I never imagined a simple Christmas wish would turn my world upside down. But when it led me to a date with Santa, followed by unexpected secrets and a jealous friend’s schemes, I was entangled in surprises I never saw coming.
The shopping mall sparkled like something out of a fairytale. Thousands of lights twinkled across every corner, and the air was filled with the scent of pine and cinnamon.
I glanced down at my four-year-old son, Oliver, and couldn’t help but smile. He adored Christmas. His eyes held a childlike wonder and belief in all the little magical moments that made the season so special.
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Raising Oliver on my own had been both a challenge and a gift. We had each other, and I tried to make his childhood as warm and bright as possible, even when life got tough.
He was that part of my heart that kept me grounded, reminding me that joy could be found in even the smallest things. We were a team, always cheering each other on. As we strolled through the crowds, Oliver suddenly stopped.
“Mom, look! It’s Santa!”
He pointed eagerly to the big red-suited figure sitting on a golden chair, surrounded by a line of children.
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He looked up at me, his face beaming with hope. “Can we go talk to him? Please?”
“Of course, sweetheart,” I replied, smiling down at him as we took our place in line. Oliver fidgeted in excitement, looking up at me with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.
“I have something really important to tell him, Mom,” he whispered, clutching my hand tightly.
“Something special?”
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He nodded, his face serious. Whatever he wanted to say, it meant a lot to him. Finally, Oliver approached Santa, glancing back at me before leaning in close to whisper to him.
I couldn’t hear the words, but I saw Santa’s eyes soften, his expression shifting to a kind and gentle smile as he listened. After their moment together, I bent down to Oliver, curiosity bubbling up.
“So,” I asked softly, brushing a lock of his hair from his face. “What did you tell Santa?”
“I can’t tell you, Mom,” Oliver whispered, grinning. “If I tell you, it might not come true!”
I laughed, nodding. “Alright, alright. Well, since you’re keeping secrets, how about we go grab a burger to share? I’m starving.”
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He practically jumped with excitement. “Yes! Can I get fries, too?”
“Fries? Of course,” I replied, holding his hand as we made our way to the food court.
As we settled in and started digging into our food, I caught a flash of red from the corner of my eye. Turning, I saw Santa himself standing by our table and holding an ice cream.
“Would you two mind if I joined you for a while?” he asked, looking between us.
Oliver looked up at me. “Can he, Mom? Can he?”
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“Of course,” I said, smiling at Santa. “Please, join us.”
Santa pulled up a chair and sat down across from Oliver, who stared at him with awe.
“So, Oliver,” Santa began, leaning in as if to share a secret, “what’s your favorite Christmas treat?”
“Oh, that’s easy! Chocolate chip cookies! Especially the big ones Mom makes.”
Santa chuckled, licking his ice cream. “Sounds like your mom knows what she’s doing. I have to agree—chocolate chip cookies are hard to beat.”
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Oliver nodded. “And what’s your favorite, Santa?”
“Oh, now that’s a tough question,” Santa replied, scratching his chin thoughtfully. “I think… hot cocoa, with a mountain of ice cream on top.”
I felt a warm smile spread across my face, watching how easily he connected with Oliver. We spent a while like that, laughing and chatting.
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After we finished eating, Santa turned to me with a gentle smile. “How about a little more holiday fun?”
Oliver’s eyes widened. “Like, at the amusement park?”
Santa grinned. “Exactly! How about some ice skating?”
Oliver turned to me, practically buzzing. “Mom, please! Can we?”
I couldn’t resist his enthusiasm. “Alright, let’s go!”
At the rink, Oliver held tightly onto both our hands, wobbling on his skates as we took our first few laps.
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Santa’s hearty laughter echoed, steady and joyful, each time Oliver let out a triumphant cheer after staying upright.
“You’re doing great, Oliver!” Santa said, giving him an encouraging smile.
Oliver beamed. “I feel like I’m flying!”
As the evening continued, we wandered through paths lined with sparkling lights, gazing up at reindeer, snowflakes, and candy canes glowing against the night sky.
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Oliver skipped ahead, and I couldn’t help but notice how Santa kept his costume on the whole time, staying completely in character.
“Thank you for tonight,” I said softly to Santa when Oliver was busy watching a display of twinkling stars. “It means the world to him… and to me.”
“It’s my pleasure. Tonight has been a gift for me too.”
