Santa's Puppy

by Catherine Hapka

  “That’s not why they’re here at all,” Mr. Brooks snapped. “Do you see any ornaments in their hands?”

  By now, Ivy had caught on to Holly’s plan. “Here’s mine!” She quickly unwrapped the ivy-embroidered scarf from around her neck. “I thought this would make a beautiful garland.”

  As she hung it on the tree, Mrs. Kasabian and the other onlookers oohed and aahed. Mr. Brooks looked more annoyed than ever.

  “And you?” he asked, quirking an eyebrow at Holly.

  Holly reached for her own scarf, then realized she must have lost it somewhere along the way. What could she use instead?

  Oh no, she thought frantically. I don’t have anything that will work as an ornament! Then, suddenly, she gulped, remembering something. Or do I . . . ?

  Slowly, she reached up and pulled the birthstone necklace out from beneath her coat. Ivy gasped when she saw it.

  “Oh, Holly, no,” Ivy whispered.

  Holly hesitated, running her fingers over the smooth surface of the gemstone. Then she looked up toward the spot where her little brother had disappeared . . .

  “Here,” she said, pulling off the necklace and holding it out. “This is what I want to hang on the tree.” She swallowed hard. “It’s . . . it’s very special. But I have to do it.”

  “Lovely, Holly,” Mrs. Kasabian said with a smile. “Let her through, Mr. Brooks.”

  Mr. Brooks gnashed his teeth, for a moment looking as if he wouldn’t let Holly through. But finally he stepped aside.

  “Fine,” he said. “Hang your so-called ornaments. I’ll still be here when you’ve finished.”

  “Whatever.” Holly walked forward and looped the necklace over a branch.

  Beside her, Ivy looked up. “Um, shouldn’t we hang them a little higher, Hols?” she prompted.

  Holly gulped, realizing Ivy expected her to lead the way in climbing the tree. Climbing the tall, tall tree . . .

  Her hands shaking, Holly reached for a branch and pulled herself up. But she slipped off, landing with a grunt.

  “Are you okay?” Ivy asked.

  “No!” Holly hissed, her face going red. “No, I’m not, okay? I’m . . . I’m afraid of heights!”

  Ivy blinked. “You’re what?” she said uncertainly. “Um, is this a joke or something? Like, are you making fun of me for the dog thing earlier?”

  “No!” Holly clenched her fists inside her gloves. “I’ve always been afraid! Why do you think I had to go to the nurse with a stomachache the day we climbed ropes in gym?”

  “Oh.” Ivy blinked again and nodded. “Yeah, that did seem strange—especially since you never get stomachaches.” She grabbed Holly’s hand and squeezed it. “But listen, you can do anything, Hols! I know it’s scary to face your fears and stuff, and I’m not saying it’s easy. But if I could pick up a dog—and even become friends with one!—then you can do this. I know you can!”

  Just then came an angry shout from across the square. Holly glanced over her shoulder and saw Lumberjack Lou racing toward them. The camel was nowhere in sight, but the donkey pricked his long ears at his owner.

  “Uh-oh,” Ivy whispered. “That donkey guy looks pretty mad . . .”

  “Yeah.” Holly swallowed hard and looked up. “Maybe you’re right, Ives. If you really think I can do this . . .”

  “I know you can!” Ivy smiled at her. “Besides, Chris needs you, right?”

  “Right.” With one last deep breath, Holly grabbed the branch again. And this time, she held on tightly, pulling herself up until she could wedge her feet onto a stout branch a few feet off the ground.

  “Don’t look down,” Ivy said. “Come on—you can follow me.”

  Ivy swung herself up to another branch. Holly reached up to follow her when someone grabbed her leg.

  “Hey!” she blurted out, looking down. It was Lumberjack Lou!

  “Get down here, little girl,” he growled. “You and your brother have some explaining to do . . .”

  Holly tried to shake her leg loose. But Lou’s grip was like iron.

  “Let her go!” Ivy yelled.

  “Yeah! We have to find Chris!” Holly added.

  But she already knew it was no use. It was all over—they’d failed. Now what would happen to her little brother?

