Question for Santa, 2014

I brought Audrey to my company's Parade of Lights party last weekend.  It's a family friendly party, held in our office, potluck style.  Santa comes, brings a gift for each child, then we watch the parade from the warmth of our 4th floor offices.  It's actually quite ideal.  Kids run laps in herds, full of cookies and candy canes and popcorn.  Adults hang around, occasionally glimpsing a flash of their child(ren) as they zip by.  It's chaotic and messy, and there's way too much sugar, but it's one of those things that makes Christmas fun as a kid.  At least that's how I think of it.

Audrey and I arrived, in true style, a bit early.  So we came to my office, and soon saw Santa walk by.  She was of course quite excited.  "Santa was RIGHT THERE, Mom!!!!", pointing to my doorway.  Later, she sat on Santa's lap, asking for an Elsa cape (ugh...darn you Disney).

After she checked out her gift, she methodically looked out each window along the parade route to figure out the best one from which to view the parade.  The parade passed, and soon it was time to go.  As we were gathering our things, Santa walked by again!  Audrey stopped him in the hall, and this happened.

A:  Santa, do you do real work?

Santa:  Real work?

A:  Yeah, when it's not Christmas time.

Santa:  Like what kind of real work?

A:  You know, geology, like what my mom does.

**AWKWARD SILENCE**

Santa:  Oh, I don't think I can do what your mom does!

Poor poor Santa.