“Alright then, it is a date,” she said with a bounce in her voice, “Ah, what I mean is, I’ll have it added to Granddad’s calendar,” she chuckled at her own recovery.
“I Look forward to seeing,” he cleared his throat, “you both.”
Johnny Nikolaus set the receiver down on the hook hearing that signature click the phone in his apartment always made. That was an awkward phone call, yet somehow he was still beaming from it. They had made a plan to meet for coffee that afternoon. She had invited him to have dinner at Colebrook House alongside her grandfather, but neither had any other plans for the afternoon and so that sort of just happened. There wasn’t a reason other than the obvious. He had called the mansion main line under the pretenses of getting in touch with his old mentor but had hoped she would answer. That is just what happened. He leaned back in the easy chair, lighting a cigarette he had taken from his pewter case. That case had been a gift from Charles Colebrook for his five-year anniversary with J&C. He ran his thumb across the engraved scrollwork on its face and then snapped it closed. He puffed out a ring of smoke and smiled realizing his joy at the prospect of seeing her again. Something in his life had felt missing lately. Maybe, just maybe she could be what was missing.
Across town, Kate Colebrook sat in the galley kitchen on the lower level of the old mansion townhome of the Colebrook family. She too was beaming after that phone call. Things seemed all to be coming together now. She rapped her fingers on the butcher block counter in excitement. Her grandfather had said it would happen just this way. “He’ll call my dear, I am sure of it.” She recalled him saying. Despite the numerous times he had predicted almost exactly what would happen, she’d doubted her grandfather again. Again, she was proven wrong. She picked up the pewter mug by its ornate reindeer handle to take a sip of that warm hot cocoa she couldn’t seem to get enough of. She held the mug away from her to look at it. Somehow every time she took a sip, she was still surprised at how good a recipe it was. She was happy but nervous about these last few pieces of the plan her granddad had set into motion quite a few years before.
• • •
Charles Colebrook, the man who was Santa Claus exhaled having taken a very deep breath just before. He stood in the doorway of the smallish study in the corner of the second floor of his home. His leather soled house shoes tapped on the slate floor as he walked inside closing the door behind him. In the corner sat a large red velvet covered armchair next to which was a reading light, an end table stacked high with books, papers, journals, and envelopes frayed at the edges where he’d tore them open. On the other side of the chair was a standing ash tray on which sat three small matchbooks, a tobacco case, and his long-used pipe. On the opposite wall stood a tall and wide dark walnut wardrobe. The corners of the piece of furniture had chubby carvings of cherubs with halos of flowering greenery. Across the bottom drawer front was an intricately carved scene of a stable, a manger, and animals, with shepherds tending them. At the center a glowing mother, a humble father, and a child different from every child born before or since.
He closed his eyes taking a deep breath again and focused his mind on a prayer. He had been praying increasingly lately. A change was coming for him, for his granddaughter, for Johnny Nikolaus and for the children and families of the world. His prayer was a prayer for guidance.
“Guide me that this decision is the right one,” he finished out loud, “Amen.”
With that he smiled to himself and gave a chuckle. Prayer was always the way he was able to do the wonderful job and all its tasks he was charged with. Charles Colebrook opened the doors to his wardrobe looking in at the items, the clothing, the tools he had cherished and taken care of for a generation as the steward to the legacy of St. Nicholas.
• • •
“Coffee,” they both said simultaneously to the diner waitress. She smiled with her tongue in her cheek at the couple. Kate Colebrook and Johnny Nikolaus both seemed poised with things to be said, though it was several minutes before either came out with it. They talked about work and weather, and how they each took their coffee. She was a three sugar with lots of cream kind of girl. That way she said it reminded her most of hot cocoa. While he usually liked black coffee, very hot always, he’d started adding a little sugar lately for a reason he couldn’t explain.
The conversation had begun to flow freely, and each noticed a little feeling of energy which could have easily been from the caffeine but more likely was being drawn from the excitement of the moment. Johnny Nikolaus could not remember the last time he had a conversation as engaging as this one. Kate Colebrook noticed her cheeks were sore from smiling and the muscles in her stomach hurt from laughter. Johnny Nikolaus forgot about that void he had been feeling and instead focused on the captivating Kate Colebrook. For the first time since Christmas Eve, he truly felt a spirit of love and joy. He wouldn’t have expected at all what he was about to find out next.