  “Hey!” Suddenly Mr. and Mrs. Ouma appeared beside Lumberjack Lou. “Let her go, sir,” Mr. Ouma ordered sternly.

  Lou glanced at him. “Why should I? They stole my donkey!”

  “Isn’t that your donkey right over there?” Mrs. Ouma pointed at the donkey, who was standing there with a few sprigs of fir sticking out of his mouth, chewing thoughtfully.

  “Well, yeah, but . . . uh . . .” Lou sputtered.

  Mr. Ouma crossed his arms over his chest. “These are good kids,” he told Lou. “The kind of kids anyone would be proud to have as neighbors.”

  “That’s right. If they were donkey thieves, they’d admit it. So let her go!” Mrs. Ouma poked Lou in the chest, startling him—and causing him to loosen his grip on Holly’s leg.

  She didn’t hesitate, kicking free and then swinging up to the higher branch beside Ivy—too high for Lou to reach from the ground.

  “Don’t stop!” Ivy cried, already scrambling for the next branch. “He might try to climb after us.”

  Holly nodded and followed her friend. But she couldn’t resist one last glance down at the Oumas. They’d lived across the street forever, but Holly didn’t know them that well. And after what had happened to their holiday display today, she wouldn’t have guessed they’d stick up for her the way they just had.

  Ivy looked down too. “Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Ouma!” she called, waving at the couple before continuing her climb.

  Holly’s eyes widened as she realized what had happened. This was all because Ivy had insisted on helping to clean up the mess Peppermint Bark had made earlier! Wow, Holly thought. Who knew a little thing like that could make such a difference?

  But there wasn’t time to ponder it just then. The snow was coming down harder now, making the branches and needles of the tree slippery. Holly needed to focus on her climbing.

  “This is crazy,” she panted as she pulled herself from one branch to the next, not daring to look down anymore. The voices from below had faded, and all she could see were the snowy branches around her and Ivy’s boots just above. “We’re never going to make it all the way up there!”

  “I can see it!” Ivy called, sounding excited. “The portal—we’re getting close!” Then she gasped loudly. “But wait—I think it’s getting smaller!”

  “What?” Holly yanked herself upward.

  Now she could see it too—the portal! But her friend was right. Even as Holly watched, she could see it shrinking. Closing. With her little brother inside!

  Oh no! Holly thought, as she imagined an entire year without Chris around. Sure, he could be annoying sometimes. But he was her brother, and her heart broke when she tried to imagine life without him . . .

  23

  The North Pole

  Chris wasn’t sure how long the trip through the portal lasted. A long time? A few seconds? He was so dizzy and discombobulated that there was no way to tell.

  But finally he felt himself launched into the air . . .

  “OOF!” he grunted as he landed on a pillowy pile of snow.

  A second later, the portal spit Happy out beside him.

  As Chris sat up, his head spinning, he saw the other elf, the one Happy had called Juniper, digging her way out of a snow pile nearby. And then another figure burst out of the same snow pile. Peppermint Bark!

  “We made it! Hooray!” the little dog cried, shaking the snow from his fur. Then he blinked. “Hey, Chris, you’re here too! Wow! Welcome to the North Pole!”

  Chris’s eyes widened. Were they really at the North Pole? He looked around. The four of them were on a vast, desolate, snow-swept plain. A short distance away, huge peppermint-striped gates rose out of the snow, wide open. Beyond the gates he could glimpse
the spires of a white snow castle . . .

  Juniper was on her feet by now, brushing the snow from her tunic. She pointed at Chris. “Who brought the human along? Oh, never mind—we have to get inside the gates! Now!”

  “Wait.” Chris was feeling confused. “But I . . .”

  Then there was a loud burping sound from nearby. Two more people came flying out of the portal and landed in the snow. Holly and Ivy!

  “Chris!” Holly cried, spitting out a mouthful of snow as she jumped to her feet. “You’re okay!” She raced forward and grabbed him in a hug so tight he couldn’t breathe for a second.

  Then she shoved him away so hard he staggered back and almost fell. She glared at him.

  “You almost gave me a heart attack, you know,” she snapped. “When I saw you disappear through the portal . . .”

  “Never mind all that!” Juniper was dancing frantically, waving her tiny arms. “We really need to get inside before the gates close!”

