Secret Santa

By Terry Barr

Ten-year old Terry Barr discovers one day just before Christmas that his little brother has found Santa’s stash of toys. The secret of Santa is out now, and as Terry tries to help his mother cover the story to retain his brother’s innocence, the world of secrets, conspiracies, and emotional entanglements for him only grows deeper.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melange Books, LLC
• Release date: Nov 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781005593049

Terry Barr

Terry Barr is a regular contributor to culture mass.com, where he writes about music and memory. His essays have appeared in The Museum of Americana, Red Fez, The Montreal Review, Scissors and Spackle, Steel Toe Review, and in the anthology Half-Life: Jew-Ish Tales from Interfaith Homes. He lives in Greenville, SC, with his wife and two daughters, and teaches Creative Nonfiction at Presbyterian College.

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Special Smashwords Edition

Secret Santa

by Terry Barr

Published by

Melange Books, LLC

White Bear Lake, MN 55110

www.melange-books.com

Secret Santa, Copyright 2013 by Terry Barr

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Names, characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published in the United States of America.

Cover Design by Caroline Andrus

Table of Contents

Secret Santa

About the Author

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SECRET SANTA

TERRY BARR

Ten-year old Terry Barr discovers one day just before Christmas that his little brother has found Santa’s stash of toys. The secret of Santa is out now, and as Terry tries to help his mother cover the story to retain his brother’s innocence, the world of secrets, conspiracies, and emotional entanglements for him only grows deeper.

Secret Santa

We use ritual as a mnemonic device—holiday as a ritual with meaning—and the seasons as increments of measurement. –Craig Thompson, Blankets.

When I was six, I learned this secret: my father is Jewish.

I learned this secret not from anyone in my family, but from our neighbors down the street. The ones who drove me home from school that day in September 1962; the ones who had also called JFK a nigger-lover. This particular day was Rosh Hashanah, and as I climbed into the backseat of their white Ford Galaxie, my friend Stevie’s mother said in her usual half-laughing tone, Well Buddy, your Daddy didn’t go to work today because of the Jewish holiday.

I didn’t know what to say back, but I assume my Oh, covered all my feelings and supposed understanding of her remark. The six-block ride to my house blurred for me then, as I began contemplating all that I didn’t know about my Daddy.

About my family.

And when I entered my house, I learned that Mrs. Shaw was right. My father certainly wasn’t at work.

Where is Daddy? I asked my mother.

Oh, he’s at temple.

Is Daddy a Jew?

Where did you hear that?

"From