Chapter Nine
The Off
The hour passed quickly, and soon the patter of so many small feet could be heard returning to the workshop. Watching the little doors open, Alice was surprised to see that the elves were now dressed in their coats and hats. Then remembering that the remaining duties involved working outside, in the loading bay, where they would be exposed to the harsh wintry conditions, Alice searched for her own hat and coat. Finding them, she buttoned her coat all the way up to the very top button, donned her fur hat and then followed the elves through to the loading bay.
Outside, the icy cold wind blowing into the bay made Alice shiver, to the core. Father Christmas would have a long, hard night ahead of him.
“Hello, again, my name is Miranda,” said the female elf; the very same one that Alice had offered to help with the tray, earlier.
“Hello, Miranda, I am pleased to meet you,” said Alice, surprised to see her on the outside, having assumed she only worked indoors. “Is there anything I can do,” she asked.
“I’m in charge of ensuring that each sack of toys is addressed correctly and loaded into the sleigh in the right order,” Miranda replied, showing Alice one of the tags she was responsible for filling in. “Would you like to help me?” she asked. “It can get a bit hectic, out here, so I could do with a hand…”
“I’d love to,” Alice replied, following the elf as she made her way over to the line of sacks, ready for loading. On reaching them, Alice said, “They’re huge! How can you possibly get them all onto the sleigh?”
Laughing at Alice’s innocence, the elf replied, “They don’t all go at the same time.”
“They don’t?”
“Of course not,” she laughed. “Father Christmas brings them, one at a time – that’s why we are here, to ensure he takes the correct one each time he sets off.”
“Oh,” Alice whispered, feeling quite foolish for having thought they were all loaded in the one go.
All of a sudden the loading bay erupted into a hive of activity, with elves running about in all directions. “What’s happening?” Alice asked, her eyes following some elves dashing past, carrying hessian bags overflowing with oat flakes.
“Just the usual last minute rush,” Miranda explained, without giving them a second glance.
Alice watched with interest as the elves attached a hessian bag to the head of each reindeer.
Looking up from the label she had been checking, Miranda said, “The old man says oat flakes give his reindeer that extra bit of energy they need, this night.” Returning her attention to the sacks, she began inspecting the next label.
“Don’t you?”
Miranda laughed, “It keeps them going all right, but the old codger has another ingredient.”
“Another ingredient? What can you mean,” Alice asked, intrigued by what she was hinting at.
“Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed those rainbow colours within his beard?” Miranda asked, turning her full attention to Alice.
“I might have seen some…”
“Magic.”
“I beg your pardon,” said Alice, becoming ever more intrigued by what she was hearing.
“Those colours are magical,” said Miranda, her gaze drifting upward, away from the label and Alice. “Every year, around this time, when Father Christmas thinks no one is watching, he sprinkles a handful of those rainbow coloured particles into the reindeer’s nosebags...”
“Whiz-popping,” Alice giggled.
“Pardon?”
“Oh, nothing,” she replied, “it just reminded me of something I once read.”
Just then, to the rear of the loading bay, Father Christmas appeared. Crouching low, hiding, Miranda instructed Alice to do likewise. “Shush,” she whispered, “and watch.”
Peeking out from behind the sack, Alice and Miranda watched as the old man casually strolled over to his prized reindeer. After patting the first one, Rudolf, he furtively looked about, to ensure that no one was watching him. Thus satisfied, he slipped a handful of rainbow coloured particles into its nosebags. Patting Rudolf, again, he made his way to the next reindeer. After repeating this process with each and every one of his reindeer, Father Christmas exited the loading bay, only to return a few seconds later loudly ho, ho, hoeing as if he was only just arriving.
Laughing, Alice and Miranda made their way across to the old man, as he was stepping up in to his sleigh.
“Hello, Miranda,” he said merrily, like he hadn’t got a care in the world. “I see you have a new friend.” He nodded in the direction of Alice. “Is she helping you?”
“Yes,” the elf replied. “And your first sack is already loaded, and ready to go.”
After checking to see that the huge sack was securely in place (it completely filled the rear of the sleigh), and reading the attached instructions (to see in which direction he must head), Father Christmas returned his attention to Alice. “When I have finished delivering all of the presents,” he said, “I will help you on your way.” Without further adieu, he ordered, “Nosebags away.” The elves promptly removed the now empty nosebags. Then lifting the reins, Father Christmas spurred his reindeer into action, shouting, “Rarr, rarr, rarr.”
Having eaten the extraordinary combination of oat flakes and magical rainbow coloured particles, the reindeer galloped out of the loading bay like animals possessed, lifting the sky vehicle and its occupant high into the night sky, disappearing fast into the darkness.
Her eyes trailing the sleigh, Alice walked outside, into the snow. Miranda followed. “How does he find his way, Miranda, without even a light for guidance” she asked, staring into the night sky, with a renewed admiration for the old man.
