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The Candy Cane Woman

THE CANDY CANE WOMAN
BY R S WESTEREN
 
    I believe that the Christmas season is truly a wonderful time. Fluffy fresh white snow reflecting the colors of the twinkling red and green lights makes you know that Christmas Day is near. In my youth, I waited with bated breath at the mail box each day for the Sears Christmas catalog to be delivered. I would spend hours examining each page making those all important selections to my ever growing Christmas list. With that list in hand, my parents would drive to the mall so I could see Santa in person. My heart raced as I stood in line waiting my turn, clutching the list in my hand. I bounced with joy and ran to him when it was my turn. I whispered to him that I have been a good boy and slipped into his hand the Christmas wish list. Although many things change over the years, going to he mall and sitting on Santa’s lap still brings lines of wide eyed excited children.
 
   That is why I, a fifty eight year old man, decided to start playing Santa at the mall in my home town. My beard had turned from grey to white the year I started playing Santa. Children would pull on it, and then their eyes would sparkle with amazement when they knew it was real. One after another they would climb up on my lap, I would ask them their name and then they would tell me what they wanted Santa to bring for under their tree. In the time between each child my eyes would glance around to see parents smiling and watching their children with holiday eyes.
 
   It was in the first week that I noticed a twenty year old or so woman off to the side of me near the giant red striped candy canes. She dressed in what one would call retro clothes looking like what they wore in the fifties. A woolen grey suit with delicate white gloves and a small hat on her head and the most striking red lips made me take notice of her. She was watching, almost staring, at me as each child would get on and off of my lap. An attractive woman framed by the large red and white striped candy canes of the Christmas display. Just like how she appeared, she would vanish the next time I looked up.
 
   The mall gets busier everyday as it gets closer it gets to the special date on the calendar. Each evening I would don my red suit and shiny black boots to hear the pleas that I’ve been good from each little child. I noticed that same woman standing next to the candy canes watching intently the parade of the children. I wondered why she would come each day, I think maybe she lives near or she loves small children. She is always in the same spot I never see her elsewhere; curious I am of the candy cane woman. My heart seems to grow larger every time I see her and the urge to meet her also grew proportionally. But she never comes closer and she leaves with out notice.
 
   Christmas Eve day the buzz of the holiday has crested with excitement. The mall is packed with last minutes shoppers and children trying to get to Santa with their last minute dreams and wishes. I see the woman that has caught my attention for so many days in a row in her spot next to the candy canes. Between seeing the children, I look and I think I have caught her eye. I waved at her. And to my shock she waved back. The smile on her face grew and her eyes seem to sparkle when to my surprise she blew me a kiss. My heart pumped faster thinking this young woman was flirting with me. Then the next child jumped up on my lap and we continued this process until the mall was closing. At some point she was gone, my heart sank knowing may never see the candy cane woman again. My time as Santa for this year has come to an end. After changing to street clothes, I searched and wandered the hallways of the mall hoping to see her, to met her, to talk to her, but she was no where to be found.
 
   Christmas day I went to my parent’s home for the traditional feast and to exchange presents with them. They are kind and gentle people that took me in as a small alone child. We never talked much about my real mother since I never really knew her. They had told that she died in 1955 during the Christmas season when I was just one. She died in a car wreck on the way to the mall to shop. I had lived with them ever since and I love them as my parents. I am sitting in the warmth of the fireplace flames, looking contently at the perfectly decorated tree with twinkling lights, Mom on the sofa and Dad standing nearby. My Dad announced in his deep booming voice that they had a very special present for me this year. Reached under the tree and handed me a beautifully wrapped present complete with a red and white striped bow. I felt like a child as I ripped open the paper with gusto and speed. Paper fell to the floors I looked in my hands, there in a golden frame covered in glass, a old black and white photograph of a woman. No words came to me as I stared for what must have been minutes at the image in the frame. Looking up from the picture, my face covered with amazement, I told them I know this woman from the mall. She looked identical to the photograph right down to the white gloves. I quickly recanted the story of this candy cane woman. Silence is all that could be heard as puzzled looks fell on both their faces. No words came from their mouths, silence abounded. Tears filled my Dad eyes; he spoke of this photograph found up in the attic while getting the Christmas décor, they found this old photograph slipped between some old Christmas cards in a box. They did not recall ever seeing this picture ever before. My heart seemed to stop, my mind danced with confusion as my father words entered my ears. This young lady in the picture is a very special woman, she is your mother and this picture would have been around Christmas season at the time of her passing.
 
   Believe or do not, it is your choice. For a couple years more I continued to play Santa at the mall. But my attentions were always diverted watching the crowds. So I retired from playing Santa. Now each year when the mall starts putting up the decorations, I find a seat near the giant candy canes where I can see people come and go. I wait and hope that one day my mother will visit me again. Don’t feel sad for me, for in my heart I am happy and glad for I know my Candy Cane Mother is watching me.
 
Merry Christmas
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