A Present for Big Saint Nick

"A Present for Big Saint Nick" is a short story first published as "A Present for Big Nick" in Argosy in December 1954 and reprinted in Bagombo Snuff Box in 1999 and Complete Stories in 2017.

Plot Summary

Bernie O'Hare, the Shenandoah Blaster, is a former boxer whose contract was owned by Big Nick, a wealthy gangster. When O'Hare loses sight in one eye, he hires him as a bodyguard. A few days before Big Nick's annual Christmas party, O'Hare is shopping at a jewelry counter with his wife Wanda and 4 year old son Willy for a present. Although he has "seven of everything," Big Nick still insists on receiving presents to remind him of all the friends that he has. Willy is terrified of a small plastic Santa Claus behind the counter, so O'Hare buys it from the clerk and he and Willy stomp on it. Wanda is annoyed because, even though she wants her husband to quit his job, they've been trying to train Willy to get over his fear of Santa since Big Nick always dresses in a Santa costume at his parties and asks the children what their parents have been saying about him. While at the counter, Mr. Pullman, Big Nick's lawyer, arrives to shop with his wife and son, Richard, who is also scared of Santa Claus. Both parents have trained their children to say nice things about Big Nick when he asks them. Mrs. Pullman also hates Big Nick but just as O'Hare did with his wife, Mr. Pullman reminds her of the poverty they would face without this job.

The night of the party the Pullman family are the last to arrive. O'Hare, working as front-door guard, now gets the command to declare that Santa Claus has arrived with presents. He goes in to find the children and their parents—who except for O'Hare are all businessmen and their wives, remote from their client's violence—silent with fear. Big Nick arrives in a Santa costume with a cigar and smelling of alcohol. He gives present to the terrified children, asking them what their parents think of him. All of them tell Big Nick nothing but good things until Willy asks for a rag with his toy boat. When Big Nick asks why, Willy says he needs it to "wipe off the blood and dirt" since the parents say everything from Santa has blood on it and he's a dirty man. The other children chime in and agree, repeating things they've heard from their parents, leaving Big Nick furious. About to hit Willy, O'Hare punches Big Nick in the cigar, making him a hero to all the children. They dance out of the house, with their parents fleeing after them while Big Nick threatens them all. He shows off his presents, such as one from a famous movie star and another all the way from Italy, which explodes and decapitates him. After the police take Big Nick's body away, Willy finds the Christmas card from the exploding gift, signed "The Family." The fathers realize they'll all have to find new jobs.

Quotes

"Shame comes along with money." Mr. Pullman

See Also

• "While Mortals Sleep", a Christmas themed story originally published as "Christmas Contest" in Farm Journal