Sarah-Jane Sees Santa at a gas station...

Tonight I was scheduled at my festival gig. As usual, I did the bulk of my prep at home, so when I left the house my hair was set ready and, aside from a bit of touch-up work, so was my beard. But I had to stop to pick up some Red Bull and a beef jerky, as has become my routine at this point. This time, though, I also needed gas, so I pulled up to the pump instead of a parking space, got out and started pumping my gas.

I could hear a woman talking to a little girl on the other side of the pump. I couldn't really tell what they were saying over the noise of traffic and such. They got about half-way from the pumps to the convenience store when I noticed that the little girl had stopped dead in the middle of the parking lot and was staring at me with wide-eyed excitement. It's worth mentioning that I was wearing black sweats, a grey tee-shirt with a picture of Santa's face and the caption "I'm watching" that I bought at Walmart for $4.99, and a pair of sneakers. The little girl said something to the grandmother who said something to the effect of "he's watching you!" I smiled at the little girl and with a wink and wave I turned back to the pump and they walked inside. 

When I finished pumping my gas I walked inside the store and saw the grandmother. As I turned to walk down the isle to the back of the store where Santa's Magic Elixir (read: Red Bull) is kept, I saw the little girl who looked up at me and made a b-line for her grandmother who said, "see, I told you he's watching you." Honestly, my knee-jerk thought was "that's kind of creepy!" I knelt down on one knee so I could get eye level with the little girl and speak to her...and make some Santa magic happen....

Me: Young lady, what is your name?
Her: Sarah-Jane
Her Grandmother very excited: This is Sarah-Jane!
I looked up at her grandmother, smiled and gave her a quick wink and said, "I thought that's what she said."
Her Grandmother: Yes, Sir, she did! She said her name is Sarah-Jane!
I chuckled and turned back to Sarah Jane.

Me: Well, Miss Sarah-Jane, you're obviously on the Nice list, then. If you were on the Naughty List, then I would have already known your name. (whispering) I only actually know the names of the children on the Naughty List, so good for you!
Sarah-Jane's eyes opened really wide and her jaw fell to the floor!
Her Grandmother with anxious disappointment: I think I'm on the Naughty List.

Me: Now, Sarah-Jane, I'm going to share with you a secret. This time of year I like to make some public appearances. You know, some big parades, a few places where I can meet some of the children and that sort of thing. But, in order for me to do that, I have to go out in disguise. Sometimes, though, I'm spotted and someone sees through my disguise. This tells me that that someone is very special. You see, in order to see through my disguise a person has to be, 1 on the Nice List and 2, they have to have the heart of a True Believer. And I think you might have seen through my disguise, didn't you?
Sarah-Jane nodded her head yes.
Me: I thought so. 
I gave her what has become my signature sign with folks when they realize I'm Santa: With a wink and a smile I brushed my right nostril with the pad of my right index finger, placed my right index finger over my pursed lips and said, "shhh."

As I stood up I could see that the Grandmother was smiling ear-to-ear and had tears in her eyes.

Her Grandmother: Thank you, Santa! Thank you so much for this!
Me: You're very welcome. And don't worry, you're not on the Naughty List, otherwise I'd have known your name, too. Merry Christmas.

I walked to the back of the store, grabbed my Red Bulls and a beef jerky and took my place in line. As they were leaving the grandmother said to the little girl, "You're going have to tell your sister you saw Santa! Wait 'till she hears this!" As I was chuckling at what I had just heard, Sarah-Jane stopped in the doorway, turned to me said, "Goodbye!" So I said, "Goodbye, sweetheart, and Merry Christmas!" 

When I got to the counter, the woman behind the counter and I had a brief conversation.
Clerk: When she walked into the store she shouted "Santa Claus is in the parking lot!" And I knew exactly the customer she was talking about. So I looked out the window and said, "yep, that's him!"
Me: Thank you for that. And Merry Christmas!