Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 A LITTLE GIRL'S CHRISTMAS WISH.





   This is a tale of how a middle aged man down on his luck, becomes Santa.
It I hope will entertain you.  I'm writing it for my friends, who tell me
that it is a true story, and as wild as it is, Who know's for sure.  Now on
to the story !



   There was a man named Jonathon Klasley, he was a fifty two years old,
fat, balding man.  The only child of Meryta and Sam Klasley.  He started
working at the early age of ten, cutting lawn's for neighbors.  He bought
his first computer at twelve, and worked hard to learn all he could.



   His parents died when he was seventeen, and by then he was working for a
small programing firm.  He had lived a hard life working for thirty seven
year, slaving to keep a roof over his head, and food on his table.  He had
been a data programer for twenty eight of those years, before the company
he worked for laid him off, a month before he could retire.  Then he found
that his wife Sally of ten years, had been having an affair with a man ,
for those ten years.



   He was hurt by her deed, and filed for divorce, but told himself, that
he could live with out her, and luckily there were no kids involved.  He
moved on with his life, and if the need for companionship became to great
he would seek a hooker, for twenty dollars.



   Then months later, he found that his estranged wife, had stolen
thousands of dollars from his bank account, leaving him on the verge of
bankruptcy.  And then four years later, the house he had been paying on for
the last nineteen years burned down.  It seemed that no matter what
happened to him, he wouldn't give up, He was always the Optimus.



   He had been working a job at a small car wash, making five twenty five
an hour, for three and a half years after his wife left him, he figured
that throwing himself into his work would help lessen his pain.  He worked
long hour's just to get by, and to pay his bills, the night his house
caught fire the boss had called him in to his office and told him he was
letting him go.



   Even after his house burned down, he was sitting on the curb across the
street from where his house had been, he looked up with tears in his eye's
and said; I know shit happens, but why does it have too happen to me, all
the time.  Then he thought: oh well no use crying over spilled milk now.



   Then out of nowhere a small voice from behind him said; because you are
destined for greater things.  He turned but there was no one there, he
scratched his head and said; great, now I'm hearing voices, just great. 
I'm homeless, broke, and now I'm going crazy.  Again a small voice said; no
your not, you are going to be someone that people adore.



   He looked around again and still no one was there.  He told himself that
he was going crazy, so why fight it.  He picked up the few things that
hadn't burnt in the fire, and started walking down the street, not really
knowing where to go, or do for that matter.

   He was walking for a few minutes and it started to snow, he thought to
himself, just great more shit, looking up he shouted: what's next.  After
walking for about twenty more minutes, he came to a small mission on the
outskirts of town, it had a small lighted sign in the window that blinked
massages, it read.



   "Feeling down, the world sticking it to you, know your not alone.  We
care, come and join us for a hot meal, a warm bath and time to just talk,
we're here to help".  John thought, that he couldn't do any worse then he
already had, with his life.  He thought that he would have to lessen to
some bible thumper, or something like that.  He even said to himself: why
not, at least it's out of the cold.  He went to the door and as he touched
the handle a clock struck.  John felt a jolt as he took hold of the handle
to the door.  Nothing bad, but it was a shock none the less.



   The door opened for john without a sound, he stepped inside, but no one
was there, john called out, Is anyone here.  Out of the back came a young
girl about ten or so.  She said; Welcome home Jonathon, may I get you
something to drink.  A Coco maybe.  John hadn't had coco for many years. 
He remembered his mother giving him a cup after playing in the snow, he
smiled at the memory, long past.  He told the young girl that he thought
that coco was a great idea.  She lead him to a small room and told him to
have a seat and she would be right back.



   As he sat down it came to him that she had called him by name.  After
she returned with his coco, he asked her how she knew his name.  She told
him that he was expected, and that they knew where he was at all times. 
John, asked her what she meant by her statement.  She said; john, we have
been watching you for many years now, we know of the hardship's that have
befallen you.  And we are here to help you now to overcome them.  He just
sat there thinking that she was some kind of nuts or something.



   Then he heard the voice again, it said; welcome home john, enjoy your
new life, we hope that it will give you great pleasure.  Then john was
shocked out of his daydream by a small hand touching his, and the voice was
now beside him.  It was a girl, her name was Kina Clause, she was an elf.
She asked john, if he would like a hot bath.



