(The following story by JJ Velasquez appeared in the Victoira Advocate December 4, 2009.)
VICTORIA, KS – Isabella Bruno hopped aboard the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express train Friday to see Santa Claus and ask him one question: Is he missing a reindeer?
The Shields Elementary School kindergartner and her mother Heather drove into the country Friday morning to see snow and spotted a loose reindeer.
It wasn’t Rudolph, Isabella said. He didn’t have a red nose.
“Dancer,” she said. “I think it was Dancer. He was chilly in the snow.”
The train, which stopped at Burroughsville Road and Business U.S. Highway 59, made its first trip ever to Victoria and attracted a turnout of people from Victoria and nearby areas. A line of cars wrapped along the shoulder of U.S. Highway 59, where it meets Zac Lentz Parkway, and there was a steady inflow of people through the afternoon.
Heather Linville, who brought her 4-year-old son, Carter, said she knew of people who made the two-and-a-half hour trek from Pearland to see the train.
“It gets you in the spirit of Christmas,” Linville said, explaining the turnout. “You tell your kids the train is coming from the North Pole, and Santa’s checking you out, making sure you’re being good.”
David Peña brought his children along to see the train. He had been in the holiday mood since the snow fell earlier.
“It’s cold,” he said. “I feel like I’m in the North Pole.”
On the train were miniature train sets, Barbie houses, 4-foot nutcrackers, elves and Santa Claus himself. Going on the train was free, and children received a free gift bag after touring.
Michael Ball took his son Zane, who loves trains and the television show “Thomas and Friends,” about a cartoon tank engine.
“We told him we would see a Thomas-like train,” Ball said. “He was all for it.”
The KC Southern charitable fund donated to the local Salvation Army $112,825 in Walmart gift cards, which will be used to buy coats for underprivileged children.
It may be another generation before the train comes through again.
So Isabella Bruno should feel good that she caught Santa before he left town and informed him of the missing reindeer – and reminded him she wants some princess decals for her scooter.