Why Won't Santa Visit Poor Children?

A Christmas story from the Philippines by Roy Thomsitt

 

 

The Night Before Christmas In Estrella - Party Time

As Di walked alongside Tina, and they reached the edge of the village again, she started wondering what all the strange sensations she was feeling were about. She knew for sure they were to do with the arrival of Santa Claus, but nothing more. It did not worry her in the least; quite the opposite in fact, she was fizzing with anticipation, while trying to contain her feelings and sensations so that nobody else could see them.

As they got very close to her home, Di stopped all of a sudden and squeezed Tina's hand. She stared at the silhouette of the chimney through their neighbour's trees, then the Christmas lights at the roadside as they turned the corner to the falls.

Tina looked down at her silently. With no sound, just from the movement of her lips, she asked: "What is it?"

Di was quivering with excitement inside, but not outside; she was crying with joy inside, but not outside; she was shouting to the world inside, but not outside. She wanted to shout to the forest: "Santa Claus has left Lapland." But she could not.

Di just looked into Tina's eyes for a moment, in silence. Tina could see that deep inside, a part of Di was bursting to escape, hammering at the walls of her mouth to get out. But the walls were strong enough to hold; as strong as Santa's Special Chimney.

Di was able to smile a little bit, but it was a knowing smile; a smile brimming with knowledge beyond what Tina could fully understand. Yet, Tina was becoming excited too; she would not let Di out of her sight for the rest of the evening.

Normally, before a Christmas Eve party, Di would be bubbling over with excitement as the time approached for the gift exchange and party games. It should have been even more so this Christmas, because of their special guests, and all the villagers coming to join them. She was looking forward to it, but because of the greater excitement brewing inside her which she had to suppress, all the bubbles were popped as they neared the surface.

A few moments later, they were in her garden, amongst the first arrivals for the party. She saw that Maricel, back just ahead of her and Tina, had joined Uncle James in starting to prepare some children's games, and ran over to be with them. Di glanced back to Tina, who smiled knowingly and nodded, as if to say it was alright. But for the rest of the evening, Di and Tina would be exchanging glances like telepathic cats.

 

 

 

 

Next: Santa Claus Story (cont)