Story: Monsieur Pierre's Strange Visitor
After his school day, Mr. Pierre, the teacher, was about to turn off the lights in his classroom when he heard a soft knock at his door. Who's there? he asked. Silence...
Il se rendit donc vérifier si quelque enfant espiègle ne se cachait pas dans le corridor pour lui jouer un tour, cela arrivait si souvent! À sa grande surprise, il se trouva face à un sympathique bonhomme déguisé en Père Christmas.
-Who are you then? inquired the teacher.
-Come on, you know me, I'm Santa Claus!
-Listen, my friend, your costume is magnificent, but if this is a joke, I'm not in the mood, replied Monsieur Pierre.
"Dear Peter, why do you still refuse to believe in me now? I've known you since childhood, and yet you've always denied my existence. Later, you refused the magic of Christmas, you never had the pleasure of decorating a tree, and worse still, when you became a teacher, you denied this joy to your students. That's why I came to speak to you, in person," concluded Santa Claus.
Despite his doubts, the teacher had the impression that he was indeed in front of the REAL Santa Claus. Overcome with emotion, he sat down and in a very soft, slightly sad voice, he explained:
-Vous savez, mes parents étaient pauvres et élever leurs cinq enfants fut pour eux très difficile. Ils nous répétaient chaque année que Noël étant pour les familles riches, nous n’avions rien à espérer ce jour-là. Jamais nous n’avons eu le droit de vous envoyer un mot pour avoir un gift. À la maison, je n’ai jamais vu aucune décoration ni assisté à un réveillon. Au fil du temps, mes frères et sœurs et moi avons fini par nous convaincre que vous n’existiez tout simplement pas.
Santa Claus listened to Mr. Peter's words with great attention. Tilting his head slightly, he asked him:
-If you could have sent me a letter, what gift would you have asked for?
With shining eyes, the teacher answered him without hesitation:
-An electric train, for sure! I've always dreamed of it.
Santa then took a large package out of his sack and placed it on Mr. Peter's desk. When I'm gone, you'll open it, he said, winking at him. Merry Christmas!
As he came, Santa Claus left the room and closed the door.
Intrigued, Mr. Peter went to his office to open the large package Santa had left for him. Imagine his surprise when he discovered a box containing all the pieces needed to assemble a superb red and black electric train set, complete with all the necessary accessories. He couldn't believe his eyes!
The next day, for the last day of school before the long Festive break, the children were surprised to find a pretty decorated Christmas tree, shining with a thousand lights, right next to the teacher's desk and, on their desks, a little gift was waiting for them with a pretty card signed "Merry Christmas, from Monsieur Pierre".
