Santa's Boots by Starra Andrews

As far back as I can remember my family had a real visit from Santa Clause every Christmas Eve.  My aunt, uncle, and cousins would come over and after an elegant meal, we were sent to a back bedroom to await Santa’s visit.  They told us he could not come if little children were watching him.  Hence—the bedroom waiting period. 

Hushed voices could be heard and traditionally one of the older kids would read us Twas the Night Before Christmas while we waited.  With sizzling excitement we screamed, sang, and hollered through the reading of that classic story.  The preteen saddled with the arduous task of babysitting had to calm us down by constantly reminding that Santa would not arrive if we didn’t behave.

Finally, the shouts of adults welcoming Santa traveled down the hallway.  Ho Ho Ho and two mighty boot stomps held us in breathless anticipation.  Suddenly, the voices cheered and shouted “Goodbye Santa!” just before we ran free.  Presents abounded across the shag rug and almost reached the sliding glass door on the opposite wall.

But the best part was when the grown-ups led us to the fireplace and we gazed upon two large boot prints in the charcoal ashes.  Inhaling gasps of amazement and delight, I discovered years later that my Uncle Kenny made those boot prints each year and put on extra-large black boots just for the occasion.

Thank you Uncle Kenny for making one of my most cherished memories from childhood and I look forward to doing the same for the next generation.

Starra Andrews