North Las Vegas residents have doubled as Mr. and Mrs. Claus for nearly 20 years

You better watch out, you better not cry, better not pout, I'm telling you why: Santa Claus isn't just coming to town — he lives in North Las Vegas.

This is the Christmas story of Don Schaefer and his wife, Gaylynne, who have been portraying Mr. and Mrs. Claus for roughly 20 years.

"I don't play at being Santa Claus; I have to become Santa Claus," Don said. "You have to realize that Santa Claus is the most important thing this child is thinking about right now. When you walk into a room, he's the most recognizable person. Everybody knows his name."

It all began in 1999 after Don, now 73, retired as an officer with Bank of America and moved to Las Vegas from California.

He started volunteering at the Magical Forest, Opportunity Village's annual winter wonderland fundraiser, and became the morning-shift Santa. A year later, his wife joined in on the action and started playing Mrs. Claus.

"I prepare children to meet Santa," Gaylynne said. "Some of them are really excited, and others are really shy or nervous, so we'll practice deep breathing exercises."

Gaylynne will help Don break the ice by spotting nervous children ahead of time and asking for their names. She'll then sneak away to Don and give him a heads-up.

"By the time I see the child walking up to me, I can say, 'Oh, Robert! I've been expecting you,' " Don said.

The duo meets regularly with school groups, including those who participate through Cheyenne's Magical School Bus Tours program, which provides field trips through the Magical Forest for students from at-risk schools.

"They (the Schaefers) have this indescribable passion," said Charlene Blackstone, events manager at Opportunity Village. "They enjoy doing what they do, and it shows."

"A lot of these children from at-risk schools have never sat on Santa's lap before," Don said. "This is an opportunity for them to meet Santa and tell him what they'd like for Christmas. A lot of them will say, 'Santa, can we please have a Christmas tree this year or new pair of shoes?' And I look down and see their shoes should've been replaced years ago."

Don even played Santa in front of an international audience in Thailand, where he lived for four years, and was asked to play Santa for a shopping mall's TV commercial. The inspiration for his calling came from Don's father.

"He played Santa Claus for a number of years, and I just saw how much he enjoyed it," Don said.

Being a second-generation Santa Claus is a duty that Don takes seriously. He doesn't just let children sit on his lap and pose for photos — he listens to their hearts and visions, whether they be materialistic or in need of hope. He also doesn't make promises, instead he says, "I'll see what Santa can do."

On a recent sunny December morning at the Magical Forest, children from Thomas Elementary School, 1560 Cherokee Lane, were all smiles and giggles after meeting the bearded hero.

"This is an opportunity for us to share the children's dreams or small fantasy world," Don said.

Playing the holiday star isn't all Christmas cheer. He's heard some devastating stories as well.

"One time, I asked a little girl what she wanted for Christmas, and she said she wanted her daddy to come home," Don said. "Her mother told me that he was killed in Afghanistan. Things like that tear you up."

Santa isn't popular among only children; adults also benefit from jolly St. Nick. Don and Gaylynne have made appearances for cancer patients, adults with disabilities and at retirement centers.

"We've gone to retirement homes, and I once had this 90- or 93-year-old lady sit on my lap. I asked her if she was OK, and she replied, "Honey, any chance I get to be near a man I'm OK," Don said with a smile.

Over the years, Don and Gaylynne have also made it their duty to partner with schools and answer students' letters to Santa.

"Kids ask us if Santa's reindeers gets the flu during Christmas, and we wrote back that reindeers get their shots every year," Don said. "They also wanted to know where we shop when we run out of food and if there are girl elves in the North Pole. You have to come up with answers. Children expect answers."

In addition, the couple have a deal called Believe! for locals who want to have Mr. and Mrs. Claus visit their children. The rate is $30 per hour for a minimum of one hour and should be booked well in advance of the holiday season. They show up with candy canes and work with the parents to find out where the child goes to school, if he has an Elf on the Shelf, one thing the child needs to work on, and two or three good things about him.

"I tell the children, (we) don't expect you to be perfect but expect you to try to be better," Gaylynne said.

Some parents will also leave small toys on the porch for the Clauses to give to the children.

"We've done everything from cry to laugh hysterically," Don said. "We do this not for fame and fortune but because it provides —especially me — an opportunity to share in the dreams of thousands of children who have dreamed about visiting with Santa. He lives in our hearts."

To contact the Schaefers for Believe!, email santa.claus-ov@cox.net.

For more information about Cheyenne's Magical School Bus Tours program or to donate, visit opportunityvillage.org or call 702-259-3700.

— To reach North View reporter Sandy Lopez, email slopez@viewnews.com or call 702-383-4686. Find her on Twitter: @JournalismSandy