‘Right,’ said Ears, doing a quick head count. ‘You’ve seen all the active areas of Santa’s Kingdom and I’ve got to take you somewhere else now, but we’ll have to go right back through the factory and everything again, so stay close, we need to hurry up a bit.’
Ears led them quickly back to where they’d started, in what Evangeline now understood was Santa’s main toy warehouse.
It was just as busy as before, with all the elves rushing to and fro with trolleys of brand-new toys collected from the conveyer belts.
For a moment or two the recruits stood waiting while Ears and Nancy had a quick chat. Evangeline was happy to have a minute to catch her breath and try and digest all the new things she’d learned in this latest exciting area of Upstairs.
She was idly watching the conveyor belt of new toys trundling along when she saw a large panda go past. The belt stopped for the elves to load their trolleys and it just lay there, inactive, staring into space like all the other new toys which hadn’t yet been activated by their children.
Ears signalled for the recruits to follow him and started off towards the big wooden doors they had come in by. As Evangeline walked past the panda, lying inert on the conveyor belt, something very odd happened; she was sure she saw its glittering black eyes move, watching her.
She was so surprised she glanced back to see if she was right, but it was lying still again with its eyes turned up to the ceiling. I must have imagined it, she thought. But as she stepped through the gate after the others, she felt a cold shiver run from the end of her trunk right down to her toenails.
THE gate took them immediately back into the open air – and it was snowing. Which was a relief for Evangeline, as it explained that unpleasant shiver. How silly she’d been to think a new toy which hadn’t been activated could have looked at her like that, and she put it out of her mind, turning her attention back to where they were going next.
The path they were walking on was clear, but there was thick snow lying all around them as they made their way along an avenue of very tall Christmas trees. The first few were plain, but as they went along, decorations appeared on the trees. First it was just lights, then there was tinsel, and then glass baubles and trinkets, until finally the trees were completely decked out.
Right at the end of the avenue they came to two very large and splendidly decorated trees that had big gold stars on the top of them. The trees were standing on either side of a wooden house which had steep roofs almost down to the ground on each side. It had a bright red front door decorated with a holly wreath trimmed with glass baubles and gold ribbon. As they got closer, the door suddenly opened and there he was – Santa.
The recruits came to a sudden halt with surprise and then, as one, they ran forward and hugged him.
‘Ho ho ho,’ he said. ‘How lovely to see you all. I’ve been waiting for you lot. Welcome. Now come in out of this snow.’
Even though she had never met him before and knew she wasn’t one of his toys, originally, because she’d been bought in a toy shop, Evangeline felt as though she was being reunited with her very best old friend. All her tiredness and confusion left her and she just glowed with happiness.
They followed him inside to a cosy room with a roaring fire in the hearth. Santa sat down next to it on a big throne-like chair made from reindeer antlers and all the toys settled themselves around his feet. Except for Kylie, who climbed straight onto his lap.
‘Hello again, Kylie, my boy,’ said Santa, smiling at him and stroking his ears. ‘I bet you were surprised to get that name when I delivered you Downstairs. Ho ho ho.’
They all laughed with him. It wasn’t unkind laughter, but the nice sharing-a-joke kind.
‘I think it suits you, though, don’t you?’ said Santa.
Kylie nodded, too excited to speak, and rested his head on Santa’s comfortable tummy.
‘And you, Geraldine, did you enjoy your time Downstairs?’
‘Oh, yes,’ said the giraffe, nodding her elegant neck. ‘I was treated very well, but I am very happy to be back here. I always wondered if I would ever come back. I still remember being wrapped, you see.’
Santa smiled at her and turned his gaze to Senior Bear, who was sitting on the floor with a very straight back.
‘I remember the sleigh ride,’ he said, quietly and proudly. ‘Every detail. I was so excited every Christmas Eve because I hoped I would hear your sleigh bells again, but I never did.’
‘That’s because you were such a good bear, concentrating entirely on your little boy while you were Downstairs,’ said Santa. ‘Although my toys do always remember their time in my workshop, before they’ve been fully activated. I always think it makes coming back Upstairs easier for you all.’
