It wasn’t the worst snow storm that Mindy had ever seen at McDonalds. But, It was enough for half the crew to callout. Since there’s usually not too much business on snow days, she figured things would be fine with the skeleton crew.
She volunteered to watch the drive thru window and the front counter until more people show up. Not expecting it to be a long wait, she felt capable of handling it.
Because of cold winds outside, Mindy avoided standing near the window. When she took orders for drive thru, She planned to open and close the window as quickly as possible. That’s what she had in mind when that first order came in.
She took the order for sandwiches, hash browns and coffee. Rounded up everything and took them to the window. She opened the window and asked the driver about cream and sugar.
Instead of answering her, the driver asked: “Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?” she replied. Her curiosity peaked and her face started chilling over with the window wide open.
“The bells. I heard them clear as day.” The driver exclaimed. “He’s in the area somewhere.”
“Who?” She asked the driver.
“Santa Claus! That’s who.”
“In the middle of January, He’s probably at home.” Mindy replied to the unusual response. “Besides, what would he be doing in Ellsworth, Maine?”
“Don’t know.” The driver replied as Mindy gave him his large coffee. “All I know is, you have to be pretty darn special or extremely lucky to catch Santa during the off season.”
Mindy was about to make another comment when she noticed movement from behind her. “Have a nice day.” Was all she said to the driver.
She turned her full attention to the counter. There stood a bearded old man. He had a thick red fur coat, black pants and boots.
“With some modifications to the outfit, he’d easily pass for Santa Claus.” She thought to herself. Then, she immediately thought about the comments of the driver who just left.
“Hello, Mindy.” The old man said before she could ask him anything.
With thoughts of Santa going through her head, the only statement she could muster was: “How did you know my name?”
“Name tags come in handy for figuring that stuff out.” The old man replied.
Mindy felt stupid for even asking the question. She quickly regained her composure and asked the old man for his order.
“Two steak bagel sandwiches and a large coffee for the ride north.”
Mindy placed the order and handed the old timer his coffee cup. When she told him his total. He pulled out his wallet and swiped a red and green debit card.
She had never seen a card like that around here. It was the first time she’d ever seen Christmas decorations on a bank card. She resisted the urge to ask him where it came from. Instead, she asked him about the road conditions.
“I don’t worry about them.” The old man said confidently. “Rudolph has a good nose for getting me for where I need to go.”
Mindy heard it. But, still couldn’t believe the statement.
She grabbed the sandwiches, bagged them and handed them to the old timer. “Thanks and come again.”
She was momentarily distracted by a drive thru order on her head set. When she looked back to the counter, the old man was gone. She had only turned away for a split second. He had vanished, as if by magic.
She opened the window to collect the money from the driver. As she took the man’s cash, she swore she heard sleigh bells from overhead. The background noise from around her obscured it. She couldn’t tell for sure.
She handed him change and gave him his order. Then, she closed the window to keep the heat in.
She looked back to the counter where the old man stood. She wondered about the possibility of that man being Santa, and then thought better of it. Before, she went back to work, she noticed a piece of Christmas stationary on the counter. She picked it up and looked at the design. Then, she read the note written down.
“Great breakfast!
Keep up the good work.
I’ll be watching.
MR.C
She took the paper and showed it off to Karen. Who only said: “What note?”
Mindy looked at the paper. It was a blank white sheet. Just like the old man’s departure. The writing and pictures had disappeared magically.
Mindy told Karen she grabbed the wrong paper and would show her later. But, knew that the writing was there a moment ago. The paper never left her possession.
Whatever magic was at work, she knew one thing for sure.
She believed.
She volunteered to watch the drive thru window and the front counter until more people show up. Not expecting it to be a long wait, she felt capable of handling it.
Because of cold winds outside, Mindy avoided standing near the window. When she took orders for drive thru, She planned to open and close the window as quickly as possible. That’s what she had in mind when that first order came in.
She took the order for sandwiches, hash browns and coffee. Rounded up everything and took them to the window. She opened the window and asked the driver about cream and sugar.
Instead of answering her, the driver asked: “Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?” she replied. Her curiosity peaked and her face started chilling over with the window wide open.
“The bells. I heard them clear as day.” The driver exclaimed. “He’s in the area somewhere.”
“Who?” She asked the driver.
“Santa Claus! That’s who.”
“In the middle of January, He’s probably at home.” Mindy replied to the unusual response. “Besides, what would he be doing in Ellsworth, Maine?”
“Don’t know.” The driver replied as Mindy gave him his large coffee. “All I know is, you have to be pretty darn special or extremely lucky to catch Santa during the off season.”
Mindy was about to make another comment when she noticed movement from behind her. “Have a nice day.” Was all she said to the driver.
She turned her full attention to the counter. There stood a bearded old man. He had a thick red fur coat, black pants and boots.
“With some modifications to the outfit, he’d easily pass for Santa Claus.” She thought to herself. Then, she immediately thought about the comments of the driver who just left.
“Hello, Mindy.” The old man said before she could ask him anything.
With thoughts of Santa going through her head, the only statement she could muster was: “How did you know my name?”
“Name tags come in handy for figuring that stuff out.” The old man replied.
Mindy felt stupid for even asking the question. She quickly regained her composure and asked the old man for his order.
“Two steak bagel sandwiches and a large coffee for the ride north.”
Mindy placed the order and handed the old timer his coffee cup. When she told him his total. He pulled out his wallet and swiped a red and green debit card.
She had never seen a card like that around here. It was the first time she’d ever seen Christmas decorations on a bank card. She resisted the urge to ask him where it came from. Instead, she asked him about the road conditions.
“I don’t worry about them.” The old man said confidently. “Rudolph has a good nose for getting me for where I need to go.”
Mindy heard it. But, still couldn’t believe the statement.
She grabbed the sandwiches, bagged them and handed them to the old timer. “Thanks and come again.”
She was momentarily distracted by a drive thru order on her head set. When she looked back to the counter, the old man was gone. She had only turned away for a split second. He had vanished, as if by magic.
She opened the window to collect the money from the driver. As she took the man’s cash, she swore she heard sleigh bells from overhead. The background noise from around her obscured it. She couldn’t tell for sure.
She handed him change and gave him his order. Then, she closed the window to keep the heat in.
She looked back to the counter where the old man stood. She wondered about the possibility of that man being Santa, and then thought better of it. Before, she went back to work, she noticed a piece of Christmas stationary on the counter. She picked it up and looked at the design. Then, she read the note written down.
“Great breakfast!
Keep up the good work.
I’ll be watching.
MR.C
She took the paper and showed it off to Karen. Who only said: “What note?”
Mindy looked at the paper. It was a blank white sheet. Just like the old man’s departure. The writing and pictures had disappeared magically.
Mindy told Karen she grabbed the wrong paper and would show her later. But, knew that the writing was there a moment ago. The paper never left her possession.
Whatever magic was at work, she knew one thing for sure.
She believed.