"Well, I'm a friend of Santa."
Marcus considered.
"Are you an elf?"
The rider looked down at his enormous boots.
"An unusually large one."
Marcus laughed.
His father smiled.
The biker approached carefully and placed the wrapped books on the bedside table.
"I heard you like superhero stories."
Marcus nodded.
"Some."
"Any favorites?"
The boy named three.
The rider nodded solemnly.
"Excellent choices."
Marcus began opening the package.
His eyes widened when he saw the books.
Then he found the handwritten note.
He read slowly.
His expression became quiet.
His father leaned closer.
"What does it say?"
Marcus held the card toward him.
His father read it.
The message about courage, rest, and not having to pretend nothing hurt.
For several moments, the man could not speak.
Then he looked at the rider.
"Thank you."
The biker shrugged awkwardly.
"Just thought he might like it."
Marcus looked up.
"Did you write this?"
The rider nodded.
"Yes."
"Have you ever been scared?"
The man was quiet for a moment.
Then answered.
"Many times."
Marcus considered.
"Even when you're big?"
The rider smiled.
"Especially when I'm big enough to understand what can go wrong."
The boy laughed softly.
Then asked, "What do you do?"
The biker looked at him.
"Ask somebody I trust to help me."
Marcus nodded.
Then glanced toward his father.
He reached for the man's hand.
"Dad."
His father looked down.
"You can be scared too."
The father covered his mouth.
For a moment, he struggled to answer.
Then he leaned forward and kissed his son's forehead.
"I know, buddy."
The biker looked toward the window.
He gave them privacy.
When he left a few minutes later, he was crying.
He wiped his face with a red bandana.
Then muttered to another rider, "Kids are something else."
The second man nodded.
"Yeah."
Neither said anything more.
They did not need to.
Elena's visit began with a giraffe.
Then a ridiculous noise.
The rider assigned to her arrived wearing an oversized Santa hat and carrying a stuffed giraffe almost as large as the child herself.
Rachel had warned him that Elena might tire quickly.
He promised to keep the visit brief.
But when he entered, Elena immediately pointed toward the toy.
"Giraffe!"
The man grinned.
"That's what I thought."
He placed the animal beside her, with her parent's help.
Elena hugged its long neck.
Then looked at him.
"Does he talk?"
The biker blinked.
For a moment, he appeared completely unprepared.
Then he remembered the noises he had practiced.
He cleared his throat.
Produced a sound somewhere between a squeaky door and a confused cow.
Elena stared.
Her mother stared.
Rachel stared.