Evangeline was beginning to feel rather left out. Although she was delighted to meet Santa, she knew she didn’t have any previous connection with him, or pre-activation memories of his Kingdom, and she was starting to feel like she shouldn’t be there at all. She felt like an imposter.
Just as she was wondering if she could slip away while no one was looking and find her way back to the Wish Keeper’s Garden, and then perhaps back to Andrew the Anteater, she felt a warm hand on the top of her head. Evangeline lifted her eyes to see Santa looking at her with a very kind expression on his face.
‘Evangeline,’ he said, his face creasing with smiles as he looked at her. ‘I am so happy to meet you at last. You didn’t come from here, originally, so we haven’t met before, but Andrew has told me all about you and I can see you are just as fine a toy as he told me you were. From what I’ve heard, I don’t think you got to play as big a role Downstairs as you would have liked – and were more than capable of – but I think we can put that right up here. I’m sure we can find a very special job for you.’
Evangeline immediately felt better and by the time an elf had brought them all big mugs of hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows on the top, she was able to relax and enjoy the chat like everyone else.
When they had finished their drinks, Santa gently put Kylie back on the floor next to Evangeline and looked down at them all seriously.
‘Now we have to make the big decisions,’ he said.
Evangeline felt Kylie’s paw slip into her hand and she squeezed it.
Santa was still looking at them, narrowing his eyes and moving his head from side to side.
‘Hmmm,’ he said, after a moment. ‘This is interesting. You see, Senior Bear, you are a very accomplished teddy and there are two roles I think you could take on very well, so you can choose. You can work in the mail room, or on sleigh maintenance. Your choice.’
Senior Bear stood up proudly and squared his furry shoulders.
‘Thank you, Santa, sir,’ he said, respectfully. ‘I would very much like to work with the sleigh, they are fascinating vehicles – and then perhaps sometimes I could also work in the mail room …’
Santa nodded and laughed. ‘Yes, Senior Bear,’ he said. ‘In your case I will make an exception. You are an exceptional bear and more than capable of two different roles, so I will grant your request.’
Then he glanced quickly towards the other end of the room and clicked his fingers. An elf appeared and, taking Senior Bear by the paw, led him through the front door and out of the house. Evangeline and Kylie sadly watched him go. They hadn’t even had a chance to say goodbye.
Next, Santa turned to Geraldine. ‘You are easier, Miss Geraldine,’ he said. ‘Madame Fanfan has particularly requested you for her design studio. She needs an African toy in there to advise her.’
Geraldine beamed as Santa clicked his fingers again and another elf came to escort her away. As she got to the door she stopped and waved at them, smiling broadly. Evangeline and Kylie waved back and then suddenly realised they were the only new recruits left.
‘Now,’ said Santa. ‘This is another decision which is easy for me – but perhaps not for you two.’
Oh, no, thought Evangeline, her heart sinking. It was
going to be Madame Fanfan for her, too.
‘Kylie,’ said Santa. ‘You are also going to Madame Fanfan. You are going to specialise in dolls’ clothing – evening wear.’
‘Yes!’ said Kylie, jumping to his feet and punching the air with his paw, before throwing his arms around Evangeline.
‘Oh, Vangie,’ he said. ‘I’m so happy. I’ll miss you horribly, but be happy for me, won’t ya?’
Evangeline hugged him and buried her face in his furry neck, but then she heard Santa click his fingers and she knew he had to go.
‘Goodbye, Kylie,’ she said, quickly. ‘Thank you for being my friend – my best ever friend – and good luck!’
‘Don’t worry,’ said Santa. ‘I know you two are very sad to be separated, but you will see each other again. It’s not goodbye forever. You are going to see a lot more of each other …’
Despite his kind words, Evangeline felt her eyes well up as she watched Kylie walk out of the door, led by Ears. They gave her one last wave and then were gone.
