MR Prompt: Tell Your Santa Story

I still swear on my life that I saw Santa. It was Christmas Eve and my cousins and I had been given a free pass to stay up late. In my mind we were all wearing two piece pajama sets — the kind with stretchy ribbed cuffs at the ankles and wrists that kids always look so cute and cozy in, but I’m less clear on the outfit-portion of this story.

Here’s what I am 100% sure of: that I was paying attention to something else — a book, a suspiciously-wrapped present, a funny face — when my oldest cousin pointed out the window and whispered, “Look.”

It was like in the picture books: Santa, a sled and a flock of reindeer were silhouetted against the full moon.

It was also exactly like that scene in E.T. , a timeline that I refuse to check should it somehow correlate with and ruin my memory.

I find myself recounting this anecdote about once a year, every year, once December hits. As it turns out, everyone has some sort of Santa story. Everyone — regardless of religion or observed holidays, because not every Santa story involves the childhood equivalent of tripping on LSD, you know. Some involve a terrifying mall experience. Some are tales of being the only kid who knew “the truth.” (The truth being that some bearded man does not deliver gifts to your house at night while you’re sleeping, although some of your stories may very well involve chimneys.)

And that’s exactly what this week’s writer’s prompt is about: Santa Stories. Tell us yours in less than 500 words and submit it to write@manrepeller.com by Thursday, December 10 at 12 noon EST. Can’t wait to sit on your laps and talk about presents.

Santas by Joint London via Fucking Young. Illustration by Charlotte Fassler.

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