   He only nodded and she lead him to a warm bath, once he was done with
that, she lead him to a table, where he was feed, a good meal.  They talked
for some time, before he asked the two young girls where their parents
were. They both giggled at john's question, and asked if he would really
like to meet them.  Again he could only nod.  They lead him to a small
office and asked him to sit down once again and they would get their
parents for him.  A few moments later the room had ten small people in it.
All said that they were the parents of Kina and, Devegan.



   John was confused at first.  They told him that they too were elves. 
The head elf, " his name was Bryan" told john that he was now in charge of
elf land.  Again john was confused.  He asked them to explain, what they
were talking about.  And over the next four hours they told of how they
knew who he was and when he would become the new Santa Klaus.  They told
john that since he was the only one left of his line.  John then asked them
how they knew that he had an uncle named , Cater Klaus.

   Bryan, told of his father, Samuel, being the brother of Cater Klaus, and
the now former Santa Klaus.  He told of how they had, had a big fight about
the only girl they both loved.  Samuel and Meryta who were in love with
each other, had left the north pole to find their own way in life.  And
every year they would send a gift to Cater with their love.  Bryan told
john that they had the true gift of love, that Christmas was all about. 
Cater would always become as happy as a child, after their gift arrived.



   Then when john's parents had been killed by the drunk driver, Cater was
never the same.

   And slowly the Christmas sprit would only be for the younger children
and the spirt of Christmas was dying with Cater.  And last year he had
gotten sick, and died just a week after his Christmas run.  John asked;
what that had to do with him.



   Bryan told john that he was now Santa Klaus, and he would have to take
over the Christmas run.  John told Bryan that he didn't want to be Santa,
he didn't have the heart that it took to truly be a good one.  But Bryan,
told john that he had the only heart that was big enough to do the job. 
John said; he needed time to think about all of what had been told to him.



   Bryan told john that he had a month, to make up his mind, after that it
wouldn't matter anymore.

   John asked what he meant, and john was told that if he didn't do the
job, that Christmas would be no more.  John thought for day's and then
weeks about all that he had been told.  On the third week john made up his
mind that he would try it just once, to see if he wanted to do it from then
on.  Bryan told john that he could try it, and that if he didn't like it
then there would be no more Christmas.



   The date was November first , when john had told Bryan of his direction
to would be taking.

   That's the day that john found he could really enjoy all the work he had
to do.  The list's were checked in days, toy's were loaded into the sleigh,
waiting for the night to run for Christmas.  Thanksgiving was that day that
Santa came to town, across the world.  Children waited for him every where.
John found that he could speak any language if asked by a child.



   Then the big night was upon him, excitement, fear, want, and hope came
to him, in a rush.

   Then off he went to do the midnight ride of Christmas.  Bell's around
the world tolled for him.

   John was having the time of his life, for once.  On john's last filling
of his toy bag he found that he was short one gift, every child in the
world had gotten a gift , but one.



   But this young girl of four, that was sleeping in a bed, in a home for
orphans.  Beside her bed, was a note, it read; Santa, please, for my
Christmas wish .  I wish my daddy to come and find me.  John looked upon
the girl with a tear in his eye.  Then he felt his heart pound as if
something was wrong with him.  He had a thought of this young girls father.
And took out his Christmas snow globe to see the man.  But all john saw was
himself.  Confused he asked the globe to show him the girls mother.

   And it showed a grave and a picture of a woman he had known a few years
earlier.  She had been a young woman down on her luck, by the name a Riley,
she was looking for a way to get a meal.  John and took her to a diner and
feed her well and handed her fifty dollars and wished her well.

   She followed john home that night and gave john her heart, and body.

   She was gone the next day, so john didn't think anything of her again.
But the woman was at the right time of her cycle, and nine months later,
Snow was born .  The woman tried to do her best for the child, but fate was
against her from the start.  Riley was only sixteen and a run away.  Hoping
to find a way out of her abusive life at home with her father, and brother.




   Her first time away from home she had found john kind and giving, so had
thought to herself that he was worth her time.  But the next morning she
found that she didn't want to be a burden to john, so she left.  Then she
found herself in trouble with a pimp, who beat her up .  And after snow was
born the pimp sent Riley to a john for her first trick, and her last.  The
guy killed her when she changed her mind about doing what the guy wanted.



