Although Santa saves his greatest magic for children, adults, too, come under his spell. "I also entertain the parents," he says warmly. "They want to relive their Santa Claus fantasies." With the kids sitting on his lap, he often carries on spirited conversations with waiting mothers and fathers. Sometimes he even suggests, facetiously, they call him later on his 1-800 number. "I ask them to give me a rundown on how the kids have been behaving, but I say: 'Please, please, don't call when you are angry. I am not a psychologist, I'm Santa Claus!' I love it when a mother gets so caught up that before she leaves she leans over and whispers in all seriousness: 'What's that 1-800 number?'"

It is that sense of wonderment that keeps Mr. Godt - Santa - coming back. Next year, too, he promises, he will drive down to Calgary in his truck, identified with it's "Santa" NWT license plate, don his red coat and trousers, and take his place in the mall. Still, says Mr. Godt, the job does have one serious drawback: celebrity. So, when he is not at work, he returns to his hotel room and orders his meals through room service. "I can sympathise with movie stars," Mr. Godt bemoans. "I can't go to restaurants, either. Even if I wear dark glasses, it doesn't help. Everyone knows I'm Santa."