by J L Gillham
Nicky turns and faces me. I close my eyes and confess. “I caused it.” After peeking my eyes open to see a look of confusion on Nicky’s face, I continue. “It’s true. But I figured out how to fix it.” Then after a pause, I add, “I think.”
“Unfortunately, you won’t have a chance to prove your theory correct.” Ebenezer clasps his hands together. He walks over to my bag on the floor and removes the snow globe, holding it up triumphantly like a trophy he just won.
“You see, once I smash this tiny replica, the one encasing your home will shatter as well. Then Winter Wonderland won’t be protected from prying eyes.”
Ebenezer walks toward me and holds the miniature up for all of us to see. “Where’s the crack? The last time I saw this it was almost covered in fractures!” he shouts and glares at me.
I can’t help but grin. Ebenezer turns the globe upside down, then shakes it. “No matter. It’ll shatter when I drop it. But first,” he says as he walks toward what I assume is the wooden coronation staff.
I’ve never seen it before, but heard the story of Dad’s coronation more times than I can count. Though the details of what exactly happens to imbue each Santa with magic are left out, I know I’ll discover the details during my own coronation—that is, if we defeat this villain before us, and if I agree to go through with it.
I cock my head to the side as I finally catch sight of one of the most magical objects in the world resting a few feet away from Ebenezer. The staff was carved out of one large piece of wood. The top has what looks like four flower petals in half bloom. There is a space about the size of a baseball between them. Then comes a two-foot-long stem. The base divides into four curling roots which rest on the ground.
“What are you going to do?” I ask.
“He’s going to imbue himself with the magic of Santa,” Finn answers. I realize Finn must’ve learned all about the magic of Winter Wonderland when he interpreted the booklet.
Ebenezer places the snow globe into the opening between the petals, then cackles, the sound echoing throughout the room. “My plan is finally working.”
“But how did you sneak in?” I ask, stalling for time as I try to think up a plan.
Ebenezer takes the bate. “When I was here many years ago, I put a tracking device on both magical sleighs. I’m less concerned about tracking your Dad’s progress delivering gifts to brats on Christmas and more concerned with unscheduled departures. Like the one you and your brother took recently.”
I gasp. He isn’t lying. I am to blame for all of this.
“The moment your little group left Winter Wonderland, I used my sleigh, stolen from your father years ago, to find you. Then, when you landed and spent so long flirting with this local boy, I had plenty of time to get to you.” He rubs his hands together greedily. “While all of you were finishing putting out the fire I started, Goldy and I hid in the sled.” There is no remorse in his voice.
“Then we had our fun, like sabotaging the Santa Simulation Training.” Ebenezer rubs his hands together.
A hint of relief washes over me as I get stuck on one thing he said. So, it wasn’t me or any of my friends who caused the fire. “All those poor birds,” I whisper.
He pauses for a moment, glances at me, and rolls his eyes.
“You hid under the bench,” I say aloud more to myself then Ebenezer, as I realize how he got into Winter Wonderland.
“Correct. Then all I had to do was remain in the shadows until an opportune moment.” Ebenezer puffs his chest out.
That’s when I realize it was a rat I’d seen when I went back to the vents to find the secret hiding spot. Another revelation hits me. “How did you know about the secret room the booklet was in?”
Nicky and Finn look at me, but I don’t take the time to explain.
“Why, my dear, that’s my lair.” His exuberant smile reveals all of his teeth.
“But when I discovered it, there was a thick layer of dust all over.” Although my plan of stalling is working, I still can’t seem to come up with what to do to stop Ebenezer.
“It’s been about seventeen years since I’ve had a chance to clean up.” Ebenezer shrugs his shoulders. “And, when I made my quick exodus, I thought I took all the important books with me.” He pauses for a moment, then begins speaking more quietly. “Had I only known the treasure of information I’d left behind.”
Questions begin filling my mind, but before I get to ask any more, Nicky speaks up. “Wait a minute. Was it you who tampered with the hot tub?”
