I still had five heavy books for my grandchildren and a few small items to mail on Dec. 23. As my favorite mail clerk finished stamping “Book Rate,” I reached into my purse but — no wallet!

“Oh no!” I hollered, and the long line of last-minute mailers froze in their places. The clerk told me to dash home to get the wallet, but there wasn’t enough time.

Suddenly a woman I didn’t recognize in the line yelled to the clerk, “How much is the postage?”

“$21,” he answered.

She dug in her purse and handed the money to him as the tears started to come to my eyes. Then the clerk tallied up the postage of the other small items and another person said, “I’ll take care of those,” and paid for the extra postage.

I asked for their names and they answered, “Hey, it’s Christmas.” When I recovered my voice, I turned to the long and patient line and said, “Now do you believe in Santa?” Everyone was smiling.

I’ll never forget Santa’s kindness in the guise of two strangers. 

Sandy Chabot Landay

1068 Hope St., Bristol