A Claus Encounter

“I can’t wait to see the Angel,’ she said, and as soon as I saw the expression on his face, I realised that he thought she was crazy. I decided to help her out.

‘She means the Angel of the North, lad,’ I said, leaning across the aisle, so he could hear me over the chatter. ‘That’s a bonnie ring, lassie.’ The diamond on her finger was almost comically large. ‘Reminds me of one I once had in a cracker,’ I told her.

Her expression soured, so I didn’t tell her that I’d used that fake ring to propose to my wife.

‘Aye, the Angel o’ the North. Watching over the people of Gateshead since 1999,’ I said. ‘How long’s it been since you were yem? Home,’ I corrected myself, when I saw the young lad looking confused.

‘Yonks,’ she said. ‘Parents split up. I went to London for uni. Got a job and then met Tobias.’ She turned to him and smiled. ‘We christmassed in Switzerland for the past few years. His parents have a lodge.’

‘Must have a bob or two,’ I said.

‘It’s crass to discuss money,’ said Tobias, coldly.

‘In my experience, it’s only them that have a few bob who say that,’ I pointed out.

‘A few bob?’ he repeated, while looking at me the same way I looked at the bloke who didn’t clean up after his dog, right outside my house. ‘Who talks like that?’ he asked his fiancée.

I saw her shift, uncomfortably, in her seat. I watched out of the window, for a while. The scenery along the East Coast Mainline is beautiful, especially in winter. There was a light dusting of snow on the fields, making everything look like a Christmas card.

‘Do young ‘uns still send Christmas cards?’ I wondered aloud.

Tobias rolled his eyes but the woman, Eve, said that most of the people she knew donated to charity instead of sending cards. She said they posted on that social media, so friends and family knew not to expect cards.

“When I was little, my grandad used to always have a sucky-sweet in his pocket.”

‘What if they don’t have the social media?’ I asked. ‘Don’t they just feel forgotten?’

She shrugged. ‘I, well, um…I hadn’t thought about that. But stamps – they’re so much,’ she said, as she fished an iPhone out of an expensive-looking leather handbag.

She blushed when she saw me studying her bag. ‘It was a gift.’

‘From me,’ said Tobias. ‘Sixteen hundred pounds, as if it’s any of your business.’

‘Sorry,’ Eve mouthed, and I fought a smile.

I offered them a Werther’s Original. He regarded that toffee like a piece of coal in his stocking, but she took one.

She unwrapped it slowly and shivered. ‘You know, I’ve just had the strangest feeling of déjà vu. When I was little, my grandad used to always have a sucky-sweet in his pocket.’

‘A sucky-sweet?’ Tobias repeated, mockingly.

‘Yes, no northern grandparent worth their salt wouldn’t have a sucky-sweet in their pocket or bag for their grandkids,’ said Eve, smiling at the memory. ‘Even the odd furry one, that had lost its wrapper and collected lint.’

‘Who are you?’ said Tobias, his tone undefinable.

Just then, a young girl came running up the aisle and stood between us.

‘Santa!’ she said, tugging at my sleeve.

A woman followed her, carrying a baby. ‘Becky, leave the gentleman alone.’

I laughed and patted my stomach. ‘It’s not the first time…and the red coat doesn’t help.’ I turned to the girl. ‘Well, Becky, it seems you’ve seen through my disguise – I thought that if I left the sleigh behind, nobody would notice me. Have you been good this year?’

She nodded, shyly. I reached inside my rucksack and pulled out a small package that I had bought for my granddaughter. I handed it to the little girl, and she took it before running back to her mother. ‘Thank you, Mister Claus!’ she yelled.

“Oh, gifts can be replaced,’ I told her. ‘Moments can’t.”

‘That was so kind of you,’ said Eve. ‘I bet she tells her school friends that she saw Santa on the train. What about the gift? Was it for someone special?’

‘Oh, gifts can be replaced,’ I told her. ‘Moments can’t.’ I knew that all too well. I knew I should change the subject before I got the ‘melancholy- wobbles’ as my wife called them.

I addressed Tobias, ‘So, what are you doing in this neck of the woods? Coming up to meet the parents?’

His face lit up. ‘Actually, we’re going to a family reunion. Old guy’s lost his wife and suddenly wants to reconnect with the family – Eve’s, not mine,’ he emphasised. ‘He’s loaded.’

‘That’s not why we’re going,’ Eve was quick to point out. ‘And why are you travelling up north, Mister Claus?’

‘Well, my dear wife passed away and she wanted me to reconnect with my family…’

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ColneLife Dec/Jan 24/25