Princess Claus and the Great Escape

by J L Gillham

  I tuck into my s’more as I think about a distraction. Once sure there is no hint of marshmallow on my face or lips, I turn to Finn again. “So, your sister wants to be a fashion designer. What about you?”

  “I like working at Dad’s diner,” Finn says matter-of-factly.

  This gets my attention, and I look up. Then I frown. It’s not that his answer isn’t an honest and reliable way to make a living, but it catches me by surprise. “No grand ambitions. Astronaut, or cowboy, or maybe...” I trail off.

  “I think I’ll stick to riding a snow mobile over horses. But maybe I can become a circus clown or even an extra tall elf in Winter Wonderland,” he teases.

  I giggle. “You are at least a foot too tall to enter into their pub, The Jingled Bell.”

  He shakes his head as if disappointed.

  “But I think you’d make a great circus clown,” I say, making sure to keep up with the conversation. I look around. Maybe if I go for a walk, I can lie and say I lost something. Then when Finn is looking for it, I can hurry off.

  “I think if I worked for the circus, I’d get fired for spending too much money on the ingredients for the pies you hit clowns in the face with.” He nods as if agreeing with himself. “Of course, I’d have to use the best of everything. The clown will get some of the pie in his mouth.”

  “You have a thing for pie?” I tease, not wanting it to look too obvious I’m about to go for a walk as part of my master plan.

  “Baking in general. Not that I’m partial to sweets, mind you. Salty and savory dishes are just as delicious.” He winks, and I stare at him.

  “You’re not just following in the footsteps paved in cement?” I ask while stretching.

  “Nah.” He shrugs. “Last summer after I graduated high school, I took some baking classes and fell in love with the kitchen. I’d grown up in it, but once I could experiment like a mad scientist, I knew it was for me.” He stands, and I wonder if he’s planning on walking with me. Fiddle-d-fizz.

  “That is, a mad chef instead of a mad scientist fully equipped with mixing bowls and spatulas instead of microscopes and beakers,” he adds.

  “Do they have a lot of cooking classes in town?” I begin walking toward the bird sanctuary.

  “Not really. But I took them in Oklahoma. My uncle lives in Edmond.” Finn keeps pace with me.

  “How was trading snowstorms for tornadoes?” I pause as I ask him. The thought of being stuck inside such a scary force of nature gives me shivers.

  “An adventure. Fortunately, none touched down nearby while I was there, though my uncle has seen his fair share of them.” Finn shrugs his shoulders as if tornadoes are no big deal.

  “Noelle, Finn!”

  We both glance in the direction of the noise. Aurora is at the top of the sand dunes on the northern part of the peninsula, frantically waving her arms. Then she shouts, “It’s a shooting star!”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  As Aurora motions for us, Finn and I begin running. It doesn’t take us long to catch up to her at the sand dunes. Then the three of us make our way through the bushes, over the hill, and then around some giant rocks.

  I stop for a moment to catch my breath. When I do, I glance all around.

  That’s when I realize the area on the other side of the hill that we are about to make our way down is a peninsula with giant rocks at the end.

  “Over there!” Aurora shouts as she races down the other side of the hill toward the lagoon. At the bottom of the hill, there is a hole in the sand. The three of us join Nicky and peer into the opening to see a jagged-looking rock. Nicky reaches down to pick it up.

  “Wait, I bet it’s hot.” Aurora dumps her canteen of water onto the rock, causing a sizzling sound and wisps of smoke to rise.

  Finn and I sit on a large rock and watch, neither of us able to help since we didn’t bring a canteen like Aurora. Every thirty seconds Nicky tests the rock, confirms it’s still too hot to touch, and then Aurora adds more water to it.

  “Want to check out the boulders?” Finn asks while pointing to the end of the strip of land.

  “Oh, I want to look for sharks,” Aurora says, then drops her canteen to the ground.

  Finn glances at me, and I give him a quick shake of the head. Brother and sister wander off. As they leave, Nicky comes over to sit down next to me. So much for sneaking off without anyone noticing. I’ll have to wait a little longer. I expect us to sit there in silence; however, the moment he’s settled, he speaks up.