She was still staring after them, fighting back tears, when suddenly Kylie’s head appeared back around the door. He blew Evangeline one last kiss and then he really was gone.
Evangeline gazed after him, feeling even sadder than she had when she lived alone under the bed. She almost wished she’d never had friends it was so horrible saying goodbye to them.
She turned back to Santa and he smiled kindly, patting his knee.
‘Come and sit here, you dear little elephant,’ he said.
Evangeline climbed up and immediately felt a bit better, but she still couldn’t understand why she, of all the new recruits, had been left on her own. Everyone else had been given a fascinating job and she – who had always been so keen to be useful and join in – was just left hanging around again.
‘I imagine you are wondering what you are going to get to do,’ said Santa, tapping her playfully on the trunk.
Evangeline nodded, desperately wondering if she would ever be useful to anyone, ever.
‘Well, I don’t have a job for you here,’ he said.
Evangeline felt her heart sink and fill with disappointment. She thought that this time she really would cry, but then Santa spoke again. ‘But there is something far more special planned for you – isn’t there, Nancy?’
Evangeline hadn’t even realised Nancy was still there, until the little doll stepped forward, smiling broadly.
‘What am I going to do?’ asked Evangeline.
‘You,’ said Santa, his red cheeks pouching up as he smiled, ‘are going to be a Wish Keeper’s Helper.’
‘Like me!’ said Nancy.
‘What do I have to do?’ said Evangeline, realising she should be pleased, but still feeling bewildered. ‘I thought we were all Wish Keeper’s Helpers up here …’
‘Ah, but you will work directly with the Wish Keeper himself,’ said Santa, looking serious.
‘Who is the Wish Keeper?’ said Evangeline. ‘Andrew mentioned him when I first arrived Upstairs, but I don’t know who he is.’
‘He’s in charge of everything Upstairs,’ said Santa, kindly. ‘He’s our boss, isn’t he, Nancy?’
Nancy smiled and nodded. ‘He’s responsible for every wish of every child in the world Downstairs,’ she said. ‘And like me – and Santa and the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy —you are going to work directly for him.’
Evangeline stared at them with wide eyes.
‘It’s a great honour,’ added Nancy, puffing her little chest out.
She knew she should be thrilled, but Evangeline was starting to feel something very close to panic.
‘But what have I done to deserve it?’ she asked, her voice quivering a bit.
Santa and Nancy were still smiling broadly.
‘You’ve done a lot more than you realise,’ said Santa.
‘But what?’ said Evangeline.
‘Well, you noticed the second unwish in the Easter Bunny’s egg room, didn’t you?’ said Santa.
Evangeline nodded slowly.
‘And you found the black tooth unwish, which I’d so stupidly dropped,’ said Nancy.
‘But they were both just accidents,’ exclaimed Evangeline. ‘I didn’t do anything. I just happened to notice them …’
Santa and Nancy looked at each other and laughed.
‘Don’t worry, Evangeline,’ said Santa, pulling her towards him and kissing the top of her head. ‘You’ll understand when you see the Wish Keeper again. He’ll explain it all to you.’
‘Where do I go to find him?’ she asked, bravely.
‘Back to the Wish Keeper’s Garden, of course,’ said Santa. ‘Nancy will show you the way.’
NANCY led the way through Santa’s front door and this time Evangeline wasn’t at all surprised to find herself immediately back in the sunny walled garden. Perhaps she was finally beginning to understand how things worked Upstairs. What had Kylie said? Just go with the flow …
Nancy had stopped next to the fountain. ‘Are you ready?’ she asked, her eyes shining brightly through her little round glasses.
‘Yes,’ said Evangeline, wondering what she was supposed to be ready for, but feeling it would sound silly to ask.
‘Okay, then,’ said Nancy, and taking Evangeline’s hand she jumped into the fountain. Not into the shallow pool around the edge, but right into the middle where the water shot up into the air.
Evangeline just had time to take a big breath before she heard, rather than felt, a loud splash.
