“Right.”Toby interrupted them.“Well, get going.Austin is mine for the rest of the day.And we’re already at the hospital, so if anything happens, we’re in the best place for it.”
“Not that anything will happen,” I added when his parents’ eyes widened with a little panic.
Toby realized his mistake and jumped in, doing his best to reassure his parents.It took a while, but they eventually departed, leaving us there alone.
“All right,” Toby said, let’s get inside.He grabbed the handles on Austin’s chair and began pushing him toward the hospital.
“So what are we doing exactly?”
“You didn’t tell her?”Austin asked.
“I told her we’re volunteering here.I’m going to be Santa.”
Austin slowly turned his head so he could see me.“He didn’t tell you.”
“I guess not,” I said, playing along, now wondering what I’d gotten myself into and what Toby was planning.I should have known better.Toby was the troublemaker of the group.
Austin laughed and for a moment, the exhaustion that seemed to be wrapped around him loosened.I got a glimpse of the kid he was, the real him.His fingers rested limply on the arm rests, but he still held his head high, his smile strong.It reminded me of the kids I’d met during my own hospital stays—brave while facing things beyond their years.
Today was a good day for him, and I wanted to make sure it stayed like that.Good days were never guaranteed.
“Ready to spread holiday cheer?”Toby asked as we got to the elevator.
“Heck yes.Always.”He grinned big.
The nurses were expecting us and had even set aside a room for us to change.As soon as I saw what I’d be wearing, I understood Austin’s reaction when he realized Toby didn’t really tell me the details.
My costume was designed to go all out.Like more than I expected.When I came out in the elf costume—complete with pointy ears and striped stockings—Toby was already in the hallway, decked out as Santa, complete with a fake beard and a padded belly.
“Ho, ho, ho,” Toby said in a deep fake Santa voice.
I laughed and shook my head.“You look ridiculous.”
“And you look like a delicious candy cane,” Toby shot back, winking at me.
“Are you two going to flirt?”Austin asked as he rolled out of the large handicap-accessible bathroom, a male nurse following behind.
“Wait, are you a reindeer on a Santa sleigh?”I asked.
“What else would I be?”
I giggled, admiring the well decorated chair.Crafted cardboard panels, painted a deep red, were attached to the sides, transforming it into Santa’s sleigh.He, meanwhile, wore a pair of reindeer antlers and had been dressed in a one-piece brown reindeer bodysuit—the kind kids wear to pajama parties, soft and fuzzy.
I didn’t even have a chance to feel embarrassed because Toby whipped out his phone and began taking a bunch of photos.A nurse even grabbed the phone and took some group photos.
“Okay, enough with the photoshoot,” Toby said and tucked the phone away in his pocket.“Time to wow some kids with our adorableness.”
“Let’s go,” Austin said.“They’ve been waiting forever.”
Toby chuckled and wheeled his brother toward the pediatric wing.It actually looked almost like he was riding a sleigh being pulled by a reindeer.I slipped out my own phone and quickly snapped a photo before they noticed.
As soon as we entered the shared space, Toby released a massiveho, ho, hoto grab all the children’s attention.When they realized what was going on, their eyes lit up.Toby played the role of Santa to perfection.A nurse gave me a heavy red bag.I lugged it over to Toby and he playfully handed out presents to everyone.He talked with each child as though he had all the time in the world.I followed behind, passing out candy canes and the few random holiday jokes I knew.It at least got me shy smiles and giggles.
“Toby!”one of the kids exclaimed, recognizing Austin.“You brought your brother.”
Austin’s smile widened when he spotted the kid who was about the same age as him.“Of course I came.Couldn’t let you all have fun without me.”
Everyone got pulled into the fun, and I stepped back as they gathered closer to Santa and his reindeer.
