SCRANTON, Pa. -- When a Pennsylvania boy visited Santa Claus with an impossible request, Santa's response gave the boy and his mom something they needed.
The holidays can be tough if you recently lost someone, and nine-year-old Chris Nat admits it has been tough since his dad passed away in April.
That's what compelled him to ask Santa something that would leave most grownups speechless.
On a weekend visit to Corky's Garden Center in Scott Township earlier this month, Chris was compelled to ask Santa for the number one item on his Christmas list.
"For my dad back," he said.
Sandy didn't hear the exchange, now captured in a viral Facebook post.
Chris told her afterward what Santa had to say.
"Santa told him that Santa makes the toys and God makes the angels, so he can't bring your dad back, but he misses you and he'd be here if he could," Sandy Nat said.
Sandy said Santa's answer stopped her in her tracks.
"When he told me that, I started to cry, and he said, 'Mom, I'm so sorry I upset you.' You didn't upset me, it's just that I never met Santa before today," Sandy said.
We tracked down Santa at his house in Scranton. If kids have any doubt that he's the real thing, he has a driver's license and lots of photos to back it up.
Over the years, Santa's heard a lot of tough questions.
"This is probably the third time I got it, and once was at the mall, and it was a little girl. And she asked the same thing, she wanted her daddy back," Santa recalled.
The answer then was the same as now and instinctual.
"I just told her, 'God makes angels and I make toys. That's our agreement, me and him.'"
Some things are impossible even for Santa Claus, but the big man in red can answer some of life's toughest questions.
"It's tough. Christmas, along with it being happy, it's also sad for a lot of families, you know? It's a very big emotion, and I try to pick them up the best I can."
Chris and Sandy say Santa gave them their Christmas back it will be a tough holiday to get through. But not impossible.
"Santa's magic and our kids know Santa's magic, so he can do anything, but he just can't do this. But, we know dad is always there in our heart."
Chris did have some other requests for Christmas. He loves Fortnite, and he would like a PS4. I have a feeling Santa is going to come through this year.
