I met Santa: The real one. He’s a bit taller than I imagined.

Santa’s red sled is the same shade as his fire engine. I wondered, if on one Christmas Eve, as Santa slid down a chimney and landed in cinders, did he consider being a firefighter so he could slide down a fire pole, too?

And on another morning, did Santa wake up and realize that if he became a grammar school Physical Education teacher, he would learn the names of all the children in Warwick? (Not to mention, have access to their report card grades.)

Because that’s exactly what Santa Paul, a true Renaissance Man, ended up doing on his 364 days off.

Santa Paul “Paul Evans,” taught Physical Education for 35 years at St. Peter School in Warwick as well as at St. Benedict, under the alias Mr. Evans, while serving as a City of Warwick Fire Department Lieutenant and Emergency Medical Technician at nearby Station No. 2. You may wonder how this might be possible, but you recall, of course, that Santa can be in several places at once. Believe.

Santa wears many hats: he dons his Santa hat throughout the year for special events and, of course, on December 24. He wears his firefighter’s hat on his long shifts, and his baseball cap when teaching gym class. When he steps into his role as grandfather to his six beloved grandchildren, he is simply Papa Hoho, no headwear required.

In his latest reincarnation, Santa/Mr. Evans/Lieutenant put on his thinking cap, and wrote his first book, “Please, Just Leave the Glass,” which arrived in print last month, lovingly illustrated by Rhode Island School of Design alumnus Elisha Gillette. It even contains Santa’s handy Behavior Chart, and a coloring page.

To celebrate the book’s release, Santa (with the help of Mrs. Claus, AKA Peggy, to whom he has been married for 44 years) has invited his fraternal firefighters, fellow Santas, former students, friends and family to the Knights of Columbus Hall on Sandy Lane in Warwick on Sunday, November 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Santa will bring his autographed books, and review his helpful Behavior Chart with good little girls and boys and their parents.

Santa’s sweet story takes place one Christmas Eve when little Juliet, unable to sleep, is startled by a noise and tiptoes out of her bedroom to discover the jolly old elf in her kitchen! He makes himself at home in a comfortable chair and beckons her to join him for a chat. Santa explains it all. Who knew that Santa’s reindeer liked cold pizza and mac n’ cheese, or how naughty his elves could be?!

Santa Paul’s book is available for $25 at BarnesandNoble.com and Amazon, with more books being printed as quickly as his little elves can get them on the shelves. For a personalized copy, visit justleavetheglass.com.

You can also catch Santa and Mrs. Claus on Saturday, December 9 in Apponaug for Warwick‘s Holiday Parade and Stroll, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. But don’t tug on Santa’s beard – it’s real.