Seven-year-old Charlie is distraught as he climbs on Santa鈥檚 knee at Willowbrook Shopping Centre.

This youngster is very obviously scared, a look of dread evident on his young face.

But he鈥檚 not fearful of the jolly old elf all dressed in red and white.

No, Charlie is terrified of something much more serious 鈥� at least in his books.

He fears Saint Nick won鈥檛 know where to find him on Christmas Eve.

鈥淭his little guy was just really, really upset,鈥� Santa recounted.

Between soft sobs, Charlie explains that he鈥檚 recently moved. Although he still lives in 91原创 鈥� just a few blocks from his old home 鈥� he鈥檚 been fretting for weeks that a move this close to the holidays means he won鈥檛 get any toys for Christmas.

But, with a big rumbling laugh and a wink of his eye, Santa reassures the young boy on his lap that 鈥� because he was such a good boy this year 鈥� he and the reindeer will most definitely be visiting on Dec. 24.

To offer a little extra reassurance, Santa reaches into his coat pocket and withdraws a tiny satchel that he holds out for Charlie.

A puzzled look crosses Charlie鈥檚 face as he accepted the odd little package. And as the gold bag bangs against the little boy鈥檚 hand, it made a noise 鈥� piquing the lad鈥檚 curiosity even further.

Reaching inside the little cloth bag, Charlie pulled out a small brass bell.

Santa reaches out, and takes the bell back for a moment. Dangling it from one of his white gloved fingers, Santa says: 鈥淩ing it three times, and I鈥檒l know exactly where you are.鈥�

A look of awe and amazement crosses Charlie鈥檚 face, bringing a huge smile to Santa鈥檚.

鈥淗e was so impressed. He was shocked that Santa knew his name, but he was almost giddy when I explained the purpose of the bell,鈥� Santa elaborated.

鈥淎nd, the parents were esctatic. Crisis averted.鈥�

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Many moving encounters

On a break from visiting with children at 91原创鈥檚 only indoor mall, Santa shared a few of the more touching encounters he鈥檚 experienced this holiday season.

One of the most moving was the gleeful interaction with young Charlie. But admittedly, he was one of several Santa heard from this season who shared similar concerns of not being found.

Another, for example, involved a little girl going to Germany, a young boy bound for New Zealand, and an eight-year-old girl going to spend Christmas with her father in Edmonton. While she was grateful for the bell, she shared her new fear that her luggage would be lost en route, and so too, the bell.

That鈥檚 when Mom stepped in and offered to zip the bell into one of girl鈥檚 often-unused jacket pockets, to ensure its was safely protected.

鈥淭hey were terrified Santa wouldn鈥檛 know how to find them. So Santa fixed it,鈥� he said.

Among other special moments at this season, Santa recounted how a group of nine RCMP babies were brought in for photos early in the season.

鈥淭hat was definitely a highlight,鈥� he said, explaining that it鈥檚 been a bit of a tradition with the local police force to bring in the new babies of the year.

Santa also received a visit from four expectant mothers, all scheduled to give birth before Christmas and all who vowed to return with their newborns before the season was over.

鈥淭hey were expecting within a week or so, and they all said they鈥檒l be back鈥︹��

He鈥檚 been doing this a long time now, but noted that in recent years he鈥檚 seen a significant uptake in expectant parents showing up to have photos taken with Santa holding a sonogram of their unborn baby.

In fact, he said, 鈥渋t鈥檚 getting to be old hat鈥� they come in with one child, and then pull up a sonogram.鈥�

All I want鈥� is peanut butter

Santa鈥檚 seen thousands of visitors already this year 鈥� ranging from as young as three days old up to 100 years old 鈥� come in to share their Christmas wishes.

He secretly chuckles as he watches different generations look to him as they pass by or wait with family to get their photos.

鈥淐hildren and adults look at Santa from two different perspectives,鈥� he insisted.

鈥淲hen a child comes in to see me, the first thing they look at is my boots. Then they look at my belt. Then they look at my beard.

鈥淧arents, on the other hand, look at exactly the opposite. They want a picturesque Santa,鈥� he said, adding that provided there鈥檚 a red suit, a nice picture backdrop, and a jolly attitude, they鈥檙e usually content.

While the primary purpose of these visit is to get pictures taken with Santa, every child is invariably asked what they want for Christmas 鈥� if they haven鈥檛 already offered up that information before the toy guy has a chance to ask.

As is always the case each year, there have been a few odd gift requests in 2019.

Among them, one little girl 鈥� about five 鈥� asked for a jar of peanut butter to share with her family.

鈥淎ccording to her parents, she鈥檚 a very caring child. She shares everything she鈥檚 got,鈥� Santa recalled.

READ MORE: Willowbrook gift wrap centre in 91原创 all for charity

He also had two kids asking for cows, and another wanting a goat. It took some convincing, but Santa managed to explain that he can鈥檛 deliver animals.

Santa was particularly humbled by a request from one 75-year-old-plus woman who had never before stopped in for a visit.

All she wanted was a picture with the old guy.

She reluctantly approached, and said: 鈥淚s this only for children? I鈥檝e never had a picture taken with Santa. Can I have a picture taken with Santa?鈥�

Of course, Santa replied, inviting her onto his knee for pictures.

She was all smiles, and not only for the photos, Santa said. Later that same day he spotted her in the mall 鈥� and noted that she was still beaming.

LAST YEAR鈥橲 COVERAGE: Merry Christmas, from our family to yours

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Leaving Christmas Eve

Those visiting him at Willowbrook are not just from 91原创, Santa explained. Most travel from around the Lower Mainland, with many coming from North Vancouver, Chilliwack, and countless from Surrey and White Rock.

He鈥檚 had visits with a few from Vancouver Island, at least one family from 100 Mile House, and a former 91原创ite who relocated to Williams Lake and comes back early every Christmas season to see him at Willowbrook.

鈥淔rom what I gather, I have a bit of a following here in 91原创,鈥� Santa said.

Set up in the mall for visits since mid-November, Santa will continue to meet with children and adults alike until 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.

By the end of this holiday season, he predicts he鈥檒l visit with about 10,000 visitors 鈥� at alone. He anticipates that will be a slight uptick compared to years gone by.

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RELATED: Where to find last-minute holiday gifts in 91原创

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