  Peppermint Bark gasped. “You’re right,” he said. “Look—they’re starting to shut now!”

  Everyone spun to look. Sure enough, the enormous gates were creaking slowly toward each other.

  “Run!” Happy hollered.

  The whole group raced toward the gates. Peppermint Bark was in the lead, though the elves weren’t far behind. Next came Holly, pumping her arms the way she did in the sprints at track meets.

  “Come on,” Chris yelled to Ivy, who was bringing up the rear. When he glanced back to check on her, his foot hit a patch of ice, sending him flying forward.

  “Oof!” he said as he felt cold snow go down his collar and into his shoes.

  “Are you okay?” Ivy shouted. “Get up—hurry!”

  Chris stood and tried to run, but his foot skidded again on the ice and he let out a shout as his ankle twisted painfully. When he tried to get up again, that leg collapsed under him, dumping him back in the snow. Meanwhile the gates were still swinging shut . . .

  “Go ahead without me!” he yelled, knowing there was no way he could make it in time. But everyone else still could . . .

  “Chris!” Holly turned and ran back toward him. “Come on, get up—I’ll help you,” she said, grabbing him by the arm and trying to yank him to his feet.

  Ivy had stopped beside Chris and tried to help too. “Hurry, hurry!” she cried, looking terrified.

  Happy the elf came rushing back. “Happy, stop!” Juniper yelled.

  “We can’t abandon him!” Happy exclaimed. “What kind of Christmas spirit would that be?”

  Juniper blinked. “Oh. Maybe you’re right.” She turned and ran back toward Chris too.

  * * *

  Peppermint Bark was so far ahead he hadn’t heard Chris go down. He reached the gates and paused, looking back for the others. Where were they?

  He peered through the falling snow, finally spotting them far behind him—almost all the way back at the portal.

  “Hurry, hurry!” he barked. “It’s almost time!”

  “Chris fell!” Holly called, her words so far away that even Peppermint Bark’s sharp ears barely caught them. “You should keep going, though—you made it! We got you home, just like we promised!”

  Peppermint Bark glanced through the gates. The castle was there, gleaming white and welcoming. He could picture his cozy spot at the foot of Santa’s comfy chair in front of the fireplace . . .

  I’ll miss that, he thought. But it’s only for a year. Santa will understand. Chris needs me!

  “I’m coming!” the little dog cried, bounding through the snow. “I’m coming—I won’t leave you!”

  By the time Peppermint Bark reached the others, Chris was back on his feet hobbling along between Holly and Ivy. The elves were dancing around, urging them forward.

  “Hurry!” Juniper cried. “Maybe we’ll still be able to—”

  CLANG!

  24

  Ho Ho Ho Uh-Oh . . .

  Chris felt his heart stop when the great gates clanged shut. But then it started up again, beating faster than ever. “Oh no,” he said. “Now what?”

  Juniper crossed her arms and glared at him. “Now we’re stuck, that’s what!” she exclaimed. “If only you meddling humans had left it to us, Peppermint Bark would be home and none of us would be out here!”

  Holly rolled her eyes. “Leave him alone, okay?” she said. “It’s not like you guys told us you were there to help Peppermint Bark.”

  Chris glanced at her, realizing his sister must have worked out why the elves had gone to Poinsettia. That wasn’t a surprise—Holly was smart like that.

  “Okay,” he said. “Can we go back through the . . .” His words faded away as he glanced toward the portal. Or, rather, the spot where the portal had been. There was no sign of it now.

  Happy followed his gaze. “The portals won’t open until next Christmas,” he said. “Just like the gates.”

  They all turned to stare at the gates. Peppermint Bark wagged his tail weakly. “Look on the bright side,” he barked. “I heard some wolves live out here—maybe we can find an abandoned wolf den to live in for the year . . .”

  Happy groaned, and Juniper muttered under her breath. Chris could tell the little dog was trying to stay cheerful, but there didn’t seem to be much point.

  “Wolves?” Holly exclaimed. “Great, just great!” She whirled toward Chris. “I can’t believe this is happening!”

  “I’m sorry!” Peppermint Bark cried. “This is all my fault—I asked you to help!”