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Eventually, the time came for us to head home. Santa walked us the whole way, keeping Oliver entertained with little stories about life at the North Pole. As we reached our front door, Santa knelt, looking into Oliver’s eyes.
“I’ll do my very best to make your wish come true,” he said, giving Oliver a wink.
“Thank you, Santa! You’re the best.”
Before I could say a word, he took my hand, and with a gentle, sincere look, he lifted it to his lips, pressing a warm kiss on my knuckles. As he walked away, his red coat blending into the soft glow of streetlights, I felt a flutter of happiness and warmth.
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***
Days went by, and although I kept myself busy, I couldn’t shake that evening with Santa from my mind. I didn’t fully understand it, but I felt drawn back to the mall, maybe just to see him one more time.
As I wandered the holiday displays, I suddenly heard a familiar voice.
“Laura? Is that you?”
I turned and found myself face-to-face with Mia, an old childhood friend.
“Mia! Wow, it’s been ages!” I hugged her, delighted.
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“Oh, that’s true!” she replied. “Let’s catch up over coffee.”
We settled in, and before I knew it, I was telling her all about that night with Santa—how he’d been so kind to Oliver and how, well… I’d felt something special.
Mia’s eyes widened. “Laura, this is amazing! You have to find out who this Santa really is.”
“Oh, Mia. He’s probably just someone doing his holiday job.”
She nudged me. “Look! He’s right over there. Go say hi!”
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Before I could stop her, Mia gave me a gentle push toward Santa. Blushing, I looked over, and… Santa noticed me and waved.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite family from the other night,” he said, smiling warmly as he approached.
“Hi,” I replied.
“Would you like to go out for coffee with me sometime?”
A date with Santa?
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“Sure.”
When I turned to share my excitement with Mia, I saw she’d disappeared into a nearby clothing store.
***
That evening, a courier arrived at my door with a small card. It was an invitation, in neat handwriting, for a Christmas Eve date at a cozy café. My heart leaped with nerves. I quickly called Mia.
“Should I go? It’s Christmas Eve.”
“Laura, you’d be crazy not to! You can still be home with Oliver afterward. This is your chance!”
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Her words stayed with me, filling me with courage. I dressed up, arranged for Oliver’s nanny to stay with him, and headed off for my Christmas Eve date.
***
That evening, I arrived at the café full of excitement and quiet hope. I was pleasantly surprised! He was handsome, charming, and carried himself with an easy grace.
For a moment, I felt like a character in one of those holiday romance movies, swept away by a little Christmas magic. But minutes later, my gaze landed on a glint of metal on his left hand. A wedding ring!
“So… are you… married?”
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“Yes,” he replied nonchalantly, as if we were discussing the weather. “But they’re away for the holidays. A little fun never hurt anyone, right?”
I felt my face heat up. “Excuse me?”
“No need to look so serious.”
Without another word, I grabbed my coat and bag and hurried out of the café, barely holding back tears. What had started as a night full of promise had soured so quickly.
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I walked through the city streets, the chill air and bright lights doing nothing to lift my spirits. When I finally walked home, Oliver’s face lit up.
“Mom! Santa’s here! Look!”
My breath caught as I looked over and saw… our Santa from the mall!
“How dare you!” I snapped. “You’ve ruined enough for one night. Get out. And stay away from us.”
Santa stormed off, and Oliver ran off upstairs, his disappointment clear.
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The nanny shook her head. “He spent the whole day making Oliver happy… maybe that’s worth something.”
I was confused and ashamed.
But if he’d been here all day, then who was at the café?
***
Overwhelmed with suspicion and regret, I set off to Mia’s house, determined to get answers. When I arrived and saw a man in a Santa costume standing outside, I stopped short. He wasn’t the one I’d met at the café.
“Oh, God…” I whispered.
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I kicked out the wrong Santa! But with the costume, who could’ve known?
I stepped closer. The man with a sad smile was watching a young boy playing in the yard.
“My name’s Jack,” he explained. “This is… well, this is my son’s home.”
I felt my heart sink as I put the pieces together. “Your son?”
He nodded, his gaze fixed on the boy.
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“Mia’s my ex-wife. She doesn’t allow me to see him often. Playing Santa was my only chance to maybe… hold him if he came to make a wish.”
I gasped. “You’re the Santa from the mall! The one who spent the evening with us?”
“That’s me. Mia found out and came over, demanding more child support. That’s when she must have run into you.”
“Oh my god! She set me up! She must have sent that awful man to the café to make sure I’d never see you again.”
