Santa returns to Odessa so ALL kids can see him

Santa loves Odessa and all the good boys and girls who live here (both young and old). He made a return visit on Saturday to Rolling Thunder Pizza just to make sure everyone was able to visit with him and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.

Between 2 and 4 p.m., about 15 to 20 people showed up to greet Santa. Most of them made requests for iPads, iPods and cell phones, but one little girl, five-year-old Nevaeh Hicks, challenged Santa for about 20 - 30 minutes.

Nevaeh climbed up onto the stool, sat with her back to those watching and, face to face with Santa, looked him right in the eye and said point blank, "You're not the real Santa."

Santa said, "Of course I am." Navaeh said, "No you're not; I know you aren't." Finally, after a bit of back and forth, Santa admitted, "OK you got me, I'm one of Santa's helpers, but I will deliver any messages you want to tell me for him." She said, "No, your just wasting my time."

"I promise I will give him any message you tell me," said Santa. Nevaeh stopped spinning around on her stool and asked, "When are you going to see him?"

"Well, I will probably see him tonight when I am done here," says Santa.

"No," said Nevaeh, I need to talk to the real Santa. You'll just waste my time." All the while, she is giving Santa the "stink eye."

Toward the end of the exchange, when Santa offered her a candy cane she said, "Now don't think you're gonna buy me off with four candy canes like you did my brothers. I need to talk to the real Santa." Then she started giving him the stink eye again.

Watching and hearing this exchange was truly entertaining. I have a feeling that in the future little Nevaeh will have no problem standing up for anything she believes in.

You know what they say, "Out of the mouths of babes..."