Mum: and tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and then that means the day after is CHRISTMAS
Oliver: but mum, is Santa actually real?
Mum: he’s real if you want him to be
Oliver: but is he?
Mum: if you believe in him, then he actually is real
Oliver: (whispers) like actual magic!!
Mum: (smiles and tries not to cry) who told you that he wasn’t real?
Oliver: lots of kids, they all said it
Mum: well what do you think?
Oliver: weeeeeellllll, I think that the one guy is just in a costume – with the beard and that hat and things – and that he’s just pretending to be – but that there could be another one that is, but I don’t know what he does or where he is
Mum: that sounds right to me
Oliver: but you do bring the presents
Mum: I bring some yes, it is nice to give presents
Oliver: yeah
Mum: if Alfie and Alice want to believe in Santa, you let them, cause it’s nice to think about Santa
Oliver: (thinks about this) yeah, ok
[a few days later on Christmas Day]
Alfie: oh THANK YOU SANTA! wook! Mum! wook what Santa BRINGED ME
Mum: so nice Alfie!!
Oliver: (look directly at me and give the most deliberate thumbs up and *winks*)