  “All my life I wanted what you had, to be the next Santa.” Nicky bends down and picks up a tiny seashell. Then he tosses it. “I thought if I worked hard enough, proved I was better suited for it, then surely Dad would realize I should be the one to take on his duties when he retires.”

  I open my mouth to speak but don’t want to break his train of thought. Instead, I clamp my mouth closed and let my brother get out whatever’s been building in him like a tsunami.

  “But today it’s like I lived someone else’s life.” Nicky picks up another seashell. Instead of tossing it, he holds it in his palm and examines it like treasure from a pirate’s chest. “I saw a glimpse of the world, and when I return home, I bet our little world under the dome will look different, too. Maybe my day will cease to be about proving myself and begin to be about figuring myself out.” Nicky puts the seashell in his pocket, then meets my gaze.

  “Who am I if not the little brother of Princess Claus who stops at nothing to one-up her? What does my day look like if it’s not filled with watching videos of my most recent simulations and figuring out how to be better?” As he pauses, I consider coming up with a joke to lighten the mood, but before I’ve figured one out, Nicky continues.

  “And, you know what? It might take me a while to figure out the answers to those questions. But,” he pauses and chuckles. “I’m okay with that.”

  I want to give him an encouraging smile, but all I can do is raise an eyebrow at the turn of events. Who would’ve thought in one afternoon Nicky would be willing to let go of what he’s always wanted?

  “And you, sis? Are you okay with shouldering Dad’s load?” There is a tinge of fear in his voice. “Because hints of grey hair and a weariness that doesn’t go away even after Christmas is done for the year aren’t the only signs Dad should be retiring soon. Now, maybe he won’t admit that. And maybe he will hold out a few more years just to give you more time. But...” Nicky sighs.

  “But, the longer I wait, the worse it’ll be on Dad’s health,” I finish for my brother. He nods and gives me a ghost of a smile. As I stare at Nicky, I wonder if he figured out my plans for leaving today. Is this pep talk to make sure I return with him?

  I debate about telling him how right he was in thinking this is going to be my jail break. Instead I bite my lip and keep it to myself, at least for now. So all I respond with is a nod of my head. That must be good enough for him. For the first time in my life, my little brother looks at me in the same way Aurora looks at Finn, with respect.

  Suddenly, I sneeze. Then I wave my hand in the air in front of my nose. “Wow, I’m surprised how much that stinks, almost like a kitchen fire.”

  “Got it!” Nicky holds up a chunk the size of a large baseball ball. It’s covered in holes and has a dirty gray coloration.

  By this time, Finn and Aurora have rejoined us. After examining the discovery, we turn back toward our campsite. “I wonder how long the smoke smell lasts,” I say as we get to the top of the rocks. Then I realize it isn’t the meteorite causing the odor.

  “No!” I shout as I race down the sand dunes.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  My eyes land on our unattended bonfire. Then I gasp. The part of the sanctuary closest to our picnic is ablaze. Nicky, Finn, and Aurora run to different objects. Finn dumps out the cooler that still holds a half-empty bag of marshmallows, races to the ocean, and fills it with water. At the same time, Aurora fills her canteen. Nicky overturns two buckets, dumping the sand out next to the castle. T
hen he joins the effort. They fling water on the fire and head back to the ocean to repeat the process.

  I wrap my arms around myself, watching the chaos. One by one birds take flight, evacuating their up-until-recently protected home. Dark clouds float upward. Taking a deep breath, I force myself to move. Then I grab the only remaining bucket, dumping the sand out and replacing it with water.

  The four of us take on the role of firefighters. Suddenly, three more people are dumping out water bottles onto the flames. I look up to see the people from earlier. There is the couple and the man wearing tweed who had been walking in the shallows.

  Finally, all the flames have all been smothered. The peninsula is no longer a place the birds will be returning to for a long time if ever. I cringe as guilt washes over me.

  “Thanks for the help,” Finn says to the couple.

