Why Won't Santa Visit Poor Children?

A Christmas story from the Philippines by Roy Thomsitt

 

 

Di Switches On The Christmas Lights

As soon as darkness started to fall, Di's family and their guests all clambered aboard the multicab. The truck which had carried Santa Claus's Princess earlier had gone back to town, to be returned to normal working. Di, though, still wanted to wear her new dress, as she had nothing else anything like as nice. Maybe she was not dressed like a princess, but she did look lovely and felt on top of the world in her new dress.

Tina had changed out of her Santa Claus outfit earlier, but had now put it back on again for the special occasion: switching on the new Christmas lights. Because of her singing talents and beauty, Tina was used to being the centre of attention, despite her young 15 years. Yet she was as modest as Di, and just as humble, soft and warm.

As they set off towards the main highway, Di's excitement was very different from before. This time she knew exactly what to expect, so there was none of the suspense and bewilderment she had felt on her journey home in the truck earlier.

The multicab was full of chatter throughout the ride out of the village and down to the main highway. It was almost completely dark as they neared their destination, but they were able to pick out the silhouettes of the gathered crowd, which was as large as when Di had arrived from Puerto Princesa on the bus. Many were waving as they realised who was aboard the multicab, and the local Mayora stepped forward ready to welcome Di and her family.

This time Di appeared less baffled, and more confident, but she felt a bit shy of meeting the Mayora. She had seen the lady before, but never been close to her.

There was no need for Di to have been worried in the least, as the Mayora greeted her with a very warm smile and put her at ease. Di was able to give a polite smile in return, which bubbled into another surge of excitement as Mayora said they would now be switching on the Christmas lights together.

Di felt very proud, and looked around at her Ma and Papa, and Tina and Aunt Paula, as she stepped across with the Mayora to be by the switch. The Mayora checked around to see if everyone was ready, then when she was happy, took Di's hand. Together they threw the switch, to light up the road with Christmas lights, all the way to Estrella Falls.

The crowd, and Di, gasped as they took in the endless view of Christmas lights on either side of the road. It was an amazing sight.

"There you are Di," said the Mayora, "now it will be easy for Santa Claus to find the way to the falls."

"Thank you, Mayora," beamed Di. Her parents were nearby waiting proudly for her, and she returned to join them.

"Ma, Papa, the lights, they're so wonderful. We live in a wonderland now," Di enthused.

She was so in awe of the lights she wanted to walk all the way back to the falls, so she could see them better, and Tina said she would too. Again there was a long procession, headed by the Mayora's car, then the multicab Di had travelled in. Behind them, Di and Tina led the way, as a different band from lunch time now struck up their first tune.

It was now much cooler than it had been at midday, and the procession was faster. Despite the length of the walk, Di did not feel tired in the least as they reached the falls car park. She had been so entranced by the roadside Christmas lights all the way from the highway, the long walk seemed like a short stroll.

"Can this really be my home?" she wondered to herself. "Can this all be true?"

When people started to disperse to return to their own homes, Di felt very contented. The day had been such a marvellous adventure, and following on from her great time with Aunt Paula and Tina, it was surely the climax of this magical period of Di's life.

She was happy to board the multicab for the few minutes ride home. She, her siblings and parents then got off at their house with Santa's special chimney. Tina, Aunt Paula and the storekeeper all stayed on board ready for their journey back to Puerto Princesa.

As Di wished them all goodbye, and thanked Aunt Paula and Tina for her wonderful time, watching the multicab pull away seemed to be the conclusion of Di's short spell of magic. She was very happy; she knew there could never be such a magical time again. That was surely the end of the story.

She could not have been more wrong.

 

 

 

Next: Santa Claus Story (cont)