Princess Claus and the Great Escape

by J L Gillham

  Then being the next Santa could feel more like a job. I would continue with training and deliver gifts on Christmas. But, maybe during my free time I could see the world. I close my eyes and imagine all the places I’ll visit.

  Sometime later, a gasp wakes me. The endless clouds and movement of the sleigh lulled me to sleep better than Dad’s powder. “That’s it!” I shout, remembering back to the day I ran through the entrance of Winter Wonderland and smacked right into Finn. One of the five elves who almost attacked Finn held a giant container that looked like a salt shaker. At the time, I wondered what was inside. Now I realize it was Dad’s sleeping powder. Clever elves. If you can’t subdue your enemy, send him off to dreamland.

  I stretch and yawn as I look over the side of the sleigh. That’s when I get a glimpse of what made Aurora gasp. Winter Wonderland from above is nothing short of spectacular.

  “It really does look like a snow globe.” I say. As we near home, I see what looks like a white spiderweb covering a small portion of the top. “What’s that?” Finn asks.

  “I don’t know, but it isn’t good,” Nicky says.

  The closer we get to the dome, the easier it is to see the fishing-line-thin cracks. There isn’t a clear starting point, a trunk they branched off from. Instead, it’s a web of loose zigzags like a toddler threw his plate of angel hair noodles on the floor. I shiver more than ever, not just from the cold, but from knowing that my tantrum the other day caused not just one snow globe to be damaged but two.

  “Oh, no,” I cry.

  My brother looks at me, but then back to the destruction. He offers no accusations thrown in my direction. Good. And maybe this development calls for a sibling rivalry time-out.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  We pass through the magical barrier a good hundred feet away from the crack. “Something must’ve happened while we were gone,” Nicky says.

  I bite my lip, wondering if I should volunteer my secret about how I know he’s wrong.

  “You don’t think we caused it?” Aurora asks. “Did the sleigh break a hole in the dome when we left?”

  “No, it doesn’t matter where we exit through,” Nicky answers. However, his tone hints at him being unsure.

  It’s just a coincidence, I tell myself. But the closer we get, the harder it is to believe the lie. I recognize the crack, because it is an exact replica of the one on the magical snow globe still.

  I vow to find a way to fix this. I’ll get a small amount of every liquid, gel, and powder in Winter Wonderland and try them until I know what works. Then, somehow, I’ll get to the top of the dome and use a massive amount of the antidote and fix the dome with it too. It must be made from the same material as the snow globe, so whatever fixes the miniature will fix the extra-large dome.

  Nicky lands the sleigh near the barn right where it was this morning before we left. “I need to check something,” I say, while scrambling out.

  “No, I don’t need any help putting everything away. Thanks for asking!” Nicky shouts in my direction.

  Once I’m directly under what looks like the center of the crack, I stare up at it. A shiver runs up my entire body. As I begin my trudge toward a hot shower, I realize there is a pattern on the snow. The crack above has made a matching shadow pattern.

  “Maybe next time we could do a sleepover,” Aurora says from behind me.

  I jump at the sound. I’d been so focused on the crack I hadn’t noticed her. When I look in her direction, I see she’s biting her lip and there is a crease on her forehead.

  “Why not?” I make sure to sound like I mean it. Her forehead instantly smooths, and a grin fills her face.

  “Great!” Aurora gives me a quick hug and runs off. I can barely make out her sharing with Finn that she’s going to spend the night in Winter Wonderland soon.

  Finn gives me a quick glance and catches me staring at him. I look down at my feet and kick an imaginary rock. Then, with head still lowered, I raise my eyes. I’m just in time to watch both of them walk toward the main entrance. Each holds one of the coolers we brought.

  For a moment, I worry Finn is leaving, and the sadness I feel surprises me. But before I can examine those feelings, I realize Nicky is headed in my direction.

  Nicky has a backpack slung over his shoulder. Once near enough to be within hearing distance, he shouts, “Next time you don’t need to hide under the seat, Stealthy Elf!” Then he jogs to catch up to Finn and Aurora.

