“Have you ever noticed that all Santas’ look the same?”

 

“What do you want them to look like?” she asked, putting her book down.  “They’re supposed to be one guy, they have to look the same.”

 

“You said that uniforms are used to crush creativity, individuality, and self-expression.”

 

“For kids in school, they are.  When adults wear them they’re used to show position and, or, power over others.”

 

“All the Santas’ wear the same uniform.”

 

“It’s not the same thing.  Santa is a myth.  Well, he’s more than that if you belive in the Little Folk, but that’s another story.  Santa has to be easy to recognize, that’s why he wears a bright red suit and has a white beard.  Kids need to know who they’re looking at. Primary color, beard, and maybe a reindeer or an elf, at his side.  But if you see Santa on a top of a roof, call 911 and report a case of breaking and entering.”

 

“Couldn’t just one of them wear a flower, or feather in his hat?”

 

“Could Darth wear a bumper sticker on his head thing?”

 

“Don’t drag Darth into this,” he laughed.  “You Trekkkkkkie.”

 

She grinned, and did the wheezy breathing.  “No, Santa can’t wear a flower or a feather in his hat.  We need him to be the usual Santa everyone knows.  He stands for something in the eyes of children, althugh he doesn’t play fair.  Not everyone gets toys and what they asked for.  Santa is not an equal opportunity giver.”

 

“No, he’s not.”

 

“Life’s not fair.”

 

“No, it’s not,” he said.

 

“Even on Christmas.”

 

“Even on Christmas.”