This is my Christmas Story for 20202 – Enjoy!
“I think I will be a pirate this year, Mrs. Claus,” Santa informed his wife at the breakfast table on the bright sunny morning of the Monday before Thanksgiving.
The woman across the table from him slowly put down her magazine she had been reading. She looked at him through her tiny reading glasses that were perched on her nose and said, “Okay, but you never dressed as a pirate in the past. Why now?”
“The elves need to have some fun. Why not celebrate Halloween? Most of the world does so, why not us, too?” he explained to his wife as he rose from his chair.
Mrs. Claus watched as he paused and started stroking his beard. Santa started to walk across the room and returned to where he began with his hands behind his back.
“What are you up to, dear?” Mrs. Claus asked.
“Shhh, Mrs. Claus, can’t you see I am thinking?” he grumbled at her.
Mrs. Claus shook her head, put down the magazine, rose from her chair and called in a pleasant voice, “Maurice!”
A few minute later, an elf entered the room. He wore a bright green jacket over a bright white shirt and brilliant red pants. His hair was as white as Santa’s and he was nearly as old as him, too.
“Hello, Maurice,” Mrs. Claus said smiling pleasantly at the old elf. “I think Santa is going to need you.”
She walked out of the room.
A few days later, Santa and Mrs. Claus entered the huge entry way of the main shop building and stopped to observe the room. It was transformed into a giant banquet hall. Rows and rows of tables were lined from one end of the room to the other end. Each table was decorated in red or green tablecloths and held plate settings for eight people. In the middle of each table sat a platter of turkey, bowls of mashed potatoes, dressing (or stuffing), green bean casserole, mac and cheese, candied yams, and fresh green salad. Elves flitted around each table and, frankly, around the room, in organized chaos finishing the setting of each table. Each elf was dressed was dressed in some sort of Halloween costume. Santa, as promised, was a pirate, with a hook on one hand and a patch draping over his right eye. Mrs. Claus was attired in a princess gown with a crown atop her head. An elf dressed as a skeleton approached the couple.
“Ah, Maurice, I see you are showing your age,” Santa commented to his right-hand elf.
“Very funny, sir,” Maurice shook his head. “But yes sir, I was trying to be funny. Very nice costume, Mrs. Claus. We are about ready to begin. The head table was put on the side of the stage. Let me take you there.”
“It is amazing, dear, that this room will soon be the place where your sleigh is packed and away you go to all the good boys and girls of the world,” Mrs. Claus said to her husband as they followed Maurice to their table.
As they proceeded, they would occasionally stop with one of the elves and comment on their costume. Santa knew each of them by name and he laughed with each one. The head table traditionally was not only where Santa and his charming wife sat but also the cast of the play that would precede the banquet. All of the seats were empty when they arrived, and Santa and Mrs. Claus made their way to their seats in the center of the table. Maurice followed them and stood next to Mrs. Claus. Santa paused in his pirate costume, raised the eye patch that was drooping down across his right eye, raised his knife from its spot and struck the side of his wine glass.
The quiet tinkle of each strike rose across the room and the elves dressed in their colorful costumes quieted and went to their tables and stood beside their chairs. At the rear and on each side of the room, giant video screens displayed Santa who was calmly waited for the room to quiet. He looked out on the sea of witches, goblins, and princesses then he smiled.
“Happy Thanksgiving all!” he began, and the room erupted in cheers and applause. “I hope you like our tribute to Halloween, too. We are on our final days to lift off! Nice costumes all! Today, when we leave, each of you will receive a goody bag of treats that Mrs. Claus and her staff have put together for you. Thank you dear.”
Another eruption of cheers rose from the crowd as Mrs. Claus bowed and waved to everyone.
“I think we should wear costumes every year to our Thanksgiving and Christmas kickoff meal. What do you think?” Santa asked and was answered with another round of cheers.
“Now, down to business, shall we pray,” Santa said. “Heavenly Father, we thank you for all that you do for us and for blessing us with the opportunity to spread the joy of Christmas all around the world. We must never forget why we do this every year, to remember the greatest gift of all, Your Son. Bless the elves who prepared this meal and for the elves who are about to perform for us, and for their tireless work all year long. In Jesus name we pray, amen.”
Suddenly the room grew dark as the sound of chairs being pulled out and people sitting in them. A spotlight lit up the stage and the curtain slowly opened. The scene before them revealed a nativity scene stage right, empty, save for the reindeer surrounding the manger, dressed in costumes of various farm animals High above them, on a platform, sat a reindeer with his red nose glowing, obviously the Christmas star.
Stage right, a small group of elves clustered together dressed as shepherds were sitting and staring at another elf standing on a platform above them dressed as an anger. A voice sounded throughout the room, “An angel appeared to them and they were afraid. But the angel said to them…”
The angel began to speak to the shepherds on the stage, “Don’t be afraid for I have great news for you! Today in Bethlehem a baby is born who will bring the world great joy. He is the Messiah, the Lord. Go, you will find him in a manger.”
A small group of angels joined the one and they began to sing.
At the table on the side of the stage, Santa took Mrs. Claus’ hand in his and smiled.
The End and Merry Christmas to all! – Stay safe!
Greg – Christmas 2020
My First Stories 