The conversation at some point turned to Charles Colebrook and Kate was warmed by the wonderful things Johnny said about his old mentor.
“You really care about my grandfather, don’t you?” she said.
“Is that a surprise?”
“Well, he’s my grandfather. I think the world of him. And it’s nice to know his goodness has touched someone else,” she smiled.
“I learned so much from him working at J&C,” he paused and cocked his head, “Most of what I learned was how to treat people. He had a way of working hard and being shrewd while still having compassion. I like to think that stuck with me.”
Kate Colebrook, if she was not convinced before was sure of it now. Johnny Nikolaus was the absolute perfect choice to take over for her grandfather. She seemed lost in her thoughts a moment. When the silence was finally broken, she looked up at him as he said,
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Oh of course not. That was really nice of you to say about him,” she took a deep breath. “Johnny I’ve really enjoyed this. I think we get along quite well. And I know that granddad is going to ask you for something later today. I’m not supposed to say anything but it’s like a favor and I really deeply hope you’ll say yes.”
“I’d do anything for Charles.”
“This thing it really means a lot to him,” She said almost sounding like she would cry.
He put his hand across the table on hers.
“It sounds like whatever it is really means a lot to you too.”
• • •
Some winter days it grows cold. Not cold like it is blistering and frightful, but cold with a freshness, like the way one feels after drinking an ice-cold glass of milk.
They had bundled up before leaving the diner to make their walk over to Colebrook House for dinner. As soon as they reached the sidewalk Johnny Nikolaus put his green wool scarf around Kate’s neck tucking it into the collar of her coat. They held hands staying close together during the two-block walk and when they arrived, she whisked him in doors out of the cold. She tried to return his scarf, but he insisted she keep it.
He had been inside Colebrook House more times than he could count on one hand and thought that by then he knew his way around the floor plan quite well. Before the end of that night, he would find out that there was a sixth-floor workshop for toymaking, the stairs for which could only be accessed from the second-floor study. Behind that workshop a utility area that held an antique sleigh, and behind that a series of stables for exactly what you would expect.
“Granddad is up on the second floor in his study. He had said to send you there straightaway for a drink.” Kate said as she walked off to the dining room leaving go of his hand slowly. He paused there a moment before heading towards the grand staircase. He noted to himself that the lobby smelled of some combination of peppermint and cold fresh air that had just come inside with them.
When he was but a few steps away from the door to the old man’s study he already heard Charles rusting papers inside along with the smell of his pipe tobacco and the tinkling of ice into crystal tumblers.
“Johnny, my boy, you still a bourbon man?” Colebrook called out to him.
“I had an uncle who was from Kentucky.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” He said with a chuckle.
Johnny extended his hand towards Charles. The great large man glanced at it before taking it in his big, rough hand. He shook it vigorously twice and then pulled Johnny Nikolaus in for a hearty hug laughing as he did it.
“It’s great to see you my friend.” Charles said then handing him a drink and gesturing that he sit down.
“It’s good to be seen. Thank you for having me.” Johnny said looking around the room. He was sure he had been in this room before but there was an atmosphere in there this time different from anytime before. Something about seeing his old mentor or the developments with Kate made him feel something. He was just thinking that the word for it was—
“Jolly. That’s the word you are thinking of.” Charles Colebrook interrupted his thoughts in some manner he was unable to understand in the moment. Johnny took a large sip of his drink.
“How did you?”
“Johnny, I asked you to come here for a reason. No doubt by now Kate already spilled the beans that I had a favor to ask of you.”
“She did.” Johnny had been surprised by Charles Colebrook’s intuition before, but this was something different.
“You get along with Kate quite well. She likes you very much.”
“Charles, I hope you don’t think I have any unsavory intentions.”
“Nonsense . It is a particularly good thing. Now. I guess It is time I cut to the chase.”
Charles Colebrook stood up and walked over towards the large walnut wardrobe. Johnny rubbed his forehead more confused now than ever. He looked over in that direction. Charles opened the doors of the piece saying, “Just have a look in here.”
