It was a freezing Sunday in December. At seven in the morning it was still pitch dark. Low clouds cast a gloomy blanket of fog on the bare trees and brownish green lawns. A cold hand sneaked under the comforter to Daddy’s bare foot.
“Ow, ow, ow!” Daddy woke up with a start. Ankita giggled. “Wake up, Daddy,” she chirped, “you have to put up the Christmas lights today. Tomorrow’s Christmas!”
Mummy huddled deeper under the comforter. Both Anku and her 12-year old brother Anish knew better than to disturb her. “Why me?” complained Daddy as he got up reluctantly to brush his teeth.
After breakfast Daddy hoped to read his Sunday paper in peace but Anku was determined to get the lights put up. “Oh fine,” said Daddy. He went to the garage and turned on a switch. The front of the house lit up with yellow lights on strings. Anku clapped and cheered.
“Look Mummy, “she said as Mummy walked down the stairs bleary-eyed. “Daddy put up the lights,” Mummy rolled her eyes. “He never took them down after last year,” she said.
“Lazy till yesterday, efficient today,” said Daddy cheerfully. He went back to his paper.
“Now the Christmas tree, the Christmas tree,” cried Anku to Daddy. “That’s Mummy’s department,” said Daddy with relief. “What about your Kumon?” asked Mummy sternly. Anku pouted. She had a very pretty pout. Mummy gave in.
They were arranging the ornaments on the tree when Anish finally woke up. He was usually grumpy in the morning. He clattered down the stairs for breakfast. “Bhaiyya, why don’t you join us?” Anku asked her adored big brother. “Christmas is for babies,” said Anish.
Anku paid no notice to his comments and continued to unwrap more ornaments. “Look, a snowman!” “Your brother made that when he was your age,” said Mummy with a smile, remembering Anish as a six-year old. Come to think of it, he was pretty grumpy then too! They found pretty embroidered ornaments that Grandma had sent from India and some sea animal ornaments they had picked up in Alaska over the summer. They also found a bag of white plastic confetti. “Snow,” cried Anku. She stood on top of the stairs and gently dropped handfuls over the tree. I’m going to have those darned things all over the carpet, thought Mummy, but bit her tongue to keep quiet.
“I know what I want from Santa,” said Anku. Mummy was alarmed. She was not looking forward to last-minute shopping. The day before Christmas it was impossible to find parking at the mall. “I thought you told Santa you wanted a watch for Christmas.” This was the Santa who had come to Anku’s school. “I changed my mind,” said Anku breezily.
“You still believe in Santa?” asked Anish incredulously. From behind Anku’s back Mummy made furious signs for him to stop that line of thought. She had to quickly compose her face again when Anku turned around. “Are you ok, Mummy?” asked Anku at the sight of Mummy’s funny look.
“What I really want,” Anku continued, “is snow on Christmas day.” Mummy’s jaw dropped. Even Daddy’s head peered up, turtle-like, from behind the paper. “This is San Jose, California honey,” Mummy tried to explain. It doesn’t snow here. Ever.”
“Well, Santa can do it.” Anku had full faith in St. Nick. She went off to her room to play.
“Now what?” Mummy looked helplessly at Daddy. “Just tell her there’s no such person as Santa Claus,” said Anish sagely. “Shush!” said Mummy. “If you believe you receive.” “Well, I don’t believe but I’m still hoping to receive the DS game I asked for,” replied Anish with an uncertain smile as he plugged in his headphones.
“I know!” said Daddy. “Why don’t we spread that plastic confetti over the lawn?” Mummy gave him a horrified look. She was imagining cleaning up the mess. She was also imagining a visit from the busybodies on the home owner’s association. “Well, they do forecast freezing rain,” said Mummy thoughtfully. “Maybe we can just tell her that the snow melted.”
“Or maybe it is time to tell her the truth about Santa,” said Daddy, just a little bit sad about the idea. Mummy sighed. “I suppose so.”
That night Anku wanted to stay up to see Santa eat his milk and cookies. She drifted off to sleep on Mummy’s lap around 10 o’clock. Mummy carried the sleeping Anku up to her bed. She carefully took out the presents from their hiding place and arranged them under the tree.
The next morning Mummy and Daddy were both woken up by a cry from Anku. “I’m wearing socks,” said Daddy sleepily. “No, look Daddy, look!” Anku pulled the comforter off of Daddy and jumped on to the bed.
Mummy looked to where Anku was pointing. “Impossible!” she gasped. “I don’t believe it,” said Daddy next to her. Little white flakes gently floated down outside the window. They looked like Anku’s confetti except they melted as soon as they touched the ground.
“I’m going to open the rest of my presents,” said Anku gaily, skipping down the stairs. Mummy switched on the TV in the bedroom. It was snowing there too. A stunned weatherman was saying, “A cold front from the Arctic has brought a freak snowfall to San Jose, the first time in 30 years.”
Anish too was staring open-mouthed at the snowfall. He slowly made his way downstairs to the tree, afraid he had probably been on Santa’s naughty list for every doubting him.
Mummy and Daddy looked at each other. “Merry Christmas!” they grinned together.
If you believe, you receive.
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