Two years ago I posted this story
about high-speed rail in California and had so many comments I thought I would
repost for my new readers. But now, even after two years, nothing seems to have
changed and, in fact, political positions have sadly become even more locked in
place as the costs continue to sky-rocket.
A Toy Train for Christmas
The
Parts and Players:
Santa Claus (The
Big Guy) – Washington D.C.
Santa’s Helpers
(Men and Women in Elf Costumes) – State Governments
Billy (Good Little
Boy) and Tiffany (Good Little Girl) – California, Florida, Washington State, Illinois, New York, et all
Sally (Not so Good
Little Girl) –Ohio and Wisconsin
Toy Train – High
Speed Rail
Our
Scene:
Santa’s huge toy shop in one of the
big department stores; a long line of children wait to tell Santa what they
want for Christmas.
The first child climbs up on Santa’s
knee with the help of one of the elves.
“And
what’s your name little boy?”
“Billy,
Santa Claus, Billy.”
“Have
you been good?”
“Oh
yes Santa, I have been very, very good.”
“Excellent
Billy, excellent, and what do you want for Christmas?
“Oh
Santa I want an erector set to build bridges for my brother, a whole village of
dollhouses for my little sister, and a turkey with all the stuff and stuffing for
my dad, see he’s lost his job.”
“I’m
sorry to hear about that, I’ll see what I can do. Billy, you want so much for
your family and that’s good, very good, but Billy, what do you want for being so
good?”
Billy
thought for a moment then turned his head to Santa with a huge smile. “Santa I
want a toy train. It would be the most wonderfulous thing in the whole world, a
toy train that I can play with, run the track all through my room and maybe
even in the hallway. It just has to be the most special and wonderous train,
all shiny and sparkly and new. And, oh, oh, Santa that would be so great and it
would be real cool ‘cause none of friends would have a train like it and they all would wan’na
come over and see it and play with me in my room. Please Santa, please.”
“But
Billy I gave you a set of Hot Wheels and racetrack a few years ago and a really
cool airplane and terminal set last year. Aren’t they fun to play with anymore?”
“Nah,
Santa. I broke the racetrack and the planes just aren’t any fun anymore, but a
toy train would be real cool, did I say the other kids would wan’na come over
and see it.”
“Yes
you did, but Billy, that is a very big toy for someone your size.”
“No.
I’m a big boy, see!” Billy puffed himself up real big.
“Yes,
I guess you are, now that you are all puffed up. Yes, Billy, Santa has to agree
that you are a big boy now and can take care of such a wonderfulous toy. Santa
will see what he can do. Just watch for a big ‘green’ box under your Christmas tree.”
“Oh
thank you Santa, thank you.”
Billy,
with the help of the elves (who were all smiling and singing, I've Been Working on the Railroad), climbed off
Santa’s knee and slid down the slide into a huge pile of ‘green’ cotton candy.
Billy was in heaven.
The
next child in line wasn’t sure about Santa, he was so big and his suit was all
red and furry. The bells on all the elves (who were scurrying about still
talking about the good little boy, Billy), jingled and jangled creating such a
wonderous din. This all scared the little girl. When the elves helped her onto
Santa’s knee, Santa wasn’t sure what was going to happen. He was afraid for his
suit.
“And
what’s your name little girl?”
“Sally,”
she said quietly, still shaking.
“That’s
a pretty name, have you been a good little girl?”
Sally
thought for a moment. She looked at the Big Guy and all the elves dressed in
'green' elf costumes, 'green' cotton candy billowed all around them, it was a
wonderous sight.
“Santa,
I have not been a good little girl. I have saved my lunch money and not given it
to my friends at school like my teacher says I should. I used it to help my
dad and I bought him a new tie, he was trying to get a job, and he did Santa, he
was so happy. And I yelled at my brother when he bought some ice cream just
after he had a whole mouthful of candy. So you see, I have not been a good
girl.”
“I
see, yes Sally, those aren’t good things to do, you should always mind your
teacher.”
“Yes
Santa.”
“But
Sally, the elves and I know you can improve and be a better human being. I just know you want
something for Christmas. Billy, that fine young man, who sat on this very knee
just before you; see, he's playing in the 'green' cotton candy, said all he wanted was a toy train, all shiny and sparkly and
new. Wouldn’t you want a toy train? Santa has a whole box full of them at the
North Pole.”
Sally
thought for another moment then looked over at the next child standing in line,
her name was Tiffany. She wore a bright dress and was all smiles.
“Can
you hurry Sally?” Tiffany demanded, stamping her shiny Mary-janes. “I just have to talk to Santa and, unlike you, I
have been a very good little girl.” Even the elves could hear Tiffany’s strong
Valley Girl accent.
Sally
looked back at Santa. “Santa, I really don’t want a toy train; I know that if I
get it my parents will have to buy more track so that I can run it down the
hallway and then I will have to get more cars and a new engine and then I will
have to buy one of those fancy train stations and I will have to get a little
bridge to run the train over the other tracks and then a crossing thing with
arms that go up and down and then I will have to get a huge box to keep them it
and besides, it will be fun for a little while, then I will get bored and want
something new and then it will just sit around and be in the way and besides it
will only go in a circle and not really go anywhere really fast.”
Santa
was shocked; not because she said it all in one sentence and one breath, it was
because everyone wanted a toy train, that’s why he had a box full.
“Sally,
you just aren’t a very good girl; you only think of yourself and not others.”
Sally
was saddened to hear that from Santa who had always been a hero to her.
“Santa,”
Sally said, “why don’t you give the toy train to Tiffany, she is always a good
little girl and wears really nice clothes, nice shoes, has a wonderful tan, and always has
a smile. I think she gives her lunch money to the teacher who uses it for good
things. Yes, Tiffany is a good little girl, give her the toy train. She
deserves it and besides I have heard that her parents are real rich and can buy
her all the tracks and stations she wants.”
Santa
was very pleased, he had so many trains to give away and the line of good
little boys and girls disappeared around the ‘green’ cotton candy mountain.
Santa,
pulled from his reverie, felt a tug on his sleeve; Sally looked up at him with
her sad eyes. “Santa I really don’t want anything for myself, but if you can,
my little brother wants a Red Ryder BB Rifle.”
Santa
was stunned and outraged beyond belief what his ears had heard. He pushed Sally slid off his knee and past all the 'green' cotton candy and watched as she crawled to the slide and started down its slippery surface. But she stopped just for second and took one last look at the Big Guy and all the wonderous elves and the piles of 'green' cotton candy and heard them exclaim ere she slid out of sight, “Sally, you’ll shoot your
eye out.”
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Stay Tuned . . . .