“It’s like I said – magic,” Miranda replied, tugging Alice, trying to get her to return to the loading bay. “Come on, he’ll be back before you know it. We have to get the next sack checked…”
And he was, in no time at all Alice heard the sound of sleigh bells, signalling Father Christmas’s imminent return. “Have you filled in the details on the tag?” Alice asked Miranda, worried they might have overlooked even one detail. Miranda nodded that she had. “Did you remember to have that broken toy repaired?” Alice asked her anxiously.
“Yes, don’t worry, everything’s been done,” the elf assured her.
“Whoa, whoa,” Father Christmas commanded his reindeer, guiding them and his sleigh to a stop.
“I am so happy that you have returned safely, Father Christmas” said Alice, as the elves began scrambling all over his sleigh, removing the empty sack, and then replacing it with the second, full one. “Was everything okay?” she asked.
“Everything was perfect,” he laughed. “Though I am a bit thirsty – you don’t happen to have a goblet of Fizzing Fruit juice drink, handy?”
In a flash, Miranda appeared with one of the silver-coloured goblets, full to the brim with the wonderful imbibe, which she duly handed to the old, thirsty man.
“Thank you, Miranda,” he said, knocking the drink back, with gusto. “That sure hit the spot,” he said, burping. “Sorry! But it does that sometimes...”
After returning the goblet to Miranda, Father Christmas briefly inspected the sack, and then grabbing hold of the reins, he shouted,
“Rarr, rarr rarr” And once again the reindeer set off like animals possessed, whisking him and his sleigh up and away on the second part of his epic night’s work.
In total, Father Christmas returned twenty-three times, for refills of toys and presents. Late into the night, after drinking his seventh goblet of Fizzing Fruit juice drink, the old man wiped his tired brow, ready to set off on the final run. “I’m getting a bit long in the tooth for all this gadding about,” he mused, winking, smiling at Alice.
“I can give you a hand!” she blurted, hoping, wishing that he might, just might agree to her extraordinary proposal.
“Do you mean that?” he asked, studying the small girl before him.
“Of cou
rse I do,” she replied, “I have never been a one to shirk responsibility, the Cat, Mouse and I would be only too happy to accompany you.”
“The Cat and the Mouse?” he asked, surprised that she was also including them.
“Why yes,” she replied, “we don’t go anywhere alone, when we are at the top of the world.” Opening a coat button, Alice delved a hand through to her apron pocket and produced the sleeping Mouse for his inspection. “The Cat is nearby,” she assured him matter-of-factly, returning the Mouse to its pocket.
Rubbing his beard, Father Christmas laughed a merry ho, ho, ho, and said, “Why not – it is Christmas, after all. Come on, Alice, hop in.”
“I shan’t be a moment,” she replied, running happily away from him and into the workshop.
When Alice reappeared, she was holding the soft cushion with the invisible Cat (apart from its tail, that is) still sleeping soundly upon it.
“He does know that he’s coming?” the old man asked, eying the tail with some curiosity.
“We are travelling companions,” Alice replied, avoiding the question like a skilled politician.
Father Christmas raised a finger, but Miranda butted in, saying, “You get up, Alice, I’ll hold that cushion for you.” Alice mounted the little stepladder (it had quite suddenly appeared without an elf in sight, apart from Miranda, that is).
“Thank you, Miranda,” said Alice, accepting the cushion, and placing it securely in a free space next to the huge sack full of presents.
Checking to see that Alice was safely tucked in, Father Christmas asked, “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she giggled with excitement, ready for the off.
“Right then, here we go,” he said, taking hold of the reins. “Rrarr, rarr rarr,” he shouted, “rarr, rarr, rarr.” With that the sleigh, pulled by nine excited reindeer, exited the loading bay.
“Rarr, rarr, rarr!” the old man shouted again (you see, by now he was almost as excited as his reindeer), “Rarr, rarr, rarr!” The speed of the sleigh increased exponentially with each and every new roar.
The blast of icy cold wind cut into Alice’s face and her eyes began to water, but she smiled, having no intention of letting anything take away from this, her trip of a lifetime.
With one last, “Rarr,” the sleigh, snapping its final bond with the surly earth, began gliding its way through the heavens in complete silence.
“It’s so peaceful up here,” said Alice to the old man who had calmed down considerably.
“Yes, it’s a wonderful place,” he replied, staring into the darkness, “that puts all of mankind’s differences into perspective, showing how petty they really are…”
“If only everyone might see it that way,” Alice said dreamily.
“If only, the old man replied, “if only...”.
Travelling in silence, the sleigh’s passengers enjoyed their ride; Alice and Father Christmas enjoying the peace, the Mouse enjoying his sleep and the Cat, well, although he was also asleep he enjoyed being himself.
Pulling on the reins, Father Christmas guided the sleigh lower. Then speaking softly, he said, “This is my first stop, Alice.” Looking over the side, he pointed to a rambling old building directly below.
Staring down at the timeworn old slates, Alice asked, “What is it?”
“It’s an orphanage...”
“How many children are living there?”
“One hundred and five, this year,” he replied with a sigh.
