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Crying babies, smiling faces and toddlers wetting their pants. It all comes with the territory if you’re a stand-in for Santa.
It’s been 25 years since Larose resident Bob Faulk first agreed to play Santa Claus, and he doesn’t regret a second of it.
“It is something I truly enjoy. Once I got started, it got better and better,” Faulk said. “There is so much sadness in this world. If I can bring a little joy to people, it is worth it.”
Faulk’s career as the Head Elf in Charge began in 1989. He suited up for Christmas on the Bayou, working in the workshop.
“We had a tent that was supposed to be Santa’s workshop where kids could go in and make ornaments, toys and trinkets,” Faulk said. “We had people dressed as elves. They asked if I wanted to be Santa in case someone could not show up.”
Sure enough, someone didn’t show so Faulk was called up to the big leagues. His attire that first time consisted of a red shirt, green pants and white suspenders. He didn’t own a red suit at the time.
Faulk drew the line at wearing a fake beard.
“It looked too fake,” he explained. “We got some white spray and dyed my beard.
“After that, I always had to do it because no one wanted to be Santa after me,” Faulk said.
A fake beard may have been a preferred option that first outing.
As he spoke to a young girl on his left knee, her brother, sitting on Faulk’s right knee, grabbed a handful of beard and refused to release it.
“The little boy grabbed my beard and jumped off my knee and hung on. I’m like ‘You little booger, you won’t let go,’” Faulk said with a laugh. “He looks at his sister and said, ‘I told you it was real! I told you!”
The little girl was not satisfied so she punched Faulk in the gut and screamed, “No pillows! We got the real Santa! We got the real Santa!”
“Everyone thought we put them up to this, but we didn’t,” Faulk said. “They went crazy. That was all them. I wish I knew their names.”
While one of Faulk’s first experiences was a joyous one, times have not always been the happiest.
During one particular Breakfast with Santa, a shy boy came up and did not say much.
“You take your time with them because sometimes they are scared. I have only had one or two that I couldn’t get to,” Faulk said. “I waited for some people to leave and things to slow down. I sat on the bench with him and said, ‘You know, you’ve got to tell Santa what you want for Christmas. Man, I would love to have a picture with you.’”
Taking the youngster under his wing, the boy said he wanted Santa to take care of his mother.
“Right away I am thinking, ‘Oh Lord, something is wrong with her and she is dying.’ It was like having a puppy dog looking at you because those eyes just open up,” Faulk recalled.
Trying not to push the boy away, he asked if his mom was sick to which the youngster said no. Faulk asked what was wrong, and the boy uttered words that hurt to this day.
“He told me, ‘My daddy is real mean to my mama.’ That broke my heart. Think about it. This kid is 6 years old, and that’s what he wants for Christmas. It still brings tears to my eyes,” Faulk said. “We found out she was in an abusive relationship. I don’t know how it worked out. That was about 15 years ago. It was one of the saddest moments.”
Equally as heartbreaking was a visit with a youngster who had been abused.
The boy had scarring on his ears and head with the same shy demeanor of the other boy. Again, Faulk got close to him and sat on the floor playing with him. The boy began to have a good time playing with toys on the floor with Santa.
Faulk later found out the child had been held underwater in a tub of boiling water when he was three.
“There are so many good things, do not get me wrong,” Faulk said. “Sometimes it can be tough though.”
A soft spot in Faulk’s heart is attributed to his experience with special needs folks, children and adults.
“I have to schedule them by themselves because they want to dance, so we boogie,” he said. “They jump all over me. It is awesome.”
Faulk makes roughly 30 appearances as Santa Claus every year ranging from school visits to community events.
“I have never done what I call a ‘mall Santa,’ meaning I never charged people,” Faulk said. “It was always something for the kids. I was always fortunate enough to not have to charge.”
However, if someone wants to pay, he passes it to Relay For Life in honor of his wife Deanna, who passed away in 2012 from cancer.
Shortly after, Faulk began the Deanna’s Smiles campaign to raise money for cancer research.
Despite everything he has seen, heard and been through in his time being Santa, it is a part of his life he will never change.
“If the good Lord came down and said, ‘OK Bob, you can only do one thing. What will you do?’ Out of all the stuff I do, I know Santa only lasts three weeks every year, but I would keep that and give up all the rest. It is so joyful to see smiles on people’s faces.”
For more information about donations or scheduled appearances for Santa Claus, call Faulk at 985-693-7927.
