Local six-year-old sets the record straight about Santa Claus

Buffalo’s little Christmas parade had ended with Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving in style -- chauffered on the back of the community’s biggest fire truck. The line to see Santa stretched across the parking lot at Davis Country Store. I scanned the group for the right child for a special photo op. He or she would need to be just the right age, and a true believer.

As his family inched closer to the front of the line, six-year-old Conner Orndorff could hardly contain his enthusiasm. When he was near enough to make eye contact with the bearded man in the red suit, Conner would lean out and wave, shouting, “Hi, Santa!!!”

It was clear that Conner would be the right man for the special assignment. I knelt down and asked if he would tug on Santa’s beard and see if it was real. His eyes grew wide, then a mischievious grin broke across his face, accompanied by an eager nod.

As Conner’s turn got closer, he looked as if he might be getting cold feet. He even confided to his mother, “I’m shaking to death!” Finally, he got his cue to step up to Santa’s knee. After we prompted Santa that Conner had a special favor to asked, the kindergartener whispered his request. Santa responded, “Yes, if you don’t pull TOO hard,” and he offered his chin. One gentle tug was all it took to convince Conner and he raised his eyebrows and announced his discovery with awe: “It IS real!”