SANTA’S HELPER

SLIDESHOW: Greg Gilligan - Santa's helper

The magical touch of a pre-schooler giving me a high-five made my day.

It came after a very shy Drew Bishop finally got his photo taken with Santa. Drew needed my cajoling and consoling to see the jolly old man at the Bass Pro Shops store in Hanover County.

After waiting about 45 minutes, Drew's wiggly-squiggly excitement suddenly disappeared. He turned timid and apprehensive when he got to the front of the line and saw what loomed ahead -- Santa.

His younger sister -- with their mother in tow -- practically ran the 30 feet to see Santa.

Drew walked slowly, holding my hand and stopping at times. He was afraid, but in my role as Santa's elf, I offered comforting words and reassurance.

As we approached Santa -- where his sister was already sitting on his lap talking -- their frazzled mother appealed to Drew one last time. She wanted a photo of him on Santa's lap. I stood nearby to provide support.

Drew finally agreed -- on his own terms.

He sat on Santa's lap, but refused to look at the camera or smile.

But then in a quick second, with me standing near Santa's photographer clapping my hands and shouting out Drew's name, he looked up and smiled.

After getting off Santa's lap, Drew turned to me and, as I put up my hand up, he gave me a high-five.

His mother turned to me moments later and mouthed the words "Thank you."

. . .

The rewarding experience came during the middle of my fast-paced shift as an elf in the Santa's Wonderland at the new Bass Pro Shops store off Interstate 95.

I worked there Dec. 13. Later during my 6½-hour shift, I worked as a cashier at the main checkout.

Providing entertainment, answering the multitude of questions from parents and toddlers and dealing with crying or stubborn children was exhausting and demanding.

But the smiles these kids provided were well worth the backache and fatigue I experienced that night.

Retail clerks, including Santa's elves, have demanding jobs, particularly during the frenzy of the holidays.

It's nice to have jolly encounters like the one with Drew -- and countless other children that day -- because it shows the holiday spirit is alive.

. . .

From my spot as gatekeeper to the entrance to Santa's Wonderland, the line seemed endless.

Children and parents stood like toy soldiers in the line that wound nearly halfway through the store. Waits were 45 minutes or longer.

The retailer offered a free photo of kids' visit with Santa. Bass Pro Shops said about 650 photos were shot that day.

To see Santa, they had to get through me.

My job was to keep them amused, acting almost like a court jester while they waited the last couple of minutes before sitting on Santa's lap.

I joked with two young brothers that they had to act as though they like each other for about 25 seconds while the photo of them with Santa was taken. They looked at each other and laughed.

One little girl was engrossed when I shook my head and the bells on my elf hat jingled.

Often I held out my hands to welcome the next visitor. One toddler boy leaped into my arms to have me take him to Santa.

I asked questions: Had they been naughty or nice? Did they know what they wanted for Christmas? What were they going to tell Santa?

The responses were precious -- from both the children and their parents.

Some were quick to respond. One boy yelled out that he wanted a Monster tractor. In fact, he grabbed my hand and wanted to show me the exact one so Santa would know.

A couple of others wanted to show me the letters they had written.

However, a handful were shy and didn't utter a word.

I also was asked lots of tough questions, such as "Does Santa sleep with his suit on?" or "Will he bring me (insert name of toy here)?"

One older child wondered if I was too big to be an elf. I simply chuckled at that one.

Once we got to Santa, I often stood nearby to help get the photographer his shot.

Elves in Santa's Wonderland are not limited to gatekeeping.

I also monitored the toy-gun target range and assisted kids who made a reindeer out of candy canes and pipe cleaners. My craft-making skills were pitiful.

. . .

I hung up my elf hat toward the end of my shift to be a cashier for about 90 minutes.

I had a steady stream of customers. But the volume paled in comparison with the frenzied day I spent a Costco Wholesale Club in 2002.

Still, Bass Pro Shops was very busy.

I had trouble, at times, using the scanning gun to ring up merchandise. I finally got the hang of it.

But there were times it didn't work. To read the small numbers on the bar code required me to pull out my glasses -- something I didn't need to worry about in 2002.

One customer seemed to be in a hurry and appeared annoyed at how long the process took. I apologized and told her I was in training.

An older couple was far more sympathetic. Not only did the scanning gun not work, neither did the numbers when I punched them. I needed big-time help.

The woman could see I was frustrated. But she kept saying, with a smile, not to worry.

"It will be OK."

And, just like the pre-schooler, she made my day. Contact Gregory J. Gilligan at (804) 649-6379 or .