  Well, Stealthy Elf is a better nickname than Princess Claus. However, I doubt it’ll stick.

  “Noelle.” Dad walks toward me from inside the reindeer barn and unknowingly toward the evidence of the cracked snow globe.

  Fiddle-d-fizz. I should’ve gone in with everyone else. I cringe as I wonder which of my secrets he’s uncovered. I wave at him and begin talking as I walk toward Homebase, hoping he’ll follow and not look up.

  “Hi, Dad. How are you?” I ask in a cheery tone, turning my head to see him but not stopping.

  “You ventured out past the barrier?” Dad asks, even though I am sure he knows the answer. Most likely he saw our reentrance.

  My mouth opens to explain or defend myself. However, no sound comes out.

  A moment later, Nicky approaches. He must’ve seen Dad coming and turned back toward us. I’m surprised Nicky didn’t hide in Homebase. “It wasn’t her fault. See, we were playing hide and seek. She didn’t know I’d quit and hijacked the sleigh to take my girl...” he pauses for a moment, then starts up again, “Aurora to the beach.”

  Dad finally takes his eyes off me and rests them on Nicky. He places a hand on Nicky’s shoulder. “Noelle, you know it’s too dangerous, especially right before Christmas.” Dad sighs. “I understand how difficult it must be for you to never get to leave your home, but it’s just—”

  “Too dangerous,” Nicky finishes for him. “We promise, Dad. No more escapes.”

  I can just barely see behind Nicky’s back. His fingers are crossed. So, I wasn’t the only one itching for a taste of freedom all along.

  “And just how did you get past the wall?” Dad asks.

  “We used one of the back-up sleighs,” Nicky answers.

  I don’t correct him. He still doesn’t know about my map of Winter Wonderland where I tried to escape, sometimes using Dad’s sleigh, and always failing.

  “That wouldn’t do it. What else did you do?” Dad shakes his head.

  Just then Jolly approaches. “Santa, there’s a problem with...” He grimaces, then glances back and forth between Nicky and me.

  “It’s alright. They can handle grown-up problems.” Dad doesn’t make eye contact with either of us.

  Jolly nods. “You see, it’s just that...” He looks up at the ceiling.

  “It’s alright!” Dad says with a hint of impatience.

  “There’s a crack in the dome covering Winter Wonderland!” Jolly shouts, finally able to get it out.

  I bite my lip. Nicky shoves his hands in his pockets. Fortunately, Dad doesn’t bother to look at us. I take that as a sign he doesn’t think we had anything to do with it.

  “A crack. Are you sure?” Dad begins walking, Jolly at his side. “Show me.”

  All Jolly has to do is point up. Before Dad has a chance to accuse us, Nicky steps forward. “Sorry, I should’ve told you right away that we saw the crack before we reentered Winter Wonderland.”

  “Did you notice it when you left?” Jolly asks. He crosses his arms.

  I wonder if he doesn’t believe Nicky. However, that is unlikely since he considers Nicky to be above reproach and also the perfect Santa if he were only allowed.

  “This is awful,” Dad says as he cranes his neck back to get a better look.

  “Santa,” Jolly whispers as he tugs on Dad’s coat.

  Dad looks down at him as the elf angles his head in Nicky’s and my direction.

  “What I mean is, I’m sure we’ll have it fixed in no time. Meanwhile, why don’t the two of you get inside where it’s warm?
” Dad doesn’t wait for a response. Instead, he and Jolly walk toward the reindeer barn in the opposite direction of Homebase. Although neither says a word, I’m sure once Nicky and I are out of earshot they will continue the conversation. As I watch my dad, I see him begin to rub his temples, and hope he’s not getting a headache.

  “Saved by the news that is worse than our little temporary hiatus.” Nicky laughs, clearly more excited that the crack got him out of a lecture than worried about the reason behind or devastation that could be caused by the crack.

  I wish I could be as relieved as him. However, although no one knows I’m to blame, that is a small consolation after discovering how dreadful the crack in the dome above is. What will happen if it remains? Or gets worse?

