Thousands of Santa Paula kids sneak out to Veterans Park to greet Santa!
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: December 21, 2012
A fanciful tale in dubious verse offered with the best of intentions to wish all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays...
Late Christmas Eve Santa Paula was very quiet and dark,
Thousands of little children gathered in Veterans Park.
They had silently sneaked from their warm cozy beds
In the cold night air, visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.
“Santa Paula is my next stop!” a girl said she was tweeted.
But the other children with little Amber Grace grew heated.
“You’re only 8!” they yelled in unison, hot breath floating on air.
“Why would Santa tweet you? It’s not really fair!”
“He knows when I am sleeping,” said Amber. “He knows when I’m awake.
He knows when I have Mommy’s cell phone, for goodness sake!
Santa Claus promised he’d be here soon, personally gave me a jingle.
Wait, here’s another Santa tweet,” and the children started to tingle.
“Darn it all,” said Amber Grace, her voice barely a whisper,
“Santa says he’s been delayed but he’s as close as a whisker.”
“What, are you crazy?” the thousands of children screamed.
“Close as a whisker? What’s that ... something you dreamed?”
“No, it’s true,” Amber said as her fingers moved quickly.
In the dark the glowing cell phone actually quite pretty.
“Santa says he’s almost here, heading east, just past Briggs Road.
He’s such a benevolent guy... tweeted he’s carrying a heavy load!
“Santa comes from far away to bring us presents and joy,
He truly embodies the love of children, often with a toy.
Either way you cut it,” Amber said solemnly, “we must believe.
Or Santa might turn the reindeers on their hooves and leave.”
At Veterans Memorial Park the children held their breath.
One had heard a “Ho-ho-ho” a little to his left.
“I think he’s here!” the boy cried.
“Knock it off,” snapped Amber, “or you’ll make Santa hide!”
“He’s actually quite shy, although he loves us kids.
Let’s not blow this by collectively flipping our lids!
We must be very quiet,” Amber whispered in the dark.
“I tweeted him we would be good while waiting in the park.”
The sound of bells was heard and the children started to fidget.
One child cried, “I can’t wait any longer - I don’t need another widget!”
“QUIET!” hissed Amber, a finger to her lips, a furrow to her brow.
“We’ve waited this long... Santa must almost be here by now!”
The sky lit up as a magnificent sleigh came into sight,
Rudolph’s red nose glowing softly in the night.
“Ho-ho-ho!” a gentle happy voice came wafting down.
And soft lights started going on all over town.
“Santa!” cried Amber. “We’re down here!
Please land carefully so none of us are hit by reindeer!
Some of the kids are nervous, but they so want to shake your hand.
If it wouldn’t have been so noisy we would have hired a band!”
“My goodness children!” said Santa. “What are you all doing outside?
Where are your parents? Remember Santa knows when you’ve lied.”
“Amber! Amber said to meet you here!” the children yelled as one.
“And we miss our mommies and daddies, we’re not having fun!”
“Oh, dear children,” Santa crooned. “I heard your anguish from the sky.
Quick, give me a hug, tell me what you want and then fly!
Santa knows where you live and will be over soon.
Be quick! If you parents see you’re missing they’ll swoon!”
Suddenly thousands of parents arrived at the park, police and fire too.
“Oh no, adults will see me,” cried Santa. “What am I to do?”
“Don’t worry Santa!” cried Amber as she flipped open her phone.
“I’ll see if there’s an app to send them all right back home!”
Seeing Santa’s face Amber’s voice started to falter,
Observing Old St. Nick’s look, even Rudolph shook in his halter.
“Child,” Santa said softly as he stroked his white beard.
“You’re really in trouble now ... and that’s what I feared.”
Amber’s green eyes filled with tears, her lower lip started to shake.
“Are you mad at me Santa?” she asked. “It’s not too late to be awake!”
Then Santa smiled sweetly as the children’s parents started to scold.
“Oh, let your precious little ones be, they’re so very cold!
They want to believe in me ... you they’re already sure of.
Shower them with kisses and tell them of your love.
Now Amber, I have a very special present just for you.
But there’s something important Santa must ask you do.”
“Anything Santa!” said Amber, a bloom coming to her cheeks.
“Stash that cell phone,” Santa ordered, “at least for a couple of weeks!
“Sweet child, stop that infernal tweeting, look to the horizon!
“And for goodness sake tell your folks to cancel Verizon... “
|
