The Spirit of Christmas

He got out of the store as soon as he could. But it wasn't easy making a graceful exit after walking into what felt like a trap. He began walking and passed several stores before coming upon a waste receptacle. He stopped in front of it and looked at the piece of paper that was crumpled up inside his hand. He knew what he was going to do, but was trying to find some justification for his action. Thus began an internal debate.
He never meant to take the paper in the first place. It fell off the tree by mistake. He didn't know what it was for. But what about the little boy? It wasn't a big effort to buy one lousy toy. But to bring it to a church? That was the part that was causing the main problem. He hadn't stepped foot inside a church since... He let the thought go. He had no desire to go any further down that path. The woman had said that there were a number of gift trees around the town. Each kid's name was probably on each tree so that they would get multiple presents. So this kid would get one less. And they probably collected extra toys anyway, just to make sure every kid got something.
His conscience still tugged at him, but he couldn't stand here in front of the trash can all day. He lifted his arm to toss the paper.
"Oh, you don't really want to do that, do you?"
He looked around. Who said that? People continued to walk on by, oblivious to his presence. Only one other person was standing nearby - Santa Claus.
Santa Claus? How did he not notice the man in the long white beard and fancy red suit before? It's hard not to notice a Santa Claus. But the other passersby seemed to take no notice of him. In too much of a Christmas rush, he supposed.
But was this guy talking to him? No, he couldn't be. There was no way anyone would know what he was about to do. Still, the words were enough to stop him in his tracks. He found himself staring at the short, portly man in front of him, looking past the white beard to the twinkling blue eyes staring back at him.
"Were you talking to me?"
The man came a little closer.
"Yes, I was." His voice had a jolly rhythm that danced with every word.
"What did you mean?"
"Oh, Richard, you know what I meant." There was a gentle chuckle behind his words.
"What? Wait. How did you know my name?" The puzzlement was written plainly on his face. "Do I know you?"
His name was Richard, but how did this Santa impersonator know that?
"I know you, Richard." The man was standing right beside him now. "And there's a part of you that knows me."
"Who are you?" Richard was totally confused.
"I'm the Easter Bunny." There was now more seriousness in the other man's voice.
"Huh?"
"Come on. Who do I look like? I'm Santa Claus. D'uh!"
"You're kidding me now, right?"
"Yes, of course," the man said, to Richard's relief. "But, not really."
"I don't understand." Richard tried to make sense of what was happening.
"Of course you don't," the man acknowledged. "But let's go back to what you were about to do."
"What I was...?"
"The paper in your hand."
The man looked down toward Richard's clenched hand holding the paper.
"You mean... Wait, hold on a minute. There's no way you could know about... Unless..."
"Unless?" the man said in an encouraging voice.
"Unless you were really... You know."
"Go ahead. Say it."
"I can't."
"Sure you can."
"No, I..."
"Come on. You know you want to." The man's tone was enticing.
"You're..."
"Yesss?"
"Santa Claus!"