Every child’s dream is to meet Santa. Whether it’s catching a lookalike Santa Claus driving on the highway or staying up all night (and inevitably failing) to see Santa Claus come down their chimney on Christmas Eve, children will light up instantly at the magic of Christmas and, in particular, Santa Claus.
For one little girl in a Walmart in Hurricane, West Virginia, her dreams came true. Sophie Jo Riley, 3, noticed a tall man with a white beard wearing a red sweater and believed it to be the man himself. According to her older sister, Sophie was sneaking around to follow “Santa” and she’d turn around and tell her family, “Shh! It’s Santa!'”
Sophie’s dad provided some encouragement for Sophie to go up to the man and speak to him. She timidly walks up to him and asks, “Santa?” It turns out that the man’s name is actually Roger Larck. Larck took matters into his own hands and decided to play Santa for a little bit in hopes to provide some wonderful Christmas memories for Sophie.
He knelt down on one knee to meet her level and began speaking to her. She was showing off her pretty nails to him and also says that he can expect cookies when he arrives at her house. He asks if all the cookies are for him, but she replies that he can only have one! She says the others are for the reindeer.
Sophie’s older sister recorded the meeting between the two and posted it on Facebook. Since posting the video, it has received over 1 million views and nearly 15,000 shares. According to Sophie’s mother, Erika Riley, the moment really instilled in them what the true meaning of Christmas is about.
“If there really was a Santa Claus, and now I question it… I think maybe there really is. That’s exactly how I picture him to be.”
Larck did speak to some news networks about the encounter and was absolutely delighted to be a part of making a little girl’s dreams come true.
“I’m tickled I’ve been a part of something that other people have enjoyed,” Larck tells WSAZ, “It was just me having a conversation with a little girl. It melted my heart when it happened.”
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Check out the full video of the encounter below:
I married a Santa myself and he purposely grows his beard longer at this time of year. We love to see the kids point and wonder. Small candy canes are handed out with permission from parents. Love to see the interaction and wonder that is seen in those small faces.
Sweet story.
I love this story but today with trafficking I don’t think it would be wise to have your child walk up to someone they don’t know, you just never know things happen so fast, and I don’t mean to be a scrooge about Christmas times have changed and we have to think ahead when it comes to our kids.. Wish everyone Merry Christmas. better safe than sorry…
Strangers don’t kidnap kids. Go to the FBI’s Crime Statistics Database. 100 kids last year.. That’s it. The other 100,000 kids that were abducted were taken by someone the child knows. Most often it’s the other parent in a custody dispute, but relatives and next door neighbors are quite common.
So, to be clear, it’s 1,000-1, the ratio of someone the child knows versus strangers.
One of the main problems we have in this country is people, who haven’t got a clue, running around acting like the whole world is trying to get them. You people teach your children to live in fear of something that probably won’t happen (the odds a child will be abducted are like 500,000 to 1) and instead fill their heads with the fear of the unknown. And then you’re all surprised that these kids never move out of the house.
Our rule, when I was a kid, was “DON’T GET INTO A CAR WITH A STRANGER”. There was no prohibition on talking to strangers, especially in a public location that is packed with people.
Consequently, I didn’t grow up being terrified of the boogey-man and jumping at shadows. But, by all means, keep terrifying kids about things that have about as much chance of happening as them winning the lottery..
While this is cute and really sweet of this man to do, saying loudly in the store “Tell Santa what you’re gonna leave him!” is not the best idea when hes trying to be kind to your child. Because then any kid within ear shot is going to come running up and demand his attention too thinking he really is Santa and just delay his day further. (He might not mind but still, be polite lol) There must have been a more low key way she could have said that. But still really sweet of him to take the time to play Santa for a little girl during his shopping trip.
This is a very lovely story of a sweet little innocent girl mistaking a shopping old man in red suit as Santa. He really made the girl’s dream about Santa come true. Glad to read that the man understood and talked to the girl with such kindness and patience. I’m sure he made the little girl’s day and himself great on that fatefull day. Bless the heart of this old man. Merry Christmas to all!
I married a “Mr Claus” and now we have been Santa and Mrs Claus for 20 years. During Christmas time, it’s fun to see not only youngsters come up to Santa, but “oldsters” say you could be Santa and we say “yes we are”. We do some charity work and presentations to 3K and 4K children – also many other special Santa occasions – we have greeted many youngsters and oldsters along the way in 20 years. We don’t have candy canes with us out shopping, but always have the big candy canes with us when we do a special Santa occasion. Great experiences seeing those happy faces on most and also those crying faces on others!! Too bad Santa can’t be remembered all year long and give everyone a happy smile!! Happy Holidays from Santa and Mrs Claus!!!!!!!
Wow! Stop the negative comments people. For once, accept the video for it’s tenderness and kindness. We don’t need the negativity!!!
My beard is shorter now, but when it was longer, and fuller, I’ve had kids watch me… I’d lower my glasses, look at them, smile, and wink…. I want them to have the magic of Santa as long as they can!
I used to do something special for my daughter every year to show evidence of Santa being here!
The look on her face was so special! I’ll always cherish those menories!