The snow fell heavy, blankets of white covering almost everything in sight. A chill was on the air, carrying with it the scent of baked goods and oven roasted turkeys; enough to make your mouth water and even taste it. Along with the light howl of the shrill winter wind you could hear sleigh bells in the distance, couples laughing and singing songs as they were led by horse around the city streets of Manhattan. Central park was a beautiful sight during this time of year, and at first dark it was even more amusing.

John struggled with a large sack of gifts that he carried over his shoulder... The tall Englishman was donned from head to toe in the suit that everyone expected of Santa Claus; red hat and suit with a snowy white ball and trim, black belt with a large, golden buckle, and of course the black boots as well.

Every year John took a chance to stop by one of the orphanages in the city, and had done so since he'd returned from France. He knew too many children that ended up there due to the Great War they'd all fought, and it wasn't the children's fault. His heart, as big as it was often cold and calculated, went out to the kids during the holidays.

So, trudging through the cold snow, his nose running from the wind at his face, he made his way to a four-passenger bob sleigh that had stopped.

"'Ey up, friend. Are ya runnin', waitin', or on break?"

The much younger man turned and was about to say something, but a large smile crossed his face and he jumped up to hug John. Confused, and weary at first, John started to step back... You never knew WHAT someone was going to do. However, as the lad hugged him John dropped the bag and wrapped his arms around the...boy.

"There there, lad. Wot seems to be tuh issue?"

"Nothin' Santa," he smiled, a cheesy grin plastered over him. "What can I do for ya?"

John, still befuddled at the moment, just chuckled and smiled.

"Well. I need to get across tuh park ova on tuh Nort' side to tuh orphanage an, this be a big bag to carry that far..." he chuckled some more, adding a joking -HO HO HO- into his laugh as well... Though for John it's sounded more like -OH OH OH-.

The boy couldn't have been more than seventeen or eighteen at the time, but he jumped up and grabbed the bag happily. "I knew it was you! I remembered your face!" He tossed it onto the back of the large sleigh and helped John up into the front seat, out of the snow.

"Three years ago, I was at an orphanage you came to... I remember because you sent a letter to the headmasters and they had us all write on a list, one thing we wanted for Christmas. I remember because my wish was for a new bicycle so I could get a job for the paper route!"

John smiled, -now- he recalled the boy... "An' I did more than jus' tuh bicycle. Got ya tuh job. I remember now." He ruffled the kids hair. "So wot ya doin' 'ere?"

John shivered a bit, tossing the blanket in the sleigh over him as the boy jumped onto the driver's seat. "Extra work to help during this time of year. With my job, came a chance for a home for me. My adopted family saw that I was an independent, strong willed boy and wanted to help me. Their sending me off to the university next year for a better education! They think I can really be something! I owe that to you..."

He looked over his shoulder as he popped the reigns, a smile wide on his face. John smiled happily back at him. That was possibly the best news he'd heard all day.

"Tell ya wot, I need an' elf for this visit... Wanna give back to these kids tuh way I did for yiseen?"

The boys head whipped around, "Would I!" The excitement in his voice was evident that he'd like nothing better. John chuckled and settled in for the slow ride across the long park.

"Great, lad! Wake ole Sant'a when we get there then..." He chuckled and the boy offered him a nod, yelling at the horse as he pulled on the reigns, directing him around a large group of carolers. John drifted off with their song, singing quietly to himself...

"Dashing through tuh snow... In a one 'orse open sleigh... O'er tuh fields...we go... Laughing...all....tuh..." and he was out. Didn't take long. Maybe it was the Glühwein (a variety of mulled wine) from all of his German and Austrian fishermen...

The boy chuckled and finished the song's line, "Way..." Quietly he led the horse down the park for John to reprise his role of Santa Claus on this beautiful Christmas Eve...