[12/23/06] One Christmas story

I think it was maybe eight or nine years ago. My parents had to declare bankruptcy that year. When December came around they told us kids that we would have to postpone Christmas. Or at least the Christmas presents. We got some packages from extended family and friends, but it was still kindof sad. On Christmas Eve we went to church, and when we got home I went to check the answering machine. There was a message from some guy named Nicholas saying he just wanted to see if we were home. We figured it was a wrong number since nobody knew anyone named Nicholas. Then the phone rang and my dad answered it. It was Nicholas again, just checking if we were home, then he hung up. We were a little weirded out now. Then the doorbell rang. My dad went to answer it and quickly started yelling for us all to come to the door. There on our front porch was Nicholas...Saint Nicholas. Santa Claus in a red suit with a big belly and white beard. He greeted us all by name as he handed over a huge bag full of presents, then he left. Standing there in the doorway in disbelief, and then all the laughter that followed...that was one of our best family moments ever. And that was one of my most favorite Christmases ever. And it had nothing to do with getting presents.