It's A Myth

I have raised Ponnu on a lot of stories. When she was very little, our favourite was the story of Santa Claus.

Each year, a fortnight before Christmas, Ponnu would start writing down her list of goodies she wanted from Santa. When she finished with it, I would tell her she could not ask for many things from Santa Claus as he had to give other children around the world as well. Ponnu would go through the list again and some goodies were struck off. If there were any that were very expensive, Santa could not give her those too. He could not be partial to Ponnu and not have enough to give other children. So she understood.

Ponnu was three years old when we made the first list. As the years went by, the choices broadened to include sketch pens instead of colouring pencils, a specific brand of chocolate instead of just chocolates, games and so on. As we read the list together, she'd ask, "Do you think Santa would be able to get this for me or will he think I am too greedy?" and I would ask her to tick off at least one thing from the list every year. Simply to let her know that even Santa Claus has limitations.

When Ponnu was six, my mother told her there was no Santa Claus. The child was hurt with that revelation. When I came home from work that night, and was spending time with her before she slept, she looked up at me and asked, "Ma, are you Santa?" I asked her why and she said, "Grandma says you are."

I said it was true that there was no Santa Claus, but I loved playing Santa to her during Christmas time. She smiled. The next year though, the list was being prepared at least three months in advance. The questions asked this time and since then have been, "Ma, I want this book for Christmas" and many other such requests. "Do you mind Ma, if I ask for three books this Christmas and also a CD?" With no Santa to protect me, I have just stressed which request could be taken up and those that had to be rejected. Christmas now does not have Santa leaving his goodies at our home at midnight. But over the years, I have Ponnu playing Santa to me during Christmas and getting me things I have mentioned in passing through the year. From a book of my favourite poet to even my first ever cookery book (for she saw me trying hard to write and keep pace with the chef on TV), Ponnu touches me with her thoughful gestures.