He sighed before standing up moving to look inside. He peered into the cabinet and saw a set of items familiar but otherworldly. The top section of the cabinet was separated at the center. The right side was a series of shelves and drawers. From the bottom to about midway up were four drawers and from there up were three shelves. On the middle shelf sat a pair of brown leather boots in a paddock style. They had ornate scrollwork around the area where the sole met the uppers. Colebrook gestured towards one of the drawers and he opened it. The drawer was inlayed in green velvet. Resting neatly in perfectly shaped spaces were a pewter flask engraved with the letter’s “CC” and a silver pocket-watch. Next to them was an open space that looked about the size and shape of his cigarette case. Johnny drew the case from his jacket pocket and placed it in the open space. It fit snugly inside. He looked at Charles who smiled from ear to ear.
“Johnny, I want you to have these things. I gave you that cigarette case hoping one day I could give you the set.” Charles placed a hand on his shoulder, “Everything I have I’d like to give to you.” He pointed to the open side of the cabinet. In it hung a deep red belted wool peacoat with horn buttons. There were fur accents near the collar. A red wool knitted cap hung on a hook at the back of the cabinet. About that moment Johnny Nikolaus finally realized what the big man was saying. He thought back to those wondrous Christmas parties at J&C. He thought about the immense generosity, the joy with which he greeted his employees and the way in which he had guided a young stockbroker when he started at the company.
“Wait, Charles are you saying that you, are—”
“Some call me Santa Claus. That’s what the world calls me. I’m not St. Nick. I’m just the carrier of his legacy. I prefer to just think of myself as a gift giver.” He looked down smiling to himself.
Johnny Nikolaus took a deep breath. One would think a revelation like this would be hard to believe but to him something of a higher power was at work. It all made sense in that moment. It felt like it was meant to be that way and Johnny Nikolaus in an instant understood what was being asked of him. That missing piece he had felt lately was going away for good.
Charles picked up an envelope and handed it to him saying he could read it later perhaps on Christmas Eve. Just about then there was a knocking sound and they both looked over to see Kate standing in the doorway with a reserved smile on her face. She bit her lip.
“Well?” she said.
“I say yes.” Johnny Nikolaus said with a confidence and a jolly smile.
Epilogue
It was a frosty night, but the kind of frosty night that feels fresh and exciting.
Smoke curled and twirled up and around his head. The end of his cigarette glowed like the red-hot embers in thousands of fireplaces that evening. It was Christmas Eve, 1960 and Johnny Nikolaus was about to make his first trip as the gift giver. He sat down on the edge of the brickwork and took an envelope from his pocket.
December 24, 1960
Charles C. Colebrook
Mr. John Nikolaus,
Johnny my boy, as you sit ready to make your first trip, I hope this advice will guide you. A uniform is not just a fashion statement but part of the tools of our trade. Your ankle boots, because whatever a man may choose as his lot in life it should always still be man’s work. Trust your flask, as your side-arm. Use it responsibly and respect its gifts. Good time is essential for success and where you will go will absolutely require good time. Rely on the silver pocket watch as I cannot stress more the importance that in your new quests you will need to be on the Good side of Time. The Coat for no other reason than its cold on winter nights. Let this coat be a comfort for you. Let it be recognized as yours. As a whole let these items help you live a happy life, and bring happiness to those people you meet, no matter the size. Make it your own.
At last, I leave you with a gift. (it is Christmas Eve after all). Remember that the wardrobe is engraved with cherubs, and the Christ Child, not images of the gift giver. The most important part of this job is remembering why we do it.
Charles.
Standing up from the brickwork on which he sat he turned around to see Miss Colebrook at the roof access door. She was bundled up and warm. He smiled through his teeth and lowered his eyebrows.
“Merry Christmas,” she said.
She came close to him adjusting his hat. Miss Colebrook pulled it down to cover his ears and then gave him a hug and he kissed her on the cheek.
“Merry Christmas.” He answered. Then she presented his green wool scarf and wrapped it around his neck and tucked it into his collar. He then reached in his pocket and pulled out the watch. It read 10 o’clock. Johnny put the watch in his pocket and ran the chain over to one of his coat buttons.
“It’s about time,” he said.
“Have fun and don’t stay out too late.”
He embraced her again and smiled a big smile in the corner of his mouth. He turned putting a finger to his nose and said with power behind his voice,
“I’ll be back soon. Merry Christmas Kate. Merry Christmas to all.”
This piece of selected fiction is part of a Christmas short story series. Read the rest of the series.
Michael Fricker & Family 