  “Of course,” the man says. Then the woman jogs toward him and gives him a backpack. He shrugs into it, and then they both head off.

  I glance at the man in tweed, ready to express my gratitude. “’Tis a sad thing to lose one’s home.” He takes off his hat and holds it against his chest as he stares at the ashes. A lump forms in my throat, and I’m unable to speak.

  “We shouldn’t have left the fire unattended,” Nicky says, then lets out a sigh. He plops down on the sand and wipes his brow.

  I didn’t want the most magical day of my life to end like this. There has to be a way to salvage it. But as I stand in my fire-smelling swimsuit, all I can think of is a hot shower and dry pajamas.

  We spend a few minutes gathering our belongings. When I’ve finally mustered up the courage to properly thank the stranger, I see he’s already left. I feel like a half-deflated balloon. Part of my tension is gone now that I don’t have to see his disapproving expression. However, the rest of me is still overcome with sorrow over this bird sanctuary turned to ash.

  “Oh, no,” Nicky says.

  I look at him to see he’s holding the end of the rope Tiny used to be tied to. I grimace, but don’t share my part in the fuzzball’s freedom. “Tiny!” I shout as I wander around the small forest. The others join in the search. Finally, I spot him hiding behind the trunk of a tree. “Did that bad fire scare you?” I bend down and rub behind his ears. As I do, I realize he’s shaking. “Nicky, grab a treat for Tiny!” I shout.

  “On it.” Nicky jogs back toward the sleigh.

  After a minute of talking in soothing tones to the bear, Nicky joins us with his palms up. “There isn’t any food left.”

  At the mention of the word food, Tiny lifts his head, turning it left and right. With a huff, he rises and tentatively lumbers toward the sleigh. Once he’s three feet away, he lets out a pitying cry.

  “You can do it,” Nicky says reassuringly. He leads Tiny toward the reins and hooks the bear up.

  “We’d better give him the best meal of his life when we get home,” Aurora says as she climbs into the sleigh.

  Finn follows her lead. I’m about to put a blanket in the trunk under the seat, when I decide to wrap myself in it. After a minute, I put on my clothes from earlier. Not only do I still stink of fire, but the sand rubs against my skin every time I shift.

  While everyone else is busy, I glance in the direction the couple headed earlier. They must’ve been going toward a town. Now is my only chance to follow through with my plan. Then I’ll be on my way, trading in Princess Claus for Noelle from this day forward.

  I glance back at the ashes. All the birds abandoned their former sanctuary. I think about all I’m leaving behind. Not just scrumptious meals and my pet polar bear, but Mom and Dad too. They are the best parents any kid could as for. Then there’s my grandparents, of course.

  I’ll miss Cole’s visit and the exhilaration of delivering gifts for the first time. Yes, it’s a legacy I never wanted, but as I look at the devastation of the bird sanctuary I partly caused, I wonder how much my leaving home will be a devastation.

  The thought of leaving behind Winter Wonderland, my snow globe prison, saddens me. For so long I’ve been looking at it as a trap, a place to flee from. Instead I should’ve been looking at it like a sanctuary, a place to flee too. A retreat from the rest of the world where I could do the littlest harm.

  I watch as Nicky and Aurora walk hand-in-hand to the water. They stand ankle deep, staring into the depths.

  I stand between the sleigh and the town, between what could be and what has always been.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” Finn says as he approaches. He’s got on pants and a sweater, ready to head back to the cold. He shoves his hands in his pockets.

  Cocking my head to the side, I consider trusting him again. But the laughter of the two mean girls from town after hearing Finn tell them the secret that an evil elf out to kidnap me fills the silence.

  “How about a guess?” he asks, taking a slow step toward me.

  I look away and rub my shoulders for a moment to comfort myself, but the sand still clinging to my skin makes the action uncomfortable, so I stop. Instead of staring at him or answering, I look toward the town.

  “My one guess is,” he begins, then lowers his voice, “you are about to make your great escape.”

  I whip my head in his direction, my mouth dropping open.

  Finn holds his hands up. “I’m not going to tell anyone.”

