There's the request for the Nerf Rhino-Fire Blaster¹, or the desire for those little Monster High dollies of the night. But pull away from the kids you know and take a look at what's on the Christmas lists that end up in mailboxes all over town, addressed to the North Pole.

 

The chief elf-in-charge of these letters is Sherry Johnson-Battle, and she's letting us look through some of the 500 letters that came from children in the nation's capital this year.

 

More than half of the requests were taken on by companies or fellow elves to make sure the wishes were filled.

 

Yes, the children want Xboxes, iPhones and televisions. They provide specific information for the make, model and color of the $100 sneakers they will outgrow² in two weeks.

 

And there are sure signs of self-confidence.

 

"I would like you to grant³ me my wishes because I'm a great child.

 

1. electric scooter

 

2. Barbie Dream House

 

3. Baby Alive."

 

Maybe a trophy⁴, too, great child?

 

But then you come across the stories of a city in these letters, too.

 

"Dear Santa," they all begin.

 

"I am the middle child," one continues.

 

"I lived in a shelter for 5 years. My father abanded [sic] me all my life ever since I was born. My mother was trying to take care of us but she was struggling to put food in our mouths."

 

These are the tough ones to read.

 

Because they also tell you about the state of a city and a civilization, the way an economy, situations and environment mold⁵ a child's soul.

 

"Dear Santa. For Christmas, I will not ask for much. I really need khaki uniform pants," wrote one 11-year-old girl, who explained that she has "very few pairs of pants for school."

 

"I also need a very steep and nice-size bookbag for school. I'm in 6th grade and carry alot of books," she said, explaining that her bag had ripped⁶.

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