  “Don’t bother—she’d much rather blame me!” Suddenly Chris was just as fed up with Holly as she obviously was with him. “She blames me for everything!”

  “What? That’s not what I meant at all! Anyway, no, I don’t—you’re the one who’s always getting me in trouble,” Holly said.

  “Guys . . .” Ivy began.

  But Chris barely heard her. “How do you think it feels when you act like this?” he asked his sister. “Like I’m some . . . some baby who can’t do anything right. Like you’d rather I wasn’t even around.”

  “What?” Holly cried. “If I don’t want you around, why’d I climb up that tree and jump through the portal to save you?”

  Chris crossed his arms and turned away. “I don’t know,” he said. “But it’s like I don’t even know you anymore. Like I’m all alone, left out of my own sister’s life.”

  “See?” Juniper said to Happy sharply. “This is what happens when you get involved with humans.”

  “It’s not my fault,” Happy protested. “I wanted to tell them what we were doing all along!”

  Chris glanced at Ivy, waiting for her to start yelling too. But she was staring down at the snow, being very quiet.

  “Ho ho ho!” Suddenly a cheerful voice rang out from the direction of the snow castle.

  Peppermint Bark gasped. “Santa?”

  Chris spun around just in time to see an enormous sleigh, pulled by eight large reindeer, fly over the gates. Holding the reins was a jolly man with a white beard, a red suit, and a smile merry and bright enough to light up the entire world.

  “Santa!” Happy and Juniper cried, running toward the gates.

  The sleigh swooped down, landing right in front of the group. “I heard we had some visitors out here,” Santa said with a wink. He snapped his fingers, and the huge gates behind him started creaking open again. “Welcome! Please come right in . . .”

  Chris and the others didn’t have to be invited twice. And it wasn’t until they were inside that Chris realized his ankle felt as good as new, even though he’d been pretty sure it was sprained . . .

  But there was no time to wonder about that. As soon as Santa stepped down from his sleigh, Peppermint Bark leaped into his arms. “I’m sorry I stowed away!” the little dog cried, licking Santa’s nose. “This is all my fault!”

  Santa hugged him and chuckled. “Never mind, little buddy,” he said. “No harm done, eh?”

  “But the gates . . .” Juniper was staring at the open gates,
looking confused.

  Santa chuckled again. “Ah, that part’s my fault,” he said, laying a finger aside of his nose and winking. “You see, I tried out some new tech this year—SPS.”

  “SPS?” Holly echoed. “What’s that?”

  “Santa Positioning System.” Santa let out another ho ho ho. “Mrs. Claus just invented it this year, and like most of her inventions, it works like a charm. It helped me find my way around the world so quickly that I finished early! So when I got back here, I closed the gates myself—didn’t see any reason to keep them open, at least not until I heard about Peppermint Bark going missing. In any case, they won’t lock for another hour. So come on inside—Mrs. Claus will have hot cocoa for everyone!”

  * * *

  The next forty-five minutes passed like a dream. Chris could hardly believe he was here—at the North Pole, touring Santa’s castle, meeting Mrs. Claus and the reindeer and the rest of the elves . . . It was magical! Peppermint Bark led them around the entire place, offering them delicious Christmas cookies in the cozy kitchen, showing them his favorite napping spots and the view of the skating pond from the east tower . . . There was so much to see!

  “And we’ve saved the best for last,” Happy announced when they came back into the grand front hall after touring the reindeer stable.

  Mrs. Claus kicked off her snow boots and chuckled. She didn’t look or act quite how Chris had expected—for instance, he definitely hadn’t expected her to start swapping ski stories with Ivy, who had been on several ski trips in Japan, or to demonstrate her unique design for the huge central fireplace that burned eco-friendly pellets. But she was just as jolly and kind as Santa himself . . . so come to think of it, maybe she was exactly like Chris had expected.

  “Best for last? Let me guess,” Mrs. Claus said, winking at Happy. “The workshop?”

  Ivy gasped. “You mean the elves’ workshop?” she exclaimed.

  “Of course!” Peppermint Bark said with a laugh. “Where do you think all those toys come from? Let’s go!”