Last week as we were about to enter Big Lots in Burien, Elsbeth and I spotted Santa. He was standing by his red kettle waving a little silver bell and I said, "Are you really Santa Claus?"

He smiled and said, "Well, I was until I burned half my beard off. Now I’m just not the Santa I used to be."

His beard was only about five inches long and anybody knows the real Santa has a beard at least 10 inches.

I was incredulous and asked him if some nut had built a fire in the fireplace while he descending.

"No, last month I was in the kitchen working on some papers on the counter. As I worked I kept pushing papers toward the range and somehow a burner was turned on and the papers caught fire.

“I was bending over to put the fire out and most of my beard just melted away. I didn't get burned but I smelled pretty bad."

As you can see by his picture he still looks pretty much like the real Santa. I was convinced so I contributed.

His name is Ron Villaincourt and he lives in Tukwila.

I watched him for awhile and not many walked by who thought he was an impostor. Most helped fill the kettle. He said he used to work for the Salvation Army outside Southcenter Macy's until some shopper felt he and his wife (she also works a Red Kettle station) were taking too long a lunch break and turned them in.

It was bad enough losing half his beard but he got sent from Macy’s to Big Lots. Still he is good natured and smiles easily like a Santa should.

"People tell me I am kinda grouchy," he said. I didn't.

The job is not easy. You have to act cheerful even when it is miserable outside. Kids just don't believe in a Santa without a smile. That even makes me skeptical.

While I was watching him work a young black man came up, put some money in the kettle and with a big grin said, "Merry Christmas, Santa."

He was obviously a believer so I asked him if I could take his picture and run it in the paper. He said, "You bet."

He lives in Burien and his name is Don Cassell. When I asked Don if he was related to the NBA basketball star Sam Cassell, he said, "I sure am. He is my half brother."

I believed him but then to show he was not an impostor he took out his wallet and showed me his identification.

I said, "Wow, Don. You look like Sam's twin."

“I wish I had his money," he said with a grin as he bounced away. "Merry Christmas."