  Without a glance in my direction, Nicky begins walking to Homebase. To my surprise, he utters no “You owe me,” for lying about my little stowaway on the sleigh. This new leaf he turned over seems to be long lasting.

  I can’t believe my own thoughts, but for the first time, I want to be like my little brother. I want to want to be the next Santa like he does. The problem is no matter how hard I force myself into the role assigned to me before I was born, I feel nothing but anger. This isn’t the life for me. I want my life to be unwritten, not etched in a magical book.

  “Nicky,” I say as I catch up to him.

  “Yeah?” He keeps walking.

  I’m glad I don’t have to look him in the eyes as we walk side by side; otherwise, I might not have the strength. “You’d make the best Santa.” Then I do something I haven’t done since we were kids. I give him a hug. It only lasts a moment.

  “Dork,” he teases and ruffles my hair. Then he jogs to Homebase.

  Suddenly, I hear the faint sound of jingle bells. It’s not the tea-time sound. Instead, I look up to see Mom coming from Homebase, and I stop walking.

  Nicky gives her a high-five as he passes, plus a quick greeting, but he doesn’t stop running until he’s made it inside without a second lecture. If only I could be so lucky. After a quick glance, I realize there’s nowhere to hide.

  “Princess Claus, what were you thinking? Ebenezer could’ve kidnapped you,” Mom says as she approaches me. Fiddle-d-Fizz. So much for keeping Mom out of the loop.

  I see her second-favorite sweater dress peeking out of the bottom of her coat. It’s got thirty tiny metal bells attached to the bottom, reminding me of a tassel dangling from a graduation cap.

  “Nothing happened. No evil elf, and I’m back safe and sound.” I wrap my arms around myself and stare at my feet.

  Mom cups my face. She forces the ghost of a smile.

  “Mom,” I start speaking, but pause. What I’m about to try and find out is something I would’ve wanted to know when I was set on escaping and not coming back. But now that I’m going to follow Finn’s advice and step into my literal and figurative Santa boots, should I just let it go? It only takes a moment’s hesitation to know I can’t. Mysteries and unanswered questions are like mosquito bites that have to be itched.

  “Why didn’t the alarm go off when we exited and entered the dome?” I bite my lip, hoping she won’t keep the answer from me as a form of punishment for today’s escapade. And she doesn’t even know about the fire on the island. I can’t imagine how much her disappointment would grow if Nicky or I told her about that.

  “To be honest, your father and I never imagined you trying to escape any way but through the only entrance.” She glances up at the dome.

  I move a step toward her, taking her hands in my own to distract her from looking up. I’m not sure if Dad will tell her about the crack in the dome. And if he doesn’t, I surely don’t want her discovering it, not just because of an increased time of being grounded, but because she already worries so much about me. There’s no need to pile worry on top of worry.

  Mom looks down at our hands. Her shoulders lower and although she sighs, it seems more like it’s from relief than fear. Then, she continues her explanation. “Well, I guess flying a sleigh through the ceiling of the dome has proven to be another way. But up until today, that was only used on Christmas Eve to deliver gifts.”

  She drops my hands. Then she wraps one of her own around her waist. The other cups her cheek as she contemplates. “I suppose we’ll have to work on that.”

  “You don’t need an alarm anymore.” I stand straight and look directly at Mom. She meets my gaze.

  “I’m going to do my best when I’m the next Santa.” Although there is no joy in my voice, I’m sure Mom will be thrilled at my declaration.

  Her expression morphs from joy to sadness. Twice she opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. After a moment, she sighs. “I love you.” Then she turns and walks toward the barn with Jolly and Dad. As she does, she looks back and says, “Tell your brother you’re both grounded.” Then she adds, “And, don’t mention a word about this to your father.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Why did Mom seem sad when I told her about giving being Santa a go? Or was I imagining it? I also wonder if it’s a good or bad thing that neither parent gave us an amount of time we are grounded or the details about what the punishment will be. At least Mom didn’t notice the crack above us.

  It’s at this time when I remember one of my motivations to return to Winter Wonderland: the freedom to occasionally leave. Should I track down Mom and Dad and explain to them how it’s going to be from now on? At least once a month we can take a family trip somewhere.