Ebenezer doesn’t respond, but instead takes a bow. I gasp. How many wrongdoings were caused by Ebenezer this week?
Nicky squirms, but is unable to free himself from the ropes. “When I get out...”
“You’ll what?” Ebenezer walks over to Nicky and kicks his foot. Nicky clenches his teeth, but a gruff cry escapes. Ebenezer begins pacing.
“Yes, I was hoping Princess Claus would be the one with burns, but since that didn’t happen, I had to keep trying.” Ebenezer gives me a wicked grin. “It was also me who let out the reindeer! Never liked those filthy animals.”
If I wasn’t tied up, I’d throw this elf into the un-mucked stalls full of reindeer droppings.
“Trust me, trying to get that brat of a baby into the caves was no easy task. Then, when I knew you were looking for the reindeer, I went looking for the snow globe.” He pauses.
The revelations begin to crush me—partly because I hadn’t figured them out ahead of time, and partly because they could all point back to my desperate need to escape my home and the tragic results.
“Yes, I did.” Ebenezer rubs his hands together. His face is so close if he licks his lips, some of the spittle will splatter onto me.
“With everyone frantically searching for you this morning, it wasn’t too difficult to lead all the elves to look for you in the caves where your note hinted you’d be.” He walks over to Nicky and checks that the ropes are secure. He is about to do the same to Finn when I speak loudly.
“But I didn’t leave a note.” I squirm, the ropes digging into my wrists.
“Well, not technically.” He grins. “But I was the only who knew that. My plan was going splendidly with everyone either searching for you near the ice caves or putting out the fires I started.”
“So, there is a fire?” I ask. It’s then that I realize the smoky odor is getting stronger.
“Not a fire. More like many fires.” Ebenezer chuckles. “Poor elves will have to go back to sleeping in the basement here since I set their home ablaze. And best of all, I started the first fire in the barn full of gifts for next Christmas. Once I’m done here, I’ll set fire to Homebase, which will not only destroy the building but all of this year’s gifts stored here as well.”
Ebenezer walks over toward the table covered in my birthday gifts. He picks one up and shakes it so hard, if there’s anything fragile it’s now broken. Then as he sniffs it, he continues.
I cringe, wondering if I could’ve messed everything up any more than I already have. Doubtful.
“While you abandoning your post was a boon for my plans of ruining this season’s Christmas, unfortunately you did it with the snow globe.” Ebenezer moves on to inspect another wrapped present. “Had you followed through with your escape plan, the stress of your departure would’ve crippled your father. He wouldn’t have been able to deliver gifts this year. And there’d be no replacement for him.”
“That’s not true,” I argue. “My brother will make the best Santa ever once we defeat you.”
Ebenezer laughs so hard his face turns red. “So, your father never told you the real reason why he wouldn’t let you hand your throne over to another, eh?”
He couldn’t know the answer to that. He’s only been here for a few days. And, surely Dad wouldn’t have confided in the evil elf.
None of us utters a word. Maybe we can’t trust anything that comes out of Ebenezer’s mouth. However, anytime Nicky bragged about taking over the Santa position, even if
he was only half-joking, Mom and Dad always got weird looks on their faces.
“No,” I utter the word almost in a whisper.
“It’s all thanks to the magic of Winter Wonderland. You see, long ago the rules had to be established for the boundaries of the magic.” Ebenezer waves his hands around in the air. “And, one of the rules states that the firstborn has to become the next Santa.”
My jaw drops. Why hadn’t my parents ever told me this? With a quick look at Nicky, I see he’s as dumbstruck as I am. Before I can confirm he didn’t know this, the evil elf continues speaking.
“Your inability to fulfill your familial duties are of no importance to me. Except when your cowardice works to my advantage.” The corners of Ebenezer’s mouth twitch. But, it’s not a grin that forms. Instead, it’s a sneer.
No longer entertained with my birthday presents, Ebenezer walks toward me. “Thanks for bringing back the snow globe!”
I grimace, but unfortunately I know my look of discomfort will get no sympathy.