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Jack sighed. “Mia gave me an ultimatum. Either I return to her, or she’ll cut me off from my son for good.”
“She did all this because she was jealous? That’s… that’s horrible!”
“After she threatened me, I thought I’d at least come spend Christmas Eve with you and Oliver.” He looked up, his eyes earnest. “I haven’t felt so happy in years as I did that night with you both.”
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I didn’t know what to say. Everything I’d assumed was wrong. Finally, I managed, “I’m sorry, Jack. I… I should trust my heart.”
“It’s okay. The night isn’t over yet.”
We picked up Oliver and went to Jack’s home, where he’d prepared a beautiful holiday feast, a tree lit with warm lights, and gifts waiting under it.
That night became a true holiday filled with laughter, warmth, and the family joy we’d all been missing.
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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: When I arrived to support my friend after she split up with a con man, I never imagined I’d be caught in a web of deception myself. Her tears and the details of her betrayal filled me with sympathy, but little did I know this visit would change my life forever. Read the full story here.
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If you see a man with one painted fingernail, here’s what it means
Elliot Costello’s life was drastically altered in a way he never would have imagined in 2013 after traveling to an orphanage in Cambodia.
He was unaware, though, that a meeting would occur that would alter thousands of other people’s lives as well.
It all began in 2013 when Australian social entrepreneur Elliot Costello got to know a young child named Thea.
The 10-year-old girl, Thea, had been saved from a horrible situation, but regrettably, she had wound up in an orphanage. She had been sexually and physically abused for two years, and the torture had a lasting effect. Regretfully, if Elliot hadn’t existed, we might never have learned about this courageous young girl.
However, let’s start at the beginning.
Thea’s life was happy once she was born. The Cambodian girl was loved and cared for by her mother, father, and other family members just like any other child. Unfortunately, fate had other ideas for her. Her father unexpectedly passed away one day, and his loss was tragic in many ways. Not only had it been a painful and emotional experience, but Thea’s father had been the only provider for the family. The family was left in dire straits after his death.
When things became so awful for Thea, her mother had to make the painful choice to place her daughter in an orphanage since she was no longer able to care for her. Sadly, the little girl would end up spending a miserable life there.
The director of the orphanage allegedly sexually and physically abused Thea every day for two years, according to Polished Man.
Thea was eventually moved to another Hagar International-run orphanage in Phnom Penh. Australian social entrepreneur Elliot Costello became close to the boy during a visit there by playing games of naughts and crosses. The 10-year-old child, in spite of everything she had experienced, exuded happiness and optimism.
Thea used to constantly have nail polish on her tiny nails, so one day she wanted to paint Elliot’s. They had a great time together as they sat and chatted.
“I promised her that I would always remember her and her suffering,” Elliot remarked as she painted one of his nails
Elliot was inspired to try and modify men’s behavior after meeting with Thea in order to reduce the number of children who experience sexual abuse. In order to demonstrate support, he also came up with the idea to launch a trend where males paint their nails.
Another symbolic interpretation of painting one nail is that it stands for the one in five children who may experience sexual abuse. It is immediately clear from looking at the numbers that we must put in a lot of effort to solve this problem.
Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults involve minors who are 17 years of age or younger, according to the YMCA. Unbelievably, one in six boys and one in four girls will experience sexual abuse before they become 18 years old.
Elliot believes that since men account for over 90% of this kind of abuse against children, they should be the ones to drive change. In light of this, a large number of international superstars have joined the nail painting craze.
Polished Man is still working to provide a better, safer environment for children today. Their principal goal is to stop child sexual abuse. “Being a Polished Man means challenging violent behavior and language, both locally and globally,” the organization states.
Chris Hemsworth is one well-known person who has taken a strong stance; he posed for the organization with a painted nail.
It takes more than just remembering to purchase flowers, shouting rounds, or lifting a lot to be a @PolishedMan. Saying no to violence against children is the main goal, according to Hemsworth.
Famous surfers Kelly Slater and Zac Efron also participated in the social media challenge, and maybe more people will openly speak out against child abuse.
Although the campaign began quietly a few years prior, by 2014 it had drawn the interest of numerous prominent media outlets.
The organization has persevered in its hard work and has now existed for a decade. Polished Man claims that $8.7 million has been raised to fund trauma prevention and recovery initiatives for women and children who have experienced or are at danger of experiencing violence in Australia and other
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