deafening to John. He could almost see the wheels spinning in his son’s head as he pondered if he truly wanted to hear the rest of the story. He worried that Jack might not feel he could handle much more “truth” today.
“Da, I do want to hear more, but I’m really tired, and I just want to go to sleep now. Can you tell me tomorrow?”
John’s shoulders sagged in disappointment, but he shook his head yes and kissed Jack softly upon his brow.
“Okay, I’ll tell mummy that you want to go to bed now. She’ll come up and say goodnight.” He ruffled Jack’s hair and walked towards the door. “Remember this Jackie, if you feel you want to talk about this more you can come get me anytime of the day or night.”
“Thanks, Da. And good night.”
“Good night, my little man.”
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