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After making several visits to the local community, Santa has returned to the North Pole to make final preparations for the big job he’s facing Friday night.

With Christmas falling on Saturday this year, that means that Santa, the elves and the reindeer will have to be in perfect working order when Friday evening rolls around.

Santa said that he is busy making sure that all items are completed, packed and ready to go in the sleigh.

“I had a wonderful time visiting with the children in Brewton, East Brewton and other places and would love to have stayed a long time, but we still have lots of work to do to make sure everything is on track for a Friday night delivery,” Santa said. “We are working to make sure that happens and not one person is left out on Christmas morning.”

Although Santa has a lot of ground to cover on Friday night, he said he has no doubts he will be able to complete the task.

“I’ve done this every Christmas Eve for so many years, it’s like second nature to make that route,” Santa said. “The only thing is that I have to add a few more stops to the route every year with all the new little boys and girls being born in the past year.”

Santa said that those who question how he does his job, should just leave the worrying to him.

“I’ve had children tell me they would leave a key for me to their house since they don’t have a chimney,” Santa said. “Really, they don’t have to do that, because I just use my magic to make sure I get the right gifts to the right children and the right home. And, even if they aren’t at their usual home for the holidays, I have ways of knowing exactly where they are every day of the year. After all, I can see them when they’re sleeping, and I know when they’re awake, I know if they’ve been bad or good no matter where they happen to be.”

Santa said there are some who may be a little disappointed about not getting a gift that has been requested by children he sees throughout the holiday season.

“I know that children don’t always get every thing they ask for at Christmas,” Santa said. “Sometimes, since I know the children so well from keeping my eye on them all year, it’s just not the right time for a particular thing in their lives. It doesn’t mean they don’t deserve it, but there are so many things to consider when granting those requests and making those wishes come true. I once had a child ask me for a swimming pool for Christmas. That meant that he would have gotten a gift in December that he wouldn’t be able to use until June or July. So, I decided to wait on that request and let his parents help me work that out when the time was right.”

Santa gets lots of letters and cards during the weeks leading up to Christmas and he makes sure to see every one.

“I love getting mail,” Santa said. “It relaxes me to ready the letters from children.”

Santa said that children should be ready to get in bed early on Friday night and stay asleep until their parents say on Christmas morning.

“I can’t come to a home if children are awake,” Santa said. “I’ll be watching for sleeping children as I fly around the world on Friday night. Merry Christmas to everyone.”