One man stands out from the crowds of people flocking to the malls after Thanksgiving. A long white beard frames his smiling face, and children wait in line for a chance to sit in his lap.

Though these familiar figures invade shopping malls around the country, the red-and-white suited man at Northbrook Court insists his name really is Santa and his home is the North Pole.

But this Santa, whose given name is R.H. Heller, is from Plaza, N.D., not the North Pole. A shopping mall Santa for five years, this is his third holiday season at Northbrook Court.

“I like working with kids,” Heller said. “They’re fun.”

Heller, who sees up to several hundred children each day, said what he wants for Christmas is peace — but that the children who visit him come bursting with other gift requests.

“I’m going to ask Santa for a new Easy Bake Oven,” said Kristi Debruzzi, 3, adding that she also wants a craft kit and a tumbling mat.

Her brother Nick, 5, also has a wish list. Last year Santa granted his request for a Thomas the Tank Engine, the board game Mousetrap and an air hockey game, but this year Nick has his eyes set on new toys.

“I was going to ask him for a GameBoy Advance,” he said. “You can play games on it. It’s cool.”

Today’s popular toys include electronic games, Barbie and Pok