Santa's Helpers

"Ho Ho Ho Merry... Ho Ho Ho Merry... Ho Ho Ho Me< smack >rry Christmas."

"Jangles, you need to fix this blasted tape machine," said an elderly woman's voice, "it is stuck or something."

"Mrs. Claus," said an overly excited voice, "I don't think this player was made for icy temperatures."

"Do something or many children and adults alike won't hear the famous words of Santa."

* * * * *

This night was ten years in the making, most of it was done in secret, away from the knowledge of Santa. Rumors circulated through the elves that Santa was showing his age.

The Christmas Eve trips around the world took longer each year. A few times Santa was still delivering toys way into the morning hours. The sunrises were giving some of the reindeer headaches and fears they were losing their eyesight.

When Mrs. Claus heard the stories about Santa slowing down, she devised a plan. Full knowing that Father Christmas would have no part in it until it was too late, she called into action Jingles and Jangles, her two favorite and most dependable elves.

She put Jingles in charge of building a second sleigh. Mrs. Claus gave him the exact specifications so no one could question the appearance of the jolly elf on their rooftop.

The runners of the sleigh were made from the highest quality steel. The sled itself was fashioned from white pine and the bench, which would carry the rider, was constructed from the finest oak. It took Jingles and his team of craftsmen a year to create the sleigh. If one would put the both sleighs together even Santa himself couldn't tell them apart.

Jingles beamed with pride when he showed Mrs. Claus this masterpiece.

Jangles was put in charge of selecting and training the additional reindeers for the new sleigh. He did an equally impressive job training the team. These deer may have lacked famous names such as Comet, Cupid, Donner or Blitzen but they were as dedicated to their jobs as the original sleigh guiders.

"On Candy and Cookies,
On Eggnog and Spice,
On Snowbell and Mistletoe,
On Snowflake and Star" said Jangles as Mrs. Claus watched her eight reindeer practice flying as a team.

After Mrs. Claus and the two elves finished their tasks, it came time to convince Santa he needed help.

Father Christmas or Kris Kringle was a stubborn man. He refused to believe he was no longer spry in his steps. He ignored the aches, the pains and the shortness of breath associated with getting older. He downplayed the longer times needed to deliver gifts by saying there were more children being good.

The well prepared Mrs. Claus, was diverted but not beaten, but she still had devised another plan. For this scheme to work she had to recruit two more of Santa's elves, Twinkles and Tingles.

Twinkles and Tingles were in charge of watching the official North Pole radar, the very device that kept track of where all the good boys and girls lived. The elves also made sure that no house was missed or visited twice.

"Thank you boys for coming," said Mrs. Claus.

"I bet you are wondering why I called you here especially so close to Christmas Eve.

"Jingles, Jangles and myself want to help Santa deliver the toys but we don't want him to find out about it.

"We, the boys and I, have a new sleigh and reindeer. Twinkles and Tingles, I want you to keep Santa and I apart as we cover the globe."

"Yes ma'am," said Twinkles and Tingles in unison, "we'll do our best."

For the next three years, the two Claus' delivered toys and joys all over the world. Since Mrs. Claus was always able to get back to the North Pole before Santa, he never suspected anything.

The first year with the inexperienced Mrs. Claus and reindeer, she arrived less then ten minutes before Santa. Later that day when Santa reported that he thought he saw another sleigh just like his over Australia, Jingles came up with the fallen star theory. Santa didn't question what he saw any further.

Santa never thought twice about his quicker delivery times of Christmas cheer across the world. Mrs. Claus and her four accomplices weren't feeling too good about their deception but telling Santa wouldn't be the the thing any of them wanted to do.

On the eighth year of helping Santa problems with the sleigh put them into a situation where keeping this secret from Santa was no longer an option.

The night started like all the others. Elves were working their fingers to the bone making the last minute preparations. Santa's sleigh packed, inventoried and launched. Then Jingles, Jangles, Twinkles and Tingles hurriedly packed Mrs. Claus' sleigh.

Shortly after Mrs. Claus with Jingles and Jangles left the North Pole the problems started. Two of the reindeer battled a fever, runny nose and hot flashes. Cloud cover made navigation extremely hard, especially since there was only one red-nosed reindeer, and he belonged to Santa's team. Some of the extra gadgets on the sleigh weren't working right either.

It was so cold that night that even her jingle bells wouldn't ring, which only added to her troubles.

Even with all the problems they had, she couldn't give up her quest to help Santa.

The tape recorder used to announce Santa's message was the last thing not to work right. This was probably the most needed part of the whole plan. Mrs. Claus could imitate the sleigh and eight tiny reindeers, the red suit, the beard and even the trick for getting up the chimney. The one thing she couldn't duplicate was Santa's voice. Mrs. Claus couldn't risk a young boy or girl not believing it wasn't Santa who delivered the toys in the stockings.

"Ho Ho Ho Merry... Ho Ho Ho Merry... Ho Ho Ho Me< smack >rry Christmas and to all a good night."

* * * * *

"Momma," said Santa, "I want to know how you pulled it off? I want to know why I got this letter from little Jane Wilhelm thanking you for delivering her dolly this year?"

Before Mrs. Claus could answer Santa smiled. He not only thanked her and the elves, but he asked to see the sleigh and reindeer. Santa also did another thing that shocked the world, as well as the North Pole. He called a press conference and announced to the world that he and his lovely wife would, from then on, be delivering Christmas to good little boys and girls.

So before you go to sleep this Christmas Eve, put a plate of cookies out for Santa, but also leave a rose for Mrs. Claus.

The End