She braced herself for the cold shock of the water, but instead she found herself falling. Not in a frightening way, but nicely, like rolling down a gentle slope, and there didn’t seem to be any water anywhere.
Eventually she landed on something soft, and sitting up and blinking a few times, she looked around to see she was surrounded by grass, which had lovely flowers growing through it.
She looked up and there was a wide blue sky, with a few little plump white clouds scudding across it. And then, looking around, she saw trees busy with birds and, just behind her, a hedgerow full of white flowers with bees and insects buzzing around them.
Was it a meadow? Evangeline asked herself. It looked like what the sunbeams had described to her and she sniffed the air to see if it was soft and fragrant as they had told her. It was. Then she saw a baby rabbit hop across the grass in front of her, it’s fluffy white tail bouncing up and down as it went.
Evangline was so happy she threw herself back onto the soft grass and rolled around in it, kicking her legs in the air and making little whooping noises.
A few moments later she realised someone was laughing and, coming to an abrupt stop, she found herself looking at a pair of furry feet. She sat up, very embarrassed, to see a familiar friendly face, with its slightly crossed eyes. It was Andrew the Anteater.
‘Andrew!’ said Evangeline, delighted to see him.
‘Hello, Evangeline,’ he said.
‘You said we’d meet again,’ she replied. ‘I’m so pleased. Here – I can give your hanky back.’
She pulled it out of her pocket and handed it to him. Andrew smiled down at it and tucked it into his pocket.
‘I’ve had so many adventures since I saw you,’ Evangeline began, almost babbling with excitement. ‘I did as you said, and when I found myself in the garden, I gave your scroll to the first person I met, which of course was …’
Then she looked around and realised Nancy wasn’t there.
‘Oh,’ she said, surprised. ‘I thought Nancy would be here. We jumped into the fountain together. She was taking me to meet the Wish Keeper. I’m going to be working directly for him,’ she added shyly, but proudly.
‘That’s right,’ said Andrew. ‘I pretty much knew from the moment I met you what your role would be, but you had to do the full Induction so you would understand what we do Upstairs and everyone you met confirmed my first impression. You really are a special toy.’
‘Gosh,’ said Evangeline. ‘That is very kind of them
all.’
She looked around the meadow, leaning back to feel the sun on her face and breathing deeply to savour the sweet air.
‘Do you like it here?’ asked Andrew, gently, sitting down next to her.
‘Oh, I love it,’ said Evangeline. ‘It’s what I’ve always dreamed of seeing, ever since I heard about meadows.’
‘Well, this is a wish come true for you, Evangeline. Being here.’
‘Wow,’ said Evangeline. ‘It’s amazing. What a feeling to have your wish granted! I’ve never been so happy.’
‘That’s the whole point,’ said Andrew, smiling fondly at her. ‘I wanted you to experience it, so you will know what it’s like for the children when you make their wishes come true. You already know what disappointment feels like …’
Evangeline remembered all the times she had been left behind when other toys had gone out into the garden, or been taken to the seaside, and she’d been left behind.
She’d felt the same saying goodbye to Robert, Derek and most of all, Kylie. She nodded sadly, but then smiled again. She still missed her friends, but she knew they were happy to have been given such important responsibilities, and it was so lovely there in the meadow it didn’t seem to matter so much now. She lay down on the spongy grass again and rolled around to make the most of it.
Andrew did the same thing for a while and then he jumped up and said, ‘Let’s play tag. You’re It!’ He touched her lightly on the shoulder with a paw and then ran off, with Evangeline in fast pursuit. They carried on like this for a long time, until they were so puffed out they dropped down on the grass again.
Evangeline lay on her back and just watched the sky going past overhead.
After a while, she sighed happily and then sat up again. Andrew was leaning back on his elbows, looking at her.
‘Well, this has been such fun,’ said Evangeline, scratching behind her ears with her trunk, where the grass had made her head itchy. ‘The most fun I’ve ever had, but I think I’d better go and see the Wish Keeper now and get my instructions. Can you tell me where I can find him?’
Evangeline Wish Keeper's Helper Page 8