My entire life I’d always known I was destined to be Santa. I knew that nothing would stop that, except maybe my escaping by running away. But even then, I knew I could always come back, and always have a choice to take up the mantle. But now, because of me Christmas might be ruined forever.
If Ebenezer succeeds in his plans, not only will there be no way to deliver toys this year, but if the dome covering Winter Wonderland is cracked and our home is exposed to the world what will we do? I remember the tour guide shop in town this morning. They’d have more business than they could handle if the world flocked there as a pit stop on their way here.
Part of the magic is in the mystery, like Finn told Carly this morning. If everyone can find and analyze my home and all who live here, the wonder and awe of Christmas will be lost forever.
I look around the room and let my eyes take in all the decorations. My family was trying to celebrate my birthday, making that more important than the coronation I didn’t want. And where was I when it came time to celebrate? Running away.
All this time Mom and Dad weren’t lying to me. There really is an evil elf and he’s worse than I imagined. “Please, let us go. You can just walk away and we will forget this ever happened.”
“I sure won’t.” Nicky wiggles his wrists, trying to loosen the knots.
“But why would I do that when I finally have what I’ve been working so long for?” Ebenezer’s eyes narrow. Goldy jumps onto his shoulder and perches there.
“To ruin Christmas once and for all,” I say aloud. I think about Carly from earlier. She’ll wake up tomorrow with no gifts from Santa under her tree. A sadness deeper than any I’ve ever felt begins to rise up.
I grind my teeth and focus on an escape plan. All these past years I had been trying to escape from my family, but now all I want to do is escape to save them.
As I wiggle, the ropes binding me seem to tighten not loosen. Without moving my head, I peek at Finn’s wrists. Even from here I can see the signs of rope burn. However, he’s getting closer to freedom.
Suddenly, the revelation about how to defeat Ebenezer hits me. I exhale and force myself not to change my facial expression or give away any hint about my plan. In this poker game, both Ebenezer and I are all in.
I look toward the back entrance. Then in my most smug tone, I say, “I hear reinforcements coming. And you forgot to secure the back door.”
“That’ll only take a moment,” Ebenezer says as he rubs his hands together while examining the fit of the snow globe in the staff. Then he glances over his shoulder. With his mind changed, he takes the bait and heads toward the back. Goldy follows closely behind him. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Finn’s almost got his arms free.
As Ebenezer approaches the back and fidgets with the door, he shouts, “Foolish!” Then he turns on his heels. “Stop trying to trick me. There aren’t any locks in this room. And there aren’t any sounds of rescue coming.”
Goldy makes a clicking sound, and Ebenezer scoops him up, then places the rat on his shoulder. The elf storms toward the staff. The rat hisses in Tiny’s direction as it passes the polar bear. Finally ready to fulfill his plan, Ebenezer heads to the staff containing the snow globe.
“And now the three of you will witness the first elf to become as powerful as Santa. And, when I’m done imbuing myself with magic, I’ll smash the snow globe. Not only will it destroy the protective covering above Winter Wonderland, but it will also put an end to the Santa legacy once and for all.”
Goldy begins hissing. “Off my shoulder,” Ebenezer says as he tries to brush the rat away.
I take advantage of the momentary distraction. That’s when I see Finn’s ropes have fallen to the ground.
“Finn, see if you can grab the thing in my pants pocket,” I whisper. I notice Ebenezer struggling to fling off the rat.
“Got it,” Finn says loudly, probably not caring if Ebenezer hears.
“When I count to three, I need you to throw it at Ebenezer,” I say. “One. Two.”
“But it’s a...” Finn begins.
Before he can argue or try to figure out my plan, I cut him off. “Three!”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Finn hurls the object with all his might. It hits Ebenezer on his head, startling the rat who lunges away.
“Tiny, candy!” I shout.
Tiny’s head whips around. In one short breath, he’s morphed from a huddled furball to a ravenous, sugar-craving beast. He jumps on top of the elf, pinning him to the ground. Then he bites down on the blue candy cane lying next to the elf and begins chomping it.
“Whomple-t-waddle!” Ebenezer shouts.
