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Dear Santa, some kids just want what’s needed this Christmas Dear Santa, some kids just want the essentials this Christmas
(about 5 hours later)
The Christmas list.The Christmas list.
There’s the request for the Nerf Rhino-Fire Blaster, a twin-barreled, anti-aircraft gun right out of John Connor’s post-apocalyptic arsenal guaranteed to lodge foam darts into places you’ll only discover next April. There’s the request for the Nerf Rhino-Fire Blaster, a twin-barreled, anti-aircraft gun right out of John Connor’s post-apocalyptic arsenal guaranteed to lodge foam darts in places you’ll discover only next April.
Or the desire for those little Monster High dollies of the night — sexed-up strumpets from Hooker High?Or the desire for those little Monster High dollies of the night — sexed-up strumpets from Hooker High?
But pull away from the kids you know and take a look at what’s on the Christmas lists that end up in mailboxes all over town, addressed to the North Pole? But pull away from the kids you know and take a look at what’s on the Christmas lists that end up in mailboxes all over town, addressed to the North Pole.
The chief elf-in-charge of these letters is Sherry Johnson-Battle, and she’s letting us look through some of the 500 letters that came from kids in the nation’s capital this year. The chief elf-in-charge of these letters is Sherry Johnson-Battle, and she’s letting us look through some of the 500 letters that came from children in the nation’s capital this year.
More than half of them were adopted by companies or fellow elves to make sure wishes were filled. More than half of the requests were taken on by companies or fellow elves to make sure the wishes were filled.
Yes, they want Xboxes, iPhones and televisions. They provide very specific information for the make, model and color of the $100 sneakers they will outgrow in two weeks. Yes, the children want Xboxes, iPhones and televisions. They provide specific information for the make, model and color of the $100 sneakers they will outgrow in two weeks.
[Readers share their hilarious, miserable, sweet Santa pictures][Readers share their hilarious, miserable, sweet Santa pictures]
And there are sure signs of self-confidence.And there are sure signs of self-confidence.
“I would like you to grant me my wishes because I’m a great child.“I would like you to grant me my wishes because I’m a great child.
1. electric scooter1. electric scooter
2. Barbie Dream House2. Barbie Dream House
3. Baby Alive.”3. Baby Alive.”
Maybe a trophy, too, great child?Maybe a trophy, too, great child?
But then you come across the stories of a city in these letters, too.But then you come across the stories of a city in these letters, too.
“Dear Santa,” they all begin.“Dear Santa,” they all begin.
“I am the middle child,” one continues.“I am the middle child,” one continues.
“I lived in a shelter for 5 years. My father abanded [sic] me all my life ever since I was born. My mother was trying to take care of us but she was struggling to put food in our mouths.”“I lived in a shelter for 5 years. My father abanded [sic] me all my life ever since I was born. My mother was trying to take care of us but she was struggling to put food in our mouths.”
These are the tough ones to read.These are the tough ones to read.
Because they also tell you about the state of a city and a civilization, the way an economy, situations and environment mold a child’s soul.Because they also tell you about the state of a city and a civilization, the way an economy, situations and environment mold a child’s soul.
“Dear Santa,“Dear Santa,
For Christmas, I will not ask for much. I really need khaki uniform pants,” wrote one 11-year-old girl, who explained that she has “very few pairs of pants for school.”For Christmas, I will not ask for much. I really need khaki uniform pants,” wrote one 11-year-old girl, who explained that she has “very few pairs of pants for school.”
“I also need a very steep and nice-size bookbag for school. I’m in 6th grade and carry alot of books,” she said, explaining that hers ripped. “I also need a very steep and nice-size bookbag for school. I’m in 6th grade and carry alot of books,” she said, explaining that her bag had ripped.
The kids who have these stories almost always ask for something for a parent or a sibling, too. Or, more often, they only ask for others. The kids who have these stories almost always ask for something for a parent or a sibling, too. Or, more often, they ask for things only for others.
It’s a community and spirit baked into some of the American underclass. For centuries, even.It’s a community and spirit baked into some of the American underclass. For centuries, even.
A New York guy remodeling his Hell’s Kitchen apartment recently found letters to Santa from more than 100 years ago. A fatherless child of Irish immigrants wrote a letter in 1907 asking for a wagon for her brother. And then reminded Santa: “P.S. Please do not forget the poor.”A New York guy remodeling his Hell’s Kitchen apartment recently found letters to Santa from more than 100 years ago. A fatherless child of Irish immigrants wrote a letter in 1907 asking for a wagon for her brother. And then reminded Santa: “P.S. Please do not forget the poor.”
[Eight-year-old wanted cards for Christmas. She got more than 300,000.][Eight-year-old wanted cards for Christmas. She got more than 300,000.]
There’s a dazzling generosity embedded in many children of poverty.There’s a dazzling generosity embedded in many children of poverty.
And we have that same selflessness all around us, kids at bus stops, on the Metro, on playgrounds. Those moral heroes surround us. And we have that same selflessness all around us, in kids at bus stops, on the Metro, on playgrounds. Those moral heroes surround us.
Sometimes, it raises the elf’s eyebrows: Sometimes, a request raises the elf’s eyebrows:
“A Victoria’s Secret gift card for mom,” we read.“A Victoria’s Secret gift card for mom,” we read.
“Guess she wants mom to get her swag,” the elf said.“Guess she wants mom to get her swag,” the elf said.
But most of those letters in the nation’s capital have kids asking Santa to help pay parents’ bills, to help dad get a job, to get the family an apartment or to bring a “grocery cart” to help mom lug her groceries home. But most of those letters in the nation’s capital come from kids asking Santa to help pay parents’ bills, to help dads get jobs, to get the family an apartment or to bring a “grocery cart” to help mom lug her groceries home.
It looks like a class thing. But the truth is, all children have that light within. And us adults choose what to do with it. It looks like a class thing. But the truth is, all children have that light within. And we adults choose what to do with it.
Earlier this week, as I wondered whether to just be done with it and let my kid rename himself Kylo Ren when he started a last-minute scramble this week to rewrite his Christmas list (again), he surprised me. This week, as I wondered whether to just be done with it and let my kid rename himself Kylo Ren when he started a last-minute scramble to rewrite his Christmas list (again), he surprised me.
He had just talked on the phone to my brother, a commercial fisherman who can’t leave the waters this time of year, and the boys ached to see him.He had just talked on the phone to my brother, a commercial fisherman who can’t leave the waters this time of year, and the boys ached to see him.
“I only want one thing from Santa. A plane ticket for Uncle Mike so he could be with us,” my son (I’ll call him “Ben” here for fellow “Star Wars” geeks) said.“I only want one thing from Santa. A plane ticket for Uncle Mike so he could be with us,” my son (I’ll call him “Ben” here for fellow “Star Wars” geeks) said.
Meanwhile, America’s talking about a war on Christmas fought on Starbucks coffee cups, folks moan about the crowds at the mall, and at least one public official said he wants to slap the next person who gives him a generic “Happy Holidays.” Meanwhile, America’s talking about a war on Christmas fought on Starbucks coffee cups, folks moan about the crowds at the mall, and at least one public official said he wants to slap the next person who wishes him a generic “Happy Holidays.”
Listen to the kids, my friends.Listen to the kids, my friends.
Twitter: @petuladTwitter: @petulad
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