My Urban Kris Kringle

I saw Santa on the metro this morning. First car of the Red Line train to Glenmont, 7:40 am. He was sitting in one of those seats reserved for seniors or disabled persons, head back, eyes closed, distended belly, large frame resting against the person next to him. He was wearing a blue work shirt, khakis and his signature red hat--the floppy red velvet one with the white pom-pom. I guess he was saving his official uniform for the big night. His beard was white and tinged with a bit of yellow--perhaps from the cigars that he sneaks when Mrs. Claus isn't looking and it turned up a bit at his chin. He dozed almost oblivious to his fellow passengers, who were equally nonchalant of his presence. They say that he lives at the North Pole where he maintains his shop and oversees his worker elves (hopefully all unionized by now). But I don't believe that's true. I think he maintains a constant presence in the city, weaving his way among mortals so jaded from seeing rip-off department store Santa's that they can't even recognize the real thing when they see him cat-napping on the metro. The trained chugged into Metro center, lurching and breaking in its usual manner down the platform, sending three women in impractical stiletto-healed boots careening into the older gentlemen in camel overcoats, reading the newspaper--pink paper, must have been the Financial Times-- who looked annoyed by the interruption but only for a second because after all, how often do they enjoy such close proximity to such pretty young things? Santa's eyes clicked open as if commanded by a switch. They met mine for a second and I held his gaze long enough to note their color--a pale, thin blue, like water and somewhat pained. Was Santa not a morning person either? Does he simply not like the metro? Was he letting his reindeer rest-up for the big night? He arose from his seat and exited the train, the absorbed by the mob of commuters in the station. I was left to contemplate these questions and it occurred to me that it is officially Christmas.