Willy Clause
I was in a Christmas mood today and this came out after I listened to a song I have loved since I was a child. Please read the story first then listen to the carol if you're inclined to do so. It's linked at the bottom of the story for your convenience.
Also I wanted to say thank you to a pair of littles who helped me write it even if they didn't know it at the time. Thank you Star Brite and Monkey.
Happy Holidays
"Achoo! Cough, cough, cough." Santa was really sick. He caught himself a cold from one of the elves just a few days before christmas.
Momma Clause put him straight to bed and kept him there feeding him chicken soup and warm milk, but he didn't see to be getting any better.
The head elf 'Bastion came into Santa's room with 'The List' which Santa checked for the last time the night before Christmas. "Is the sleigh packed?"
"Yes Santa."
"Are the reindeer fed?"
"Yes Santa."
"Have we *cough cough cough wheeze* Santa fell into a bad coughing fit and Momma clause shooed 'Bastian from the room.
"You must rest my love." She said as she tenderly tucked him into his warm blankets. "All this talk is no good for you."
Santa tried to fight the gentle ministrations of his loving wife but he was far too weak to through the blankets off and bound from the bed like he wanted to. "But all the children are counting on me."
Momma Clause tutted for a few moments as she tucked him back in and said "I'm afraid you'll have to cancel Christmas this year my love."
This made Santa sad but he had to agree he was in no condition to fly the sleigh and jump out at every house to deliver toys... Christmas was Cancelled.
Little did they know that through all this their little son William was listening at the door to Santa's room.
William was a quiet child and often overlooked in the hustle and bustle that surrounded Christmas, he kept to himself and played with his toys like all good children should. But this time he had a mission. If Santa couldn't fly the sleigh then he would!
Off to the stables he went and had a quiet word with each of the reindeer. Dasher and Blitzen came on board immediately but Vixen wasn't sure William had what it took to handle them.
He pulled Vixen's halter down until the reindeer was face to face with him and said, "He's going to cancel christmas if I don't do this!"
Vixen looked shocked at first then he got a determined look in his eyes and said. "Not on my watch. I'm with you Willy!"
With the reindeer on board he now had to convince the elves. This would be harder as there were a lot more of them and they only knew him as the boy who sat in the corner quietly eating his cookies while they talked to Santa.
He went to 'Bastion and asked if he could address the workers. 'Bastion was hesitant as he expected so William stood up to his full height (only about 4 foot 3 inches tall and slender like an elf instead of round like his Papa), took a deep breath and let out the biggest loudest "Ho ho ho." The elf had ever heard!
William had been practicing you see, in the evenings when Santa practiced his laugh Willian would do the same, his voice often overshadowing Santa's but no one else knew this.
With 'Bastion behind him he headed for the workshop.
William was nervous now, not sure if he could face all those Elves at the same time, not sure what he would say to make them understand that you just can't cancel Christmas.
There was a special place that Santa addressed the elves from, and that's where 'Bastion took William. Up a ladder outside the shop at the back where none of the workers would see until he stood looking down on the production floor. He went through the door and stood in the shadows for a moment, there were so many elves, how was he going to make sure they heard him...?
'Bastion came to his rescue, he gave William a little candy and told him to stick it between his teeth and his cheek and he would be heard all over the workshop. Willy wasn't sure he believed 'Bastion but he put the candy in his mouth and then he had to cough. The cough ran out all over the shop making all the elves stop what they were doing and look up to the place William stood concealed from them.
William was filled with fear for a few moments then 'Bastion pushed him forward and he caught himself with his hands on the railing. "Ummm..." He said, then cleared his throat and spoke as if the words had been there all along just waiting for him to open his mouth.
"Elves, you work all year toward this special night, you craft your toys so carefully then paint them beautifully and wrap them with the prettiest papers so they are a delight to receive and open. As you all know my father is very ill this year and will not be able to deliver your special gifts to the good boys and girls of the world." He waited while the elves shouted "No! He must go!" and other such things, but they died down eventually...
"I William, will take the reins this year and deliver your labors of love to the deserving children!" For a moment there was silence in the workshop but then from the back a cheering started, and was picked up. Soon all the elves were cheering "Willy! Willy! Willy!" as they got back to work putting the finishing touches on the last minute special projects.
