The sign at the Cherry Creek mall said that Santa Claus was on a cookie break.
Given that nearly 200 clamoring kids were lined up Tuesday to tell him what they wanted for Christmas, I would not have blamed the man for ducking out for sturdier refreshments. But he has been doing this for a number of years, so I guess he’s game.
Though perhaps not as game as Kris Baker, who drove from Castle Pines North with her 5-year-old son, Rory. They stood in line for 2 1/2 hours so Rory could tell the big guy that he wanted Star Wars and Clone Wars action figures, plus an item called Martian Matter, which is somehow used to make alien creatures.
I’m many years removed from having a kid in the house, so I’m out of the what-I-want-for-Christmas loop. But I retain vivid memories of the squaring of the shoulders it takes to be a parent this time of year.
Kris Baker shook her head and let out a sigh.
“The line was so long,” she said after collecting the photo of Rory sitting in Santa’s sleigh. “I felt lucky, though. The kids were extremely well-behaved in line. One toddler got a little anxious, but that was it.”
That might not rank as the biggest Christmas miracle, but this holiday, many people are settling for small blessings.
Matt Glenn was in town from Iowa visiting relatives. He was standing in line with his 9-year-old son, Jake.
I asked Jake what he hoped to find under the tree.
“I want an Air Hogs Havoc Heli Laser Battle,” he said. At least that’s what it sounded like he said. I looked at his dad, who spelled it for me.
“I think Santa can come through on this,” Glenn said under his breath. “We dodged a bullet at my company this fall. Raises were frozen, but we still have our jobs.”
I don’t think Glenn was planning to climb into Santa’s sleigh himself, but I had a good idea what he would ask for, which is pretty much what most adults in line would ask for: Please, let’s see a turnaround in 2009.
Mike and Susan Weaver drove in from Highlands Ranch with their three children.
“We usually do a visit to Santa every year,” Mike said. “We just waited a little longer this year, which is why we’re in the position we’re in now.”
They were way back in line, which had started moving again after Santa returned from the upstairs break room and took his seat in front of the giant snow globe.
The setup was quite an operation. Green-vested elves ran a digital camera through a computer monitor, waving rattles and stuffed animals at the smaller fry, trying to elicit smiles and praying to the Yule gods that no overexcited tot would have an accident on the red velour suit.
“It’s been crazy,” one elf said. “We’ve been going nonstop each day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Just hundreds and hundreds of people.”
Over on the sleigh, a toddler gazed at Santa with the look her mom might reserve for Brad Pitt, though with perhaps even more awe.
Ann Blake stood in line with Elli, her 3-year-old daughter. I asked what the little girl wanted for Christmas. Blake grinned.
“She wants a candy cane,” she said. “That’s it.”
An easy order to fill. This holiday, small and simple will probably be in the works for lots of us.
William Porter’s column runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 303-954-1977 or wporter@denverpost.com.
