Seriously, when is the dude coming?

Dateline: Independence, MO December 25th 12:15 AM

After several hours of unsuccessfully attempting to put 8-year-old Jared to bed, his Parents, David and Sherry, have simply given up. They have now locked the door to their bedroom, where they have strewn presents, both wrapped and unwrapped around the room.

Jared has been in and out of bed several times and has taken to knocking at the door asking repeatedly "When is he coming?" Referring, of course, to the jolly old man himself, Santa Claus.

Fed up with these interruptions and constant distractions, Jared's Father, David has given up on opening the door and sticking his head out and has opted instead for the "Go to bed, Jared" warnings, sternly whispered through the closed door.

Sensing the frustration in both of their voices, at 12:15 AM, David opens the door one final time in an effort to cease these interactions. He opens the door a crack to find young Jared, clad in button-up flannel "Incredibles" pajamas, standing with his arms out from his body in a sigh of resigned irritation. "Dad," he implores "Seriously, when is the dude coming?"

David, who is still a bit angry with Jared, kind of chuckles to himself, knowing that he was once the child in a situation similar to this and blames genetics for the fact that his Son is a "night owl," and never wants to go to bed, much less on Christmas Eve"

David also blames the local news channels for posting "Santa Updates" on the late news, that implore kids to both watch the late news while admonishing them to "get to bed cause Santa's in St. Louis and will be in the Kansas City area Shortly!"

Being a Dad, David knows that all of this is the "Perfect Storm" for kids. Too excited to sleep and still worried that they might have been just a tad too ornery for the big guy to come see them, and in Jared's case, this is a valid concern.

Sherry and David, nearing exhaustion from shopping that day and trying to get everything ready for the big day, in addition to the makeshift meal that had to be prepared after the bar-b-cue grill suddenly turned into a raging fire that had to be stopped in it's tracks with the help of a fire extinguisher that no one really knew how to operate.

So after a hectic day and a crazy night, complete with house guests, four dogs and lots of late-night wrapping, it was understandable that both parent and child would be nearing an impasse.

"Jared, I love you... Santa loves you....Your Mom loves you..." but if you don't get to bed, I can't go to bed and Santa won't even think about stopping here." David told his son.

Jared turned to his Father and asked "But really, what time do you think he'll be here?" David walked Jared to his bed and tucked him under his covers..."Good night, Jared." He said.

Dateline: Independence, MO December 25th 7:00 AM

Barking dogs, an 8-year-old's voice, and the sound of small footsteps running down the hall wake David from a deep sleep.
"Dad, I got a WorldseriesbaseballfromtheBostonRedSoxandsomebaseballcards
andaBostonTeeshirtandsomehotwheelsandaPS2ControllerandsomeDVDsand..." Jared shouts, but doesn't stop there. As he continues blurting excitedly all David can muster in response to the verbal clatter is a bleary
"Huh?"

Later that day as the wrapping papers were discarded and the meals had been eaten and naps had been taken, David realized that in spite of the horrible economy and
the general "hectivity" of the season...it had turned out to be a pretty good Christmas. His family had still remembered the birth of Christ as the reason for celebration and they'd been thankful for all they'd been given. They were thankful for their house guests and all the dogs and for one more holiday with Luke, who pranced energetically around the house with his gigantic rawhide chew-bone becoming himself a pup once again at Christmas.

Even if for one day all the world can be perfect and filled with love...it gives us hope for the coming new year that all will be right once again.

-David