“That’s dreadful, and all with no parents to love them?”
“That’s about it, I’m afraid – and the number increases with the passing of each year.”
“Can’t anything be done about it?” Alice asked, feeling a genuine concern for the children.
“Yes, they might all have a good home,” Father Christmas explained, “if everyone held to the spirit of Christmas, throughout the year…”
Jiggling the reins, Father Christmas guided the sleigh to a quiet landing upon the old roof. The ancient beams groaned under its weight.
“I shan’t be a tick,” he said grabbing the huge sack and heading for the chimneystack.
Alice was perplexed at the ease with which he was able to carry it. Then remembering Miranda’s words, she said, “Magic, that’s how he does it – with magic.” As the old man climbed into the chimney, before disappearing from sight, Alice was sure she saw a swirl of rainbow colours surrounding him.
In less than two minutes the old man returned, smiling, happy that each and every child in the orphanage now had a present under their Christmas tree.
“How did you do that so quickly?” Alice asked as he took hold of the reins and began spurring the reindeer into action.
Grinning (Alice thought he resembled the Cat, but only a bit), he replied, “You know the answer to that, Alice, just as you are beginning to see where the White Rabbit is to be found.”
It was true, Alice knew that he used magic to help him deliver the huge number of presents in the course of one night, but how he had come to the conclusion that she was beginning to understand where the Rabbit could be found baffled her no end...
During the next thirty-eight minutes they made many more stops, on roofs, paths, gardens, hills, valleys – even a hayshed or two, so many Alice lost count of them. In the end, she simply sat back and enjoyed the wonderful excursion.
“This is the last delivery,” said Father Christmas, delving a hand into his sack and withdrawing the final two presents.
“The last delivery?” Alice asked, disappointed that the time had passed so quickly.
“I’m afraid so,” he replied. Scratching his beard, he asked, “Would you like to help me with it?”
Alice’s eyes lit up, and she sprang out of her seat so quickly she lost her balance and very nearly fell out of the sleigh.
“Careful,” he warned, “we don’t want to lose you.”
“Thank you,” she said settling her hat, then checking to see if the Mouse was still secure in her apron pocket. It was beginning to awaken, so she asked, “Are you all right, Mouse?”
His whiskers twitching, the Mouse replied sleepily, “Might there be a piece of cheese for a poor mouse?” Alice laughed, but before closing her coat she promised to keep an eye out for some cheese.
Guiding the sleigh down, Father Christmas landed it safely onto a snow covered the roof. “Come on,” he said, “let’s be having you.”
As they crept carefully across the snow-covered roof, Alice found herself wondering what it would feel like, to actually go down a chimney. ‘Would it be like floating down the Rabbit Hole, and into Wonderland?’ she thought. ‘Or like falling out of the sleigh, and landing with a bump?’
When they reached the chimneystack, Father Christmas handed Alice one of the two presents, saying, “Go on, you first.”
Staring into the dark chimney, Alice felt terribly afraid.
Seeing her fear, he said, “There’s nothing to be afraid of, Alice,” Gently rubbing his beard, he released thousands of rainbow-coloured particles that quickly encircled Alice, lifting her high over the chimney. And before she was able to say Jack Robinson, she found herself standing in the hearth far below.
Looking up the dark chimney, Alice laughed at how easy it had been. Calling up, wondering why Father Christmas was taking so long, she whispered, “Where are you?”
“I’m here,” the old man replied from behind her.
“How did you do that?” she asked in amazement.
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
“Horatio – who is Horatio?”
He smiled; Father Christmas smiled a smile of the passing of time. “Oh, don’t take any notice of me,” he said. “It’s just something I once heard…”
“Where do we put the presents?”Alice asked, her eyes drawn to the two Christmas stockings hanging from the mantelpiece.
“Not there,” he replied without a
ny hesitation. “Here,” he instructed, pointing under a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, placing his present beneath it.
Alice followed his example and also placed her present under the tree. “Hmm,” she said, breathing in the heady smell of the pine needles. “Norway
Spruce is best. Mum doesn’t like them – she says the needles fall far too soon, ruining her carpet, but they do smell good!”
“They’re my favourite, too,” said Father Christmas, also enjoying the heady scent of the pine needles.
Hearing the sound of movement in one of the bedrooms, Father Christmas hurried Alice back to the fireplace, and in a flash of rainbow-coloured particles they disappeared up the chimney just as a door opened and two children, yawning and stretching, entered the room. Seeing the last of the rainbow-coloured articles descending into the warm hearth, they instantly knew who had just been there.
On the roof, an old man and a young girl, stepping into a magical sky vehicle, disappeared into the brightening sky…
As they sped high above the snow-covered rooftops, beginning their long, return journey to the North Pole, Alice and the kind old man felt a kindred spirit that few, if any, are lucky enough to experience. As the reindeer clawed, pulling the cold air for traction, speeding the sleigh through the bitterly cold air, Alice and Father Christmas were each blissfully happy, and as warm as toast.
Alice in Wonderland on Top of the World Page 9