4.
All that saved the Sleepy Heads from caving in under their many lapses, omissions and commissions included, was their belief in the Great One. Crossus one of the Sleepy Heads who was more spiritual than the average, one day saw Doctor Jerry Can coming his way and he asked him if he stood to gain anything by believing in Santa Claus.
The learned doctor assured them gifts from the Great One were as natural as the air that filled their lungs. “ Only take it in.” It made them very pleased.
Three days later a group of Sleepy Heads stopped Dr. Can on the road and asked him,” How shall we know This Great One?” The Scholar said there was only one proof and that was when they received one.
“Do we pray before or after we get the gifts?”
“Of course after we get one,” Dr Jerry Can was sure,” one good turn deserves another.’ Was his logic. The Sleepy Heads mulled over this piece of information and they thought prayer was only a fuel for getting more good things from Santa Claus. For those who had till then lived a placid life, which would have been the envy of the bovine class, the Great One had come as a shocker. The idea of Santa Claus simply swept from their naturalness.
They became eager to see the Great one.
Since no one came to the Garden or give them so much as a gift they became naturally disappointed. Months passed and they saw nothing remotely resembling Santa Claus.
After a long interval the Sleepy Heads called on their Scholar to ask if he still believed in a Great One.
“Oh Santa Claus!” the scholar exclaimed, ”He shall come, Oh yes!”
Later he said somewhat uncertain, “If Santa Claus is occupied in another part of the world he shall send his prophets.”
“Hope they don’t come empty handed.”
“Oh no,” Dr. Can was sure, ”they shall bring presents from the Great One.”
That satisfied them.
Dr. Jerry ‘Full’ Can who by a leap of faith had settled a matter, which teased them for days. The learned doctor in the days to dropped more information on the matter of the Great One. When he was asked why he didn’t tell everything about Santa Claus in one go he said he could not make them understand all that are revealed to him in secret. “Little by little, makes it easier for me.”
Another time he said what it is to have a tradition of celebrating Santa Claus Day. “Tradition gives Santa Claus to go around in the month of January, a day of his choosing into every house and give each member a gift.” Hardly the word was out Santa Claus had become a part of every one’s wish list and what is more a tradition.
The idea of Santa Claus sending his angels with gifts was a fantastic piece of news. The clamor created by the doctor would not so easily die down. He made such an impact he was called in by the Town Council to explain. He explained with the analogy of the secular governments. He pointed out addressing the mayor and his council that their authority came from the king. So they represented the absent king. ”If such be the case, is it of impossible thing for the Great One to depute His angels?” So he averred without batting an eyelid the land may expect the visitation of angels in the coming month of January. “ Why January?” asked the mayor. Doctor Jerry ‘Full’ Can looked at each as if he had something of a secret and smiled.
By a statute the Council declared the people might receive their gifts with due courtesy owing to the Great One. Mayor Calisthenics however had one lingering doubt, ”How is that the people did not get any presents from the Great One? We are now two months gone!” The learned doctor said with full assurance,” Simple. Our names were not on the wish list of Santa Claus. Now that we have committed by a decree- it is what is called Faith, sirs!- He shall send His angels. No doubt on that point.” The Councilors were satisfied and they looked pointedly at the mayor to stop palavering on matters of great consequences. The worshipful mayor took the hint. The mayor and his council thanked the learned doctor and let him leave their presence.
Since that day on the last day of the month of March the Sleepy Heads were looking forward to the visitation.
(To be Continued)
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