The young boy dreamed of being Sinter Klaas some day. He would ride his magnificent horse from town to town. He would stop wherever he wanted, especially where the people seemed poor. He would just walk into someone’s home. The parents would be startled at the unexpected visit but they would smile, and the children would stare, awe-struck, fear and excitement in their big eyes. But he would make them laugh and squeal as he would tell his helper, Peter, to hand out the presents. He would watch their faces shine as they’d take the wrapping off and discover a toy or some goodies and of course something warm they’d need in the winter time. Then Peter would scatter handsful of pepernoten (gingernuts or balls) all around, the children would whoop and go diving after them while Sinter Klaas and Peter would quietly make their exit. It was a wonderful dream, and the young boy was sorry when the morning light ended it.
One day his older brother Sietze asked him if he could keep a secret. Of course he could! All right then, he could come along; they would go shopping. Eagerly he followed, brimming with curiosity what his big brother was up to now. They went from one store to another. Sietze bought masks in one store: a Sinter Klaas and a black Peter’s face. He bought pepernoten and chocolate letters in another, games like a set of dominoes and checkers in yet another, and a fancy pair of girl mittens in the last one. He had everything wrapped as presents except the pepernoten.
The young boy was flabbergasted. On the way home, his brother explained. On the eve of Sinter Klaas they would dress up as the kind old saint and Peter and pay a visit to several homes in their town. But not a word to Dad and Mom! They were not to know about it because they probably wouldn’t allow it. So they would have to hide all the purchases carefully.
The boy was impressed. He asked no questions, not even where the money had come from to buy all the stuff. He was all too eager to be a part of his brother’s grandiose scheme.
Two days later brother Sietze was able to persuade his parents to let their two sons “run an errand” in the late evening for an hour or so. Sietze had hidden all the treasures in a nearby ditch earlier in the day. Now they stealthily retrieved the bags, donned some clothing articles Sietze had gathered to resemble an appropriate costume for each, put their masks on, and stuffed the presents in the big burlap bag. The two were on their way as Sinter Klaas and Peter. Alas, on foot. Sietze had not asked for permission to borrow the farm horse for the occasion.
The young boy walked his dream, though in the role of the saint’s helper. But behind the anonymity of the mask, he watched the expressions of those whose homes they visited. He saw the smiles and the surprise on the faces of his brother’s friends when presents were opened. He scattered his pepernoten with abandon. And his heart soared!
When the bag was empty at last and all the pepernoten gone, they made their way home in the dark along the back paths, for it was wartime and past curfew now. It was winter and it was cold. But the young boy didn’t think of war or danger, nor did he feel the cold. There was the warmth deep inside of him with the memories of cozy living rooms and happy faces and the joy of scattering pepernoten all around.
Sometimes dreams come true. Or almost.
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