Suffolk News-Herald

Making toys for millions of children around the world is quite the stressful job. But as the Christmas season rolls in, Santa Claus knows that it’s part of his job to personally help spread the holiday cheer. On Saturday evening, he showed up at the Suffolk Seaboard Station and Railroad Museum to take a few orders from local kids.

&uot;We just did make it here,&uot; Claus said of he and his wife. &uot;We have to hurry up and get back to the North Pole, because it’s hot down here!&uot;

The Clauses were just one part of the event; children could check out the train models, enter a coloring contest, or help their parents bid on silent auction items, an event that will run until Dec. 2.

&uot;We wanted to bring a little Christmas cheer,&uot; said volunteer Betsy Brothers. &uot;Children love trains, and they obviously love Santa.&uot;

Her granddaughter Liza Bart Dolan helped little Suffolkians get ready to meet the man known elsewhere in the world as Kris Kringle and Father Christmas.

&uot;I ask them what they want,&uot; said the 11-year-old. &uot;They give me their lists. I’ve been doing this for a few years. A lot of the people here were here last year.&uot;

With her little sister Rebecca in tow, Audrey Page checked out the train models after sitting on Santa’s lab.

&uot;I want a dirt bike,&uot; said Audrey, 10. &uot;The one I have is too small for me. I like trains; my Papa used to work with them. He was a conductor. He’d sometimes take me to see the trains, and I got interested in them.&uot;

Nansemond-Suffolk Academy student Hannah Dewing also had one particular item in mind.

&uot;A lava lamp,&uot; she said when asked what she hoped to find under the Christmas tree come Dec. 25. &uot;It was fun to see Santa.&uot;

Claus hoped that more children would follow Hannah’s example.

&uot;I like them to tell me so I can put a person to a face,&uot; he said. &uot;Santa can’t bring everything in the world, so now I can find out what they really want.&uot;

&uot;I can’t think of being the wife of anyone else,&uot; said Mrs. Claus, who declined to give her first name. &uot;Growing up, we were sweethearts. We moved around from place to place until we found the North Pole.&uot;

Hannah’s little sister Kate had the Clauses figured out from the start.

&uot;I know he’s the real Santa,&uot; said the three-year-old, &uot;because he brought his wife with him!&uot;