“Well, hello there,” said the tiny man. “You must be the new elf the employment agency sent over to replace Alabaster Snowball. He’s awfully sick, much too sick to work.”
Blue Boy didn’t mind working. Besides, he was getting hungry, so he decided to let the little man think he was the replacement elf, ask a few questions, and maybe get something to eat. “What kind of work did Alabaster Snowball do before he got sick? No one told me.”
“Why, he’s the keeper of the Naughty and Nice list. His job is very important. Every year at Christmas time Mr. Santa Claus takes presents to all the boys and girls who’ve been nice, and he must have someone to keep up with the list for those who haven’t been. In other words, those who’ve been naughty don’t stand a chance. Come along, I’ll introduce you to Mr. Claus.”
Blue Boy was alarmed when he saw the jolly old man with a white beard standing next to an animal with horns and a glowing red nose. He was even more concerned after the tiny man introduced him as Alabaster Snowball’s replacement and hearing Mr. Claus’ greeting.
“Ho, Ho, Ho! Have you been naughty or nice?”
Now, Blue Boy knew he had been naughty for running away from home without asking permission from his parents to visit the land below. But, for fear of being fodder for the animals dressed in red hats and scarves, he didn’t quiver once. “I’m here to help,” he said.
“Ah, so you are,” replied Mr. Claus. “Come inside and meet Mrs. Claus. I must warn you, she will try to gorge you on food. That’s why my belly is so big. Mrs. Claus thinks everybody needs to eat lots of food.”
“Yummy,” said Blue Boy.
“What’s that you say, boy?” Mr. Claus asked.
Blue Boy coughed. “I would be delighted to meet Mrs. Claus.”
Mr. Claus winked and led Blue Boy inside.
It was warm and cozy inside the house, with wonderful smells coming from the kitchen.
A jolly old woman, wearing spectacles and a knowing smile, poked her head around the corner of the room, carrying a tray of cookies.
“Oh, joy! We have company,” she said. “You must be starved after your long journey. Come into the kitchen, son, and I will fix you a plate of delicious food. You need to get your strength up before you begin working.”
Blue Boy had no objections. He sat down at the table and began to stuff himself with the wonderful meal Mrs. Claus put in front of him. Topped off with a generous helping of cookies.
With his belly quite full, he was about to nod off, when Mr. Santa Claus pounded both of his fists on the table right in front of his face.
“Wake up, boy. We have work to do. There are toys to be made for the boys and girls.”
He led Blue Boy into his workshop, and such a wondrous site it was, nothing like Blue Boy had ever seen before. There were bouncing balls and baby dolls, building blocks and spinning tops.
And tiny ponies, too.
There were trucks and trains and remote-controlled airplanes.
And even a track filled with cars.
Blue Boy was delighted. The elves and Mr. Claus were busy working, but they were having so much fun. He did not mind one bit pitching in a helping hand.
Together, they made toys for all the girls and boys whose names appeared on the Nice List.
There was one thing that made Blue Boy sad. He felt sorry for the boys and girls who were on the Naughty List and would not receive any presents. He even dared to tell Mr. Claus that he felt sad about this.
“Ho! Ho! Ho!” Replied Santa Claus. “That is why your job is so important. You must dig a little deeper into checking out the list. If you can find just one good deed a child did during the year, I will give them a present.”
Blue Boy was very pleased to learn that Santa Claus was a fair man, and he set about to make sure that every boy and girl received a gift. For the next couple of weeks, he worked hard every day. He was so exhausted at night, all he wanted to do after eating his supper was fall into a deep sleep in the bed Mr. and Mrs. Claus provided for him.
Then one night his family appeared in his dreams and he became very homesick. This weighed heavily on Blue Boy’s mind all the next day and he began to think about a way to tell Santa Claus and the elves the truth without it making him sound like such a naughty boy for running away from home.
One of the elves noticed the worried look on Blue Boy’s face.
“What’s the matter, Blue Boy? Why do you look so sad?”
Blue Boy cleared the lump in his throat and stammered, “I’m—I’m—I’m.”
Santa Claus came over and put his arm around Blue Boy.
“Are you ready to go home now, son?”
“Oh, yes, Mr. Claus, yes I am, very much,” Blue Boy gushed.
“But—but—but—how did you know?”
Santa Claus laughed a very jolly laugh indeed.
“Santa Claus knows everything, Blue Boy. Never fear, your time is near. Tonight we will hook the reindeer up to the sleigh and begin our journey to take all the boys and girls their presents. I will need you to go with me and read out the names on that list so we can make sure each of the children get the right gift. And then, after our work is done, I will drop you off at your home.”
“But Mr. Claus, my family lives in the clouds and I never know for sure which one they’re going to be on. How will we ever find them?”
“Ho! Ho! Ho!” Mr. Claus roared.
“I already told you, Santa Claus knows everything.”
And so it was, after they loaded the sleigh to the brim with toys, and after Blue Boy had waved goodbye to all the elves, and Mrs. Claus had planted a wet kiss on his cheek, he climbed into the sleigh with Mr. Claus and set out into the sky.
And that is how Blue Boy Crumpets became a special Christmas elf.
Mr. Santa Claus was true to his word. After delivering all the toys to all the girls and boys, he dropped Blue Boy off onto the very cloud where his family was. They were so glad to see that he was okay they forgot to scold him, but made him promise never to leave home again without permission.
Blue Boy promised to obey his parents and to this day, he has never broken his promise.
Some people say the Crumpets family still lives in the clouds and that on a clear day you can see Blue Boy and his brother and sister skating and dancing their way across the sky. If you look real close and wave at him, Blue Boy might even wave back.
THE END
How Blue Boy Crumpets Became a Special Christmas Elf Page 2
