Youngsters discuss the man in red

Sara Broyles has been extra busy this Christmas season. After all as a big sister it is her job to explain all about Santa and being good to little brother Grant.

SIKESTON -- Excitement is building as children around the world anticipate a visit this weekend from that jolly, ageless, white-bearded man they call Santa Claus.

Over the years Santa Claus, also known as St. Nicholas and Kris Kringle, has become a combination of different legends. Recently, some area children sat down to discuss just exactly who the man in red is -- and how he sneaks into people's homes all over the world to bring them joy one night out of the year.

"He's got a beard and black shoes and a black belt. He wears red clothes and a red hat," said Fred Thatch, a student at Sikeston Kindergarten Center, about Santa Claus.

Santa also laughs a lot and says, "Ho, ho, ho,' said 6-year-old Cameron Koch of Sikeston. And according to Cameron, there are two Santa Clauses -- the real one and his helper.

"One of them sleeps while the other one delivers presents to all the children. And one I know because I just took my picture with him at Food Giant. He was the helper," said Cameron, who (if you're reading, Santa) wants a Power Ranger for Christmas.

But Fred said he thinks it's Santa's brother, grandpa and son who help Santa deliver presents.

"He gets his presents from the gift shop, and the elves make the presents," Cameron said.

According to Cameron, Santa has about 10 reindeer that help him fly around the world on Christmas to deliver presents.

"Rudolph guards the sleigh so Santa won't crash into anything," Cameron said.

Fred even attempted to name all of Santa's reindeer.

"Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Comet, Cupid," Fred paused. "That's all I know."

But the sleigh and reindeer aren't Santa's only mode of transportation. Fred said Santa also has a red car and a green truck.

"Red and green are their favorite colors," Fred said.

Both Fred and Cameron said it takes about 100 elves to make all the toys everyone receives at Christmas.

"An elf wears pointy shoes and a hat that's pointed up like a triangle with a ball on top," Thatch said as he formed with his hands a triangle on top of his head.

"They have to learn how to make toys -- or they do it by magic," Fred said. And both boys and girls can be elves, Fred said.

"I saw one elf in school -- he was a kid," said Cameron, adding that his school received a visit from Santa and an elf earlier this month.

Once the toys are made and Santa and his reindeer are ready, they wait until Christmas to bring presents to people's houses, Cameron said.

"If you don't have a chimney, Santa uses magic dust to get inside," Cameron said.

Fred agreed.

"He goes down the chimney and uses magic or he can go invisible and come into your house," Fred said.

But 6-year-old Skylia Williams of Sikeston said Santa gets into everyone's homes with a key.

"We fix cookies and milk for him," Skylia said.

Santa lives at the North Pole with his wife, reindeer and elves, Skylia said. "He comes down to visit us," Skylia said. "He brought one elf and I seen him two times."

And where is the North Pole located?

"The North Pole is way far back from us, like in the sky," Fred said. "It stays cold, and there's dolphins and stuff."

Fred said he hopes Santa brings him a scooter, skateboard, motorcycle, real cell phone and a real car while Skylia would like some makeup.

But before Santa can deliver any presents, there's one thing everyone must do, Fred said.

"You fall asleep, and then you have to get up in the (Christmas) morning," Fred said.

The reason Santa brings presents once a year is because some people have been really good, Fred explained. But, he warned: "You have to be good to get toys."