Santa’s Other Jobs

So here's my first story... and the only story that rhymes thanks to my editor.

Santa's Other Jobs By Tristan Burrington

Dad, did Santa Claus have any other jobs… before he became Santa?

Well, Son … I know this story by heart.

A long time ago, Santa was just a kid named Nick. He was a quiet boy, friendly and caring. He always tried to help others by sharing.  

Nick learned that whatever the task or test, you always try to do your best.

Nick turned eleven on his first day of work, delivering newspapers. He helped his older brother, going house to house, one after another. They hopped on their bikes, each with a full sack slung over their back.

Each paper should land just outside the front door. With a strong arm and careful aim, then the toss, and a thud, they're off to next door.

Nick’s first paying job was a pizza place. Someday, this kid would grant Christmas wishes. But first, he learned to sweep floors and wash dirty dishes.

He also learned how to make pizzas from scratch. Nick was a natural, doing better after each batch. Roll out the dough, spread the sauce in a circle, then sprinkle the cheese. Pretty soon, Nick baked pizzas with ease.  

Each pie filled a box with equal slicing, the smell of fresh pizza…so enticing.

When Nick was nineteen and super strong, a new opportunity came along. He wanted to make the extra cash, so his second job was hauling trash. 

He loved working outside, enjoying the ride, holding on tight to the truck’s backside. Hop off, toss the garbage, then hop back on, all day long until the last trash was gone. 

Nick thought this job had a lot of stops, but he did the work well, lot by lot. This work kept the streets clean and made the world a better place. Young Nick did it proudly with a smile on his face.  

He was in the best shape of his life when Santa met his wife.

Nick searched for new ways to earn a living, and soon he got a job delivering. He loved driving around town, rain or shine or snow, serving people door to door while listening to the radio.  

Nick knew for sure, that he was helping hungry people and bringing a cure. He drove to those homes with extra care, making sure the warm food got there. With the front door near, he could hear the kids cheer, “The food is here!”

Nick was quick behind the wheel and his skills were obvious. When his manager called Nick into the office, he was curious.

“Nick, I'd like you to be the Head of Delivery.” 

With a wink of his eye, Nick accepted the role … now every delivery was part of his goal.  

Nothing but his best would suffice. He even made a list, sometimes checking it twice. Nick worked hard to make deliveries faster, soon earning the title of Delivery Master. 

Also, still working inside the store, he got back to baking pizzas which he loved even more. He helped to serve customers who enjoyed the restaurant clatter. He also managed deliveries knowing every pizza mattered.

HIs career took a turn toward fate when he reached the age of 28. With new ladders to climb, Nick became a chimney sweep this time.

Now chimney sweeps have dirty jobs, too, cleaning out all types of chimney flues. A sweep does work that is not admired, protecting each home from chimney fires. Brush in, climb up, look down and around to make sure each chimney was safe and sound. Nick smiled with joy with soot on his face.

Age doesn’t matter, young or old, a Good Sweep is worth any weight in gold. Nick began to surprise himself with what he could do. Before long, you may surprise yourself, too.

Nick would soon become a mason, fixing chimneys left and right. He built scaffolding up to the chimney’s height. He could stucco, fix stonework and reline flues. He took apart and rebuilt old brick chimneys, too.    

Old St Nick still knows today every chimney he flies by that he once fixed. He remembers the ladders, the roofs, the tricks, and how young he was when he laid those bricks.

Nick grew a bit older, his beard turned gray then white. One night, he woke up to a bright light. Something clicked … a new dream appeared… Nick’s most important goal was clear. He wanted to help kids’ wishes come true. To accomplish that was the least he could do!

So he made a new plan to get back on track. He invented some gear, a red suit with a hat, a sleigh, and a sack.

He asked some friends to share in his cheer. They helped him find his flying reindeer. They made all the toys, all by themselves, I guess that’s why Santa named them his elves. 

Together, they managed deliveries for the longest list of kids. Nick and his reindeer flew to every address, enjoying the test and doing their best. He hopped off at each stop, placing each gift on the floor, under the tree, then up to the top, and “off to next door.”

On the back of the sleigh and with soot on his face, Santa flew for miles. He knew the world was a better place when all children had big smiles. Nick used all of life’s skills he had learned along the way, so that every boy and girl woke up to presents the next day.

After dropping off the last gift, can you possibly guess… what did Santa do next? You know St Nick, he’s always hearty. He flew back home to throw his annual pizza party.

So remember this story whatever life brings… with its new beginnings and trying new things. You never know what you might become… hasn’t Santa shown that to everyone?

Dad, why do Santa’s old jobs, sound like your old jobs?

You know, Son, I never thought about that, but maybe because …

Once I had a dream that I was Santa Claus.

So if you're out there and you deliver packages, 

or sweep floors... and wash dishes, 

or make food and serve others, 

or make the world a better place, 

or drive for a living, 

or manage people and responsibilities, 

or serve people and their homes, 

or fix old things, 

or build new things to be proud of, 

But most importantly,

If you teach... coach... and raise the next generation.

Even you can become a legend, like Santa Clause.