The string of white lights tracing the downtown skyline flickered on suddenly and, from behind the roof ledge of Weaver’s Department Store, Santa popped out.

He waved to the crowd of clamoring children filling the sidewalks near Ninth and Massachusetts streets.

That was three weeks ago. Where were you?

If you missed the big shebang – stuck at home, work or elsewhere – or if your child simply needs a little more Santa in his or her life before Christmas, don’t worry.

During these next weeks, you can find – cover the children’s eyes now – at least two different Santas in town.

One is easy to find, making public appearances for any child to see. The other – a private, quieter Santa – goes house to house, visiting neighbors and friends for the holidays.

Public Santa

On the bench inside McDonald’s, 4911 W. Sixth St., 4-year-old Andrew Decker was describing what he wanted for Christmas: an action toy. He was so excited he was shaking.

“And, and, and, and it has this thing that shoots out,” he said, waving his hands.

Larry Kline sat back in his huge red suit and long white beard, smiling.

Kline has been a holiday Santa for 35 years now. From about the beginning of December until Christmas Day, he makes stops across town to meet and greet children eager to deliver their holiday wishes.

“Some of the kids are pretty scared,” Kline said as he sat in a swiveling chair near the children’s playroom.

But he’s been at it so long, he knows how to get them on his lap. The trick: offering them a high-five.

“It’s all about hands,” he said after high-fiving a shy girl there with her family.

Kline tries to visit with as many children as he can during the holidays because, in many ways, the Santa job has been kind of a public mission for him. The holidays, he said, are not just about gifts and trees, Santas and wants.

“I think Santa should have a message,” he said.

Every year, he comes to his Santa events ready with a message for his admirers. The last few years, he said, the message has been the same.

And what message is that? Well, Hunter Barnes was going to be the first kid that night to take a guess.

He hopped on Kline’s lap, and Kline tapped him on the shoulder three times.

“Do you know what those taps stand for?” he asked.

Barnes stared back, silent.

“Let me give you a hint,” Kline said. “It starts with the letter ‘I.'”

After a moment, Barnes said it as a question: “I love you?”

“Yeah,” Kline said back. “That’s great. That’s a great message, isn’t it?”

Private Santa

In the basement cedar closet, stashed away in Carl Kurt’s house, the Santa suit sits most of the year.

But as the Christmas season approaches, the Kansas University civil engineering professor knows it’s time to drag the cardboard box out and unwrap his holiday calling card.

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Even then, Kurt only dons the big red suit for special occasions.

Ten years ago, Kurt started going around the neighborhood dressed as St. Nick as a favor for friends and their kids.

“Well, you know,” Kurt said. “One thing led to another.”

Soon enough, other friends and co-workers learned of Kurt’s Santa act and asked him to visit their family get-togethers.

Then the Boys and Girls Club asked him to do a show. He’s on the board there, after all, and the kids needed a good Santa showing.

“It’s kind of gotten out of hand,” he said.

Kurt isn’t the Santa you’ll find at the mall – not by a long shot. He is a private man and, in turn, transforms into a private Santa during the holidays.

He said he doesn’t mind the neighborhood appearances, showing up for a small groups of his friends’ children.

But on Christmas Eve and Christmas itself, Kurt doesn’t get near the suit. Those days are reserved for him – private time to enjoy the holiday.

Kurt doesn’t have family here. He has brothers on both coasts and a son in Eagle, Colo.

He said his Santa act isn’t a way for him to be around families for the holidays.

“I don’t do it for that,” he said sharply.

But with the next breath, he talked about the experiences that keep him coming back dressed as Santa year after year.

“What’s neat about it is you realize that there are a whole slug of families that really care about kids,” he said.

One year, he showed up at a house and a child there asked him how fast his sled went.

Kurt leaned down and explained his new Sledometer. He described Rudolph’s incredible speed.

The child, Kurt said, was amazed.

“That’s the thing,” he said. “I enjoy seeing the thrill, the excitement of Santa slowing up at the house.”