One Man's Letter to Santa

I am Deandre Parker. I'm 28 years old and I need your help. Let me be blunt with you, I haven't believed in you in a long, long time. After I tucked my son Gregory in tonight, I cried in my room. I told him that Santa will come through Christmas Day. He is a good kid, undeserving of a Father like me. I have done my fair share of mistakes as the head of this household. I wake up every morning to go to work. I work for a small insurance company here in town, and the economy has took it's toll in the office. I survived two rounds of layoffs, but money is dwindling at the office, and our paychecks show it. I'm beginning to hear whispers that we might be going out of business by years end. We just bought a new house for our family, and this was going to be our first Christmas here. Gregory loves this house, but I'm afraid that we may have to sell it if I lose my job. My son thinks the world of you, and believes that you can do anything in the name of the Christmas spirit. Santa, I am on record for not believing in you, but believe me I want to believe. I want to believe more than my son does or anyone else. Santa, if you read this letter you don't have to get me anything, but please give my wife and son joy on Christmas Day. Here Santa is my list to you.

My wife Cassandra has been dropping hints about this Steve Madden handbag from Macy's. It's red, and she talks about it all the time. She also has eyes for a Lucky Brand Chantel Boot at Macy's too. The handbag is $80 and the handbag is $130. In better times, I would be more than able to get these gifts for my wife. Santa, Cassandra is great, she stuck with me as I struggled to find work out of college. She stuck by my side when I got the job at the insurance company, and struggled to keep my job. I love her to pieces. She thinks I'm Superman, just like Gregory. I held this family together for the past year, I don't know if it's luck or skill half the time. In any rate, I don't feel as if I deserve her. She has tried to not let the family burden fall on me for the past three months. You see Santa, she works as a substitute teacher. It looked as if she was going to get a regular position with the school district, but due to the foreclosures over here a lot of tax revenue was lost. The school district tried to keep the workforce intact giving her and other substitutes sparse work. All it did was prolong the inevitable, Cassandra and the other substitutes were laid off last month.

Gregory is a good kid. Through it all he has been full of joy and optimism. He would make me smile when he tells me about his day in school. He is an excellent student. He just turned 9 this past October. He is the best student in 3rd grade. He excels in science and history. He tells me he wants to work for NASA one day. He has an infatuation with the Space Shuttle program. I tell him that the only way to reach the stars is to keep in the books. Greg, just like my wife wants just two things. Gregory wants a telescope, any kind, so he can look at the stars and see what NASA sees. He also wants the Nintendo Wii. Thats the game system where the person uses their body movements to make the in-game characters move. I can get those products anywhere, but no money. He will be heartbroken on Christmas Day when his telescope is not there. He will feel as if his NASA dream is a failure. I will be a failure.

Santa, I am a illusion. I'm no miracle worker. I am a fraud. For the past three months, I have been getting us through with credit cards. You name it groceries, gas money, school stuff for my son. I'm $5,000 in the hole and maxed out. My family doesn't know this. I'm being put through collection, and they're already calling my cell phone. It's only a matter of time when they call home. Santa, I'm at the end of my rope. All that I want is for my family to be happy on Christmas Day. As for me, a bag of coal wouldn't be enough. As far as I'm concerned, I don't deserve a Christmas., but my family does.

Please Santa, make this one man's wish come true.

Deandre Parker