A miracle happened to Santa.

My friend Fedea worked for Santa Claus. many years. Fede was over forty and, frankly, it was his only stable job. All year he was engaged in different things: taxi driver, courier, repair brigade. But at the end of November, Fedy began receiving orders for Santa Claus. Fedu was appreciated and passed on by each other’s parents. Feyda was a wonderful Santa. What is strange is that he had no children. There were three divorces and there were no children. Fedea loved children, he used to have them, knew some codes and codes of children's souls. Once he came to visit me, my son and daughter were still young. Fedya smiled at them from the threshold: “Good, fuck!” They immediately loved him. I couldn’t talk to him that night, he was taken away. That is my children. He played with them as a tiger, then as a wizard, then as a dinosaur, I don’t remember further.

I think Fedya himself was a child. A big child. Yes, he knew a lot, even putting tiles, but remained a child. Therefore, family life did not work.

This story happened to Feddy five years ago. Thro December, he wandered around the city on his dirty “toyota”, sweating under a black synthetic sweat, without even having time to eat.

Fedi had only one holy day, December 31. Which he never took orders, no matter how asked, no matter what money promised. It was his second birthday. One day, as a young man, he got drunk, went by electric bride where. He was taken to a distant station, left on a night platform. Fedya would have been around there, but by a celestial coincidence, he was noticed by the freight engineer, slowed down, dragged into the cabin. The mechanic broke all instructions, but he saved Fede’s life. After that, Fedyah stopped drinking, and the driver sent gifts to the children. Lots of candy, but regularly.

Since that time on December 31st, Fedya has been at home. He drank tea, played computer games, ordered a huge pizza at home.

So, on the evening of December 30, five years ago, Fedya was on the last order. The children were named Galia and Tola. Feddy hadn’t been there before. On the way, he studied the “dossier” on his mobile phone. Faith five years, Tole seven. Tola does not believe in Santa Claus, plays robots and loves Elon Musk.

As agreed, Feyda called his mother from the entrance. She went down quickly, in a large man’s coat on her shoulders:

Good night! My name is Vera, here are the gifts. A robot, of course. And Gale – the dress of the princess – Vera stretched the boxes. Just a big request. Tola will be rude... don’t pay attention. Both my father and I are materialists. And Galecka – she’s not that. You are more with her.

Do not worry! Feather smiled. Run away and freeze.

Fifty minutes later, Fede knocked on the door. I heard a young boy’s voice:

has appeared! A woman with a synthetic beard. Garcia, it is for you!

The unpleasant boy opened the door and looked around at Santa:

It is strange. and sober. Last year was completely...

Luckily, in the hallway ran out a sister in a dressed pink dress with mice:

Give it up, grandfather Mogoz! The girl didn’t say “R.”

Hello to Galia! Feddy smiled at her. And unnoticedly gave a light pinch to the boy. Greetings from Elon Mask!

The boy quickly turned around, staring at Grandpa: did he give a pinch? But Fedea twisted the synthetic moustaches and walked importantly inside.

It was late, Fedya was very tired and hoped to do this session in 15 minutes. He gave the girl a box with a dress, and she jumped. I pulled out a box with a robot:

It is you, Nihilist!

How did you call me? The worm?

A nihilist and a smart man. The Latin word. I once lived in ancient Rome.

The boy came closer:

Good to lie! If you play, my dad will beat you.

Mother Vera immediately intervened:

Enough is enough! Now Galecka sings a song and we let Daddy go.

But Santa Fe suddenly stumbled:

No, where is your dad? I would have fought the tatami with him. I lived in ancient Japan and practiced judo for three hundred years.

Daddy at work! The boy answered. He will definitely beat you.

At that time, my mother’s phone ringed. She took the phone and said, “Sorry, I forgot... Well, I’m stupid! I am running now!” And he grabbed Grandfather Fedou for the red sleeve:

I pray you grandfather. For the ancient Japanese. Sit with them for 15 minutes. I need to go to a friend in the neighborhood entrance, give money. I’ve been busy and forgotten, you know.

Fede didn’t want to sweat for another fifteen minutes, but he was very kind. He agreed.

And remained with the romantic Galay, and the nihilist Tolay. Galia sang him a song. Then Tola suddenly smiled. He approached Fed and said:

Okay, sorry, but it would be better if you fixed the crane in the kitchen. It falls, I can’t sleep.

The crane? I was surprised by Fedora. Daddy for what?

He is busy, he is a businessman.

When Vera's mother arrived, Fedy, right in her beard and grey coat, turned the crane. The boy Tola stood next to him, handed out his tools and told his grandfather:

You should take off your beard.

I can not. I am Santa Claus, have you forgotten?

well well well well. You are cold.

Mother Vera begged Fedu to give up everything, tomorrow they will call the sleeper, and generally the children to sleep... But Fedy was squeezing something in his beard, and the children jumped around and shouted, “We don’t want to sleep! It was a cold cold, wow!

Finally, Fedya finished with the crane. Wash the sweat with a grey hat. And then the little girl Galia said, “And my bed was all shattered...” And the brother added, “Everything here was shattered.”

But Fedya replied:

The kids, sweet ones! If I came to you this morning...

What are you! Faith cried out. They are joking.

To the elevator Santa was called to accompany the girl Galli, dressed as a romantic princess. When Fedya was already standing in the elevator, she suddenly said:

We have no daddy. My mother hanged her clothes in the closet. Mom lies that Dad is a businessman, on a long trip, Mom thinks we believe it. He believes like a fool. But Daddy is not. I never saw him. Goodbye to Santa!

The next morning, December 31, in the apartment of Vera, Toli and Galli a call came out. At the threshold stood Fedy, in her usual jacket.

Are you a courier? I asked Faith.

Then came Tola:

Mom, are you really? This is Santa Claus, don’t you know?

– Oh, he smiled at Fedya. I am here today, without ceremonies. The day is free. So what did you break up there?

Fedya, Vera, Galia and Tola have lived together for five years. There is an older sister, Anja, who is three years old. And Vera and Tola, when asked in school who is their dad, answered calmly: "Father Christmas. Do you not believe?”

by Alexei Belakov