  I lean to see around Finn. Nicky and Aurora aren’t close enough to hear us even if Finn stops whispering.

  “And to be honest, I wouldn’t blame you,” Finn adds, then shrugs. “But I’d miss you.”

  He told others the secret of Ebenezer. Would he tell my brother about my escape before I could do it? Or would he try to stop me himself?

  I lean back against the sleigh as casually as possible. Out of the corner of my eye, I see my go-bag. In one swift move, I could grab it and bolt. However, when I glance back at Finn, he takes a step back.

  “I won’t stop you.” He holds his hands up. “But what if you give being Princess Claus, the first female Santa, your all? Just this one year, this one time?” He locks his hands behind his back. “Step into the boots your family has prepared for you and see how they fit. See if there's room to grow and maybe even modify them a little bit.” He grins. “Then you'll know, you'll really know if you want to walk away.”

  I let out a deep breath. “Maybe you're right. But I'm scared.” The words tumble out of me before I can stop them.

  “So, what's the worst thing that can happen?” He cocks his head to the side.

  “I slow my father down so that he's unable to deliver all the presents in time. Or maybe I accidentally light a Christmas tree on fire. Maybe I'll...” I can’t stop the rambling. “I’ll never get another chance to leave and I’ll be stuck as Santa for the rest of my life.”

  He holds up his left hand. “Okay, so maybe a few things could happen that won't be totally great. But I bet all of the Santas had to grow into their black boots and their red and white hats,” he says. “Why should you be any different? Why should you be expected to be perfect on day one and not have room to grow?” He takes a slow step toward me and I don’t shrink back. “And not have room to see if it’s a fit or not.”

  I’d never looked at being Santa like that before. Of course, I’ve done more simulations than I can count. But, I’ve never actually been Santa. I’ve never delivered one gift. Would I truly hate it as much as I think I would?

  “Ready to go?” Nicky asks as he approaches us, still holding Aurora’s hand.

  Finn looks to me. I stare back at him. Then I glance toward the direction of town. What if Dad really can’t handle a runaway daughter? What if the dream of adventuring around the world is like a mirage, not tangible once you get close enough? I don’t know the answer, but I decide I don’t have to find out tonight.

  In little more than a whisper, I respond. “Let’s go home.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Without any food to fill the coolers, the small one fits inside the large one. Nicky tosses all
our belongings into the back of the sleigh where presents usually go, the place I should have hidden on our trek here.

  “At least this time you get to see the view during the sleigh ride.” Aurora smiles at me.

  I don’t have the energy to muster even a dim smile. Aurora sits in the middle of the bench with Finn and I flanking her. Nicky doesn’t bother to ask me if I’d like to fly us home, and I’m grateful. Though, if he was going to glance at me while asking, all he’d have had to do was take one look on my face and known that wasn’t an option.

  “Yah,” Nicky shouts as he holds the reins. Tiny obliges and pulls us not only forward, but upward as well.

  Being on the end of the bench, I can look over the side of the sleigh easily. It’s a good thing I’m not afraid of heights. As we rise, everything on the ground becomes smaller. Pretty soon we are racing through the clouds. Once through the barrier of cumulus, the only time I see land or water is when there is a gap in the fluffy canopy. However, we are going so fast I can’t make anything out anyway.

  “I’d never get tired of this,” Aurora mumbles. I glance at her to see her eyes closed and her head back.

  “Santa’s sleigh. The only way to travel,” Finn adds. Though his words are comical, his tone is somber. I decide to turn my attention back to the endless sea of white and let my mind wander.

  It’d always seemed like there were only two options: embrace my life sentence or flee. I will make it home safe and sound. What if I could make an occasional jailbreak undetected and be back in time for dinner?

  I know part of my decision to return to Winter Wonderland is due to the fact that as long as we return without anyone noticing we were gone, I could borrow this sleigh. If I repeat the exact steps Nicky used to get out today, I could sneak out once in a while.

  And, if we are discovered I’ll just have to convince my parents that the threat is gone. Or, they could assign me a gaggle of elves for protection on the occasional trip. Surely, that’s not unreasonable.