  I hear Dad’s voice off in the distance at the barn. I can barely see what’s going on. Dad and Jolly close the sliding doors. Then Jolly turns around in front of them and stands guard. He keeps his eyes locked on me, even though he’s keeping up a conversation with Mom.

  Dad spots me and begins walking in my direction. Jolly doesn’t join him.

  My heart sinks when I see the worried expression on my father’s face. “Dad, I have something to tell you.” Maybe if I share with him how I’m going to embrace being the next Santa, he’ll not ask me about the crack in the dome again.

  “Yes,” he says as he reaches me. There is a weariness in his voice I’ve never heard before.

  Worry worms its way into my thoughts. What if I can’t do it? What if I change my mind and can’t resist the urge to try and escape again? “I’m going to have a sleepover with Aurora.” Showing as many teeth as I can when I smile, I continue talking. “I mean, I know I’m grounded, but I need to make more of an effort to make friends. And Aurora is nice, and...”

  Dad walks toward me. “That’s nice,” he says as he puts one hand on my shoulder. A second later, he removes it and lumbers toward Homebase.

  He begins to tilt his head back. Probably to look up at the crack again. Instead, he glances in my direction, then faces Homebase. I stare at his back until he’s stepped inside the building.

  As I force myself not to look up at the crack so I don’t tip Mom off to it, worry tugs at the edges of my mind. I decide to put my worries to rest.

  I pull the case out of my bag, slowly removing the snow globe. I am about to compare the crack in it to the one above. But as I inspect the small snow globe, I gasp. The last time I looked at it, the crack was the size of a quarter. Now it’s double that.

  The tendrils have expanded. With swift enough motions to give me a minor case of whiplash, I look up to the dome and back to the miniature snow globe in my hands enough times to confirm they aren’t an identical match. But I have a suspicion the area of the fractures in the dome above will soon catch up to that of the snow globe.

  Then I pull the miniature snow globe to my chest and scan the area. Gritting my teeth, I chide myself for not making sure I was alone first before exposing I am the culprit to this crime. In less than three seconds, the snow globe is back in its case and in my bag.

  With a glance toward the sleigh barn, I see Jolly returning from a perimeter check where he walked around the entire barn. As he resumes his post, he folds his arms. Mom must’ve either gone inside the
barn or headed off somewhere, since I don’t see her.

  “Princes Claus,” greets someone from behind me.

  “Ah!” I shout and jump, then turn quickly to find out the origin of the greeting.

  Aksel jogs past me. As he does, he shouts, “No more training with the sleigh until further notice!” and beelines toward Jolly. I watch as together they use a chain and massive lock to secure the barn doors. After double checking the lock, both begin walking.

  I don’t wait for them but jog to my room, wincing with each step as the sand acts as a file scrubbing off a layer of skin. So, Dad is taking precautions to make sure Nicky and I don’t repeat today’s adventure.

  While I’m not surprised, I am disappointed. I’m going to be the next Santa. I’m going to accept my legacy. But, will Dad still be open to the idea of an occasional vacation?

  Sure, the dome is cracked. And, the first time I left Winter Wonderland I ruined a bird sanctuary. But we all made it back safe and sound. I decide to wait until after the chaos of Christmas has passed before asking Dad to take me on a trip to London or Egypt.

  I step on a pinecone when I reach my door. It makes a crunching sound; however, there isn’t so much damage that it needs to be tossed into the trash. I pick it up and put it back inside the decorative mittens the little girl Carly gave to me for my birthday last year that still hang on my door. Then I slip into my room.

  After the longest shower I’ve ever taken, I put on my softest pajamas. The fake snow globe in my room that is a replica of the magic one has no movement inside. The batteries must’ve worn out, so all the snow inside remains dormant. After replacing the batteries, the little white circles whirl and twirl.

  I put the real magical snow globe on my nightstand, then dump the contents of my go-bag on the bed. After a thorough inspection, I realize I’m missing three of my gems. I make a mental note to check inside the bench seat where I hid on the way to the beach first thing tomorrow.