It was about 4 months ago that my brother Eric had been killed in Iraq, he was Army, an IUD got him. Eric had been married to Julie, They had one child together, Suzie, who was 5. Julie had two other girls when they married. Marie was now 18, just turned about 2 months ago, and Dawn, who was 20 about to hit the big 21.
They were destroyed when we lost Eric, they all loved him very much. I am Randal, still being called Randy even though I was now in my middle 40's, 46 to be honest. But Randy still fit, except for Julie, she had always called me Rand. Julie was 37, being just a kid when Dawn was born, I was Eric's older brother, he was just 30, had been in the Army since 18.
Since Eric had left for Iraq I had kinda filled in around his family, you know just helping out around the house with repairs and helping where I could. His loss was still very difficult, but everyone was coping.
Halloween had gone well and Thanksgiving has been a very nice time for everyone, all things considered. Not a lot of thanks being given, but they were together and relatively happy. I could see the toll it was taking on everyone for Eric to be gone.
He had met Julie at the local Wal-Mart, she and the older girls were looking at a grill and Eric took the chance and decided to help, it was a quick courtship and they were married about 6 months later. I am a musician and spends my time at their place when I was in town and not on the road.
After Eric was gone, I tried to be there to help like I said and one day Julie asked me, "Rand, can I get you to do me a BIG favor, PLEASE?" She looked at me with her big brown eyes and like always I started to melt, "Christmas is coming up and, well, Eric always used to play Santa for Suzie, would you, could you, do it this year. It won't be long before she will know the truth and I think this year she needs it, may be the last year she believes."
I wasn't thrilled, but how could I turn that down, and a chance to see the look on that little angels face, lately she hadn't smiled near as much as she used to. "Julie I would be happy to, but I have never done it, what's the deal."
She tells me that Eric had a suit and all I had to do was show up in the suit and let Suzie see me placing the presents and then eating the cookies and milk that she would put out for me. Suddenly I start to look forward to it.
Fast forward to that Christmas Eve and about 10 o'clock that night I show up and go into the bathroom and slip into my outfit. Then I go into the living room and start placing the presents under the tree.
While I am working I hear someone coming down the steps, looking over I see Suzie as she sits on the bottom step. Walking over closer and saying. "WELL, hello there lil Suzie." Her eyes widen and she looks up into my eyes.
"Santa, you know my name, h o w do you?"
Smiling at her reaction I tell her, "I am Santa little one, of course I know your name. I know everything about you." This almost floors her, she sits there wide-eyed and not knowing what to say.
She closes her mouth and asks, "Everything Santa? You mean it? Did you know my Daddy isn't ever coming home? I miss him so much."
Fighting back the tears I look into the bag, "Let's see, I think there is something special in here JUST for you." I pull out a small doll and hand it to the sweet little girl.
She immediately starts to cry, "Daddy told me he would get that for me, I didn't think I would see her ever."
She takes the little doll and hugs it tightly, I take her hand and say, "You should go back to bed, Santa still has a lot of places to stop tonight."
"Will you walk me up and tuck me in Santa?" She pulls my hand and smiles.