By this time, Finn’s raced toward the elf. Finn takes a rope and ties Ebenezer’s arms while Tiny continues pinning the elf.
“Goldy, bite through these!” Ebenezer shouts while squirming with the ropes. But his faithful sidekick is already racing away.
Once Ebenezer is secure, Finn removes my ropes, then Nicky’s. The three of us make our way to Ebenezer.
“I’ll escape, and then I’ll...” Ebenezer’s ranting is stopped when Nicky removes his shoe, then sock.
Finally placing his sock in the elf’s mouth, Nicky finishes the thought for him. “And then you’ll be defeated again and again, no matter how hard you try.”
“Gross, and yet a perfect punishment.” I laugh.
Just then Mom, Dad, and a group of elves burst through the door. “What’s going on?” Mom asks.
“Oh, just your daughter saving the day,” Nicky says.
“Both your kids,” I amend. Mom reaches me and takes both my hands in hers.
Nicky shakes his head and crosses his arms. “There’s no way I could’ve come up with a rescue like the one you just did.
“But what about the fire?” I ask, even though I’m afraid to find out the answer.
“Ebenezer started it at the outskirts of town, probably to lure us far away. All the gifts set aside for next year have been destroyed,” Dad says as he joins us.
“Not only that, but both of the grandparents’ log cabins and the elves’ house are destroyed too,” Jolly says as he walks up to Ebenezer and shakes his fist at the villain. Ebenezer only squirms.
It was wise of whomever had the idea to keep this season’s toys in a different area than the extras. I don’t know how we will make enough gifts in the next year for the following Christmas.
“Soon you will have to tell us where you were hiding this morning, but for now...” Dad doesn’t finish his sentence. Instead, he wraps Mom and me in a hug. Nicky joins us, making our trio into a quartet.
“Your birthday party will have to be postponed.” Dad gives me a hint of a smile.
“That’s okay. I already have plans for what I want. And it’ll take a bit more preparation,” I say, then give him a wide grin.
“The repairs for Winter Wonderland can at least wait a day or two. That way we can celebrate your birthday with whatever grand scheme you have in mind after C
hristmas,” Dad says. Then he continues. “However, there’s still enough time today for the coronation ceremony.” Dad dispatches one group of elves to prepare for the big event. Then he turns to me and mouths the words, “Happy birthday.”
I mouth back, “Thank you,” then watch two elves hurry away to make arrangements. Another smaller troop of elves led by Jolly drag Ebenezer to the room in the basement Aksel used to sleep in. It’ll be the evil elf’s makeshift cell. I stop the elves to make sure they block Ebenezer from escaping through the vents.
Then I pick up the book that fell from Ebenezer’s pocket during Tiny’s attack and give it to Dad. His eyes widen in disbelief when he sees what I offer him. Then he puts it in an interior pocket of his jacket and gives me an approving smile.
A new group of elves enter the room. I rush toward them. “There’s one thing I need.” I decide to fulfill Carly’s wish to attend a big event in Winter Wonderland by inviting her to my birthday party. I announce my plan to my family and the elves. While I am delivering gifts, the elves will be delivering invitations to everyone in town.
“Ready to take your place next to Dad?” Nicky asks.
All my fears come rushing back. But then I remember what Finn said about giving being Santa a try. Yes, I did awful during my last Santa Simulation. However, that was just practice. Tonight will be the real deal.
“You’ll do amazing. It’s your legacy,” Nicky says, pulling me back to the present. For the first time, hearing those words inspires not overwhelms me. Before I can argue with my brother, he hobbles off in the direction Aksel went. I cringe wondering how much pain my brother is in thanks to Ebenezer tampering with the hot tub.
“Noelle,” Finn says from behind me. He puts his hand on my shoulder.
The touch thrills and annoys me all at the same time. Fiddle-d-fizz.
“How could you think I would betray you like that?” The hurt in his voice convinces me to turn around. As I do, Finn drops his hand from my shoulder, but instead of letting it fall to his side he takes my hand in his.