I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus...While Daddy Was Deployed

The following story was submitted by a precocious nine-year-old living in a military community outside Fort Liberty, N.C.

SPRING LAKE, N.C. — Look. I know I’m a kid, but I’m not naive. I know the “big secret”: Santa Claus isn’t real. Just like the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and those ‘great business opportunities’ Uncle Jody is always trying to sell us.  

But then again, I know what I saw last night. I was conducting a recon of a suspected cache of presents when I heard voices in the living room. I immediately went into stealth mode and made a silent approach. As I crept up to the edge of the stairs and peered into the living room, I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus.

Like I said, I’m no dummy. I know it was really my dad in a Santa suit. We don’t even have a chimney, and I haven’t believed in flying reindeer since Daddy spilled the beans after a hunting trip last year. So I know how it is.

This holiday season has been tough on Mommy since Daddy left to go overseas in July, so I was really happy to see that the Army was able to let him come home to spend a little time with Mommy after she worked so hard to decorate the house and take care of me and my baby brother by herself. 

During our last week of school, the principal played a message from the General about how important family time is, so obviously he used his authority to fly my Daddy back here. I should have known since I overheard Mommy’s helicopter pilot friend talking about a surprise he had for her. He must have helped out too!  

It’s too bad that Daddy had to leave before I woke up today. Mommy must have dropped him off at the airport while it was still dark, and that’s why she was so tired this morning. I’m sure she didn’t say anything about seeing Daddy because she knew it would just make me sad that I missed him, but I’m still glad for her.   

I can’t wait to tell all the kids in my class how lucky I was to catch a glimpse of my Dad on Christmas Eve. He’s my hero.

Ironic Major is a writer for @DuffelBlog. Aspiring mumble rapper. Notorious party crasher. Common sense aficionado. He also does balloon animals at parties.