William nearly fainted when that happened he never expected the elves to be so supportive of him, he was just the kid to them most of the time... But here they were working just as hard for him as they did for Santa.
'Baston and Vixen helped William keep the plan a secret even from Santa, they couldn't have him worrying about what he couldn't change.
Early Christmas eve William took Santa a special cookie prepared in the Elves kitchen, one that would help Santa sleep so he wouldn't be worked up and possibly hurt himself while they got the sleigh ready.
Momma Clause was so happy to see Santa resting peacefully that she didn't do more then kiss William on his head for being a good boy, before she went back to knitting blankets for all the babies that would be born the next year.
With all the preparations in order William went to his room and donned his new green suit. He didn't have a red one like Santa did, but the green one was warm and beautiful like Santa's red one, with a matching green hat and bright red mittens. Out he went, sneaking past Momma Clause where she was curled up by the fire dozing.
He climbed into the sleigh, took up the reins and cracked the whip. The sleigh took off with a loud sound of jingling bells and William couldn't help it he let out a loud "Ho ho ho!" as he was pulled up into the sky and off into the night.
What William didn't know is that Momma Clause was startled awake from the sound and jumped from her chair to look out the window. Santa too awoke and pulled himself up to see what the commotion was. Both of his parents saw the sleigh pull away but they couldn't see anyone driving because of the big sac of presents in the back!
Santa rang his little bell from his bed to summon 'Bastion to him but the elf never came! Momma Clause fearing the worst ran to check all the valuables in the house, none of which were stolen, but she found William's bed untouched and his new suit missing.
Momma Clause ran to Santa's room and fell to her knees sobbing, "Dear oh dear... I think Willy's run away! He had on his new green suit and drove off in your sleigh!"
With 'Bastion gone, and the elves sworn to secrecy (no one can keep a secret like an elf can) Santa and Momma Clause held each other crying and wondering what they did to make William want to run away.
William in the sleigh with 'Bastion was delivering toys! He went down chimneys left and right! He gave away teddy bears and choo choo trains and baby dolls and airplanes! He was as fast as Santa and as quiet as a mouse. 'Bastion was impressed with how quickly Willy was working. They were flying through the nights deliveries faster than the wind.
Finally they were done, only two gifts were left in the bag and those were special ones from Willy. He was so tired (little people don't usually stay up all night delivering toys you know) so 'Bastion suggested he curl up in the back and sleep until they got home. William agreed and 'Bastion took the reins so that William could get a nap.
Back at the north pole, a sleepless night was had by all as Momma Clause paced back and forth and forth and back her hands wringing together as she thought of all the bad things that could happen to her little son.
Santa wasn't much better he was coughing and sneezing and crying because he didn't know what he had done to make little William want to run away either. He read the naughty list and knew what happened to bad children in the world. He didn't want that for his only son!
Finally Christmas Morning dawned at the pole and both Momma and Santa (wrapped in a warm blanket and leaning against the wall) looked out the window and hoped...
In the distance they could hear the bells on the sleigh.
Then the light of the sun glinted off the silver decorations!
Santa wrapped his arm around Momma and held her as she sobbed into his shoulder. "There, there Momma. He may have realized it was a bad idea and come home himself." Because as you all know the reindeer will always return home Christmas morning, they are tired and hungry and looking for their beds after all.
The sleigh touched down and coasted to a stop outside the barn. Without thinking about his health, Santa took Momma's hand and they ran as fast as they could to the sleigh!
'Bastion was already helping to unhook the reindeer but that didn't stop Momma and Santa from searching the sleigh, they looked in the driver's seat and didn't see anyone... they looked in the passenger's seat and didn't see anyone... it was too much for Santa, he turned and slid down the side of the sleigh shaking his head at the thought of his little boy lost in the big world...
Momma wouldn't give up! She pulled up the top of the sack and gasped in surprise. Her cry made Santa stand up and look into the back of the sleigh as well.
There was their little son, curled up around two presents. He looked so peaceful sleeping there, with all the work he had done and how worried they had been, Santa picked up the boy carefully and headed toward the house. Momma picked up the presents and read the tags. "Oh Santa!" she said and showed him, one said 'Mom' and one said 'Dad'.
As they carried their sleeping son into the house they heard him whisper, "God bless everyone."