   Snow was left to be raised by hookers, until the pimp was shot and
killed and another pimp took over.  He sent snow to an orphanage.  The
place was not a nice place at all, for snow even at three was beat up by
older kids, and her thing taken from her.  Snow was a smart child, and
learn to read and write very early on.  She just wanted to be loved, by her
daddy.



   She never got to see her daddy , but her mommies friends, had told her
that he was a kind rich man that would find her one day and take good care
of her.  With that hope snow would dream one day of finding her daddy, and
being happy forever.



   John wept as he found that he had a daughter, and she held his heart. 
John reached down and kissed the child and whispered, your wish shell be
granted tomorrow my lovely snow.  A smile came to snow's mouth at john's
words.  She would be waiting for john as he would come for her tomorrow. 
Once left her there that night, and returned to elf land.  He told of his
find, and what needed to happen the next day.  John took a nap and was
awoken by kina telling him that it was time to go get his daughter.  Bryan,
had called the lawyer firm at four in the morning and told the receptionist
what had to be done.



   She in turn called her boss, Doe Chetrum and told her that a Mr.  Klaus
had called, and he had to get his daughter out of an orphanage ASAP.  Doe,
in turn called her father, how happened to be Bryan's brother at the north
pole.  He told her that John the new Santa had found that he had a daughter
and she was in an orphanage.  And he wanted her out right away.



   Doe then called her partner Tom Howler, who knew a judge that would sign
a release for john to get his daughter out of there right away.  The judge
asked Tom how did john know that the girl was his child.  Tom told the
judge that he just knew, and he would have to trust him on this one.

   The judge told tom that john would have to have a blood test to make
sure.  But the girl could be released to john pending the results .



   Tom then call Doe and told her what the judge wanted to happen.  She
told hin that she would have a doctor on hand in one hour, and to be there
with the paper work ready.  The judge did the paper ,and everything was in
order, by eight twenty when john and Bryan showed up at the door to the
forsaken children's home.  The director didn't want to hear anything that
early in the morning on Christmas day.  And told them to come back on the
following Monday, three days away.

   John was getting mad, and was about to grab the man and hit hin, when
Doe showed up with a police officer.  The man let them in and they went to
snow's bed, where she was still sleeping.

   John reached out to touch her, when snow woke up and said; Daddy, Santa
told , me you would be here for me, can we go now.  John smiled at her and
said not yet snow the doctor has to do a test first.  Doctor Wilbur Cutty
did the blood test in twenty minutes, and told the man that he was ninety
nine percent sure that john was her father.



   The director had called his boss to find out what he could do about this
up hovel at the orphanage.  The man had called his boss at home and found
that as long as everything as on the up and up to let them have the girl.
As john and snow was leaving snow stopped at her friends bed and said; Toby
I want you to meet my daddy, I told you he would come for me.  Toby only
nodded with tears in her eyes.  Snow went to her friend and said; I'll see
if I can get daddy to come back for you too.



   With a light smile toby said; Snow I'm gonna miss yea, I sure hope that
your daddy will come back for me too.  John had heard snow's and toby's
remarks, and john looked to Bryan, how then walked to Doe and told her that
John wanted the other girl as well.  She got back on the phone to tom who
was just leaving the judge's house.



   Well before long there was yet another smiling face leaving the forsaken
home for children.  John returned to his home with the girls, and Bryan
with them.  The girls were in a wonder that Snow's daddy was Santa clause .
They grew to be the best daughters that a man could ever ask for, john was
happy with his life.  He even found that Doe and he got along very well
together, and before the next Christmas there was to be wedding bells for
them .



   John being the richest man in the world, and set a goal to find a home
for every child that needed one.  And over the years many children that
didn't have a chance to have a happy life found that they would be having a
great one thanks to a little girl Christmas wish for her daddy to find her.






   I hope that you all enjoyed this little tale and hope that you have a
chance to live out your very own Christmas wish.  I'm making mine now, and
it is that each and every one out there that reads this, will do what they
can to make that their own wish come true.

   Give that extra dime to the bum in the street, or buy him or her a cup
of coffee, or a snack.  They in turn will give back I'm sure.  Say thank
you to the person that helps you out , be kinder to the waitress/ person ,
or counter/ person, while being served .  It shows them that they matter
too.

   What harm can it do, it may just make you fell that much better, share a
smile with someone.



   May one and all enjoy there holidays , and may the gods watch over us
all.

   Thanks you for reading.



   Another tale from



   the one and only
   Fintinman