It was late in the season for a cross country move
But with his father’s new job no one could disapprove
As he climbed up on the back of the shiny new couch
His mom’s warning heard not to be a grouch
He didn’t have that much of a life to recall
He was still kind of young and not very tall
But he remembered the only home he’d ever known
On the beach where the yard was sand instead of grass grown
He’d flown here last night on a red eye and slept
His eyes closed and his head in his mothers lap kept
He awoke in a bedroom, wrapped in his favorite blanket
And his dresser and toys sat there on a new carpet
He leaped from his bed and he chased his mother’s voice
She was humming along as a chorus rejoiced
She was emptying boxes, getting their new home straight
And Christmas decorations flew from each unopened crate
He threw his arms around her in a big eyes closed hug
And she handed him some hot cocoa in a large mug
“Why good morning, “she said. “How is my sleepyhead?”
He saw yuletide decorations in greens and in red
He could see that a place had been set at the table
With a large empty bowl and juice from a bottle
He rushed through his breakfast as though he were late
And he dressed in his clothes like he was off for a date
But once ready his confusion was there on his face
As he remembered that he was now in a new place
So he thought to at least take his first look around
The little boys’ eyes grew wide; there was snow on the ground
There was no one about as he looked up the street
To the left nor the right, no ocean and no heat
He ran to the kitchen and peered through that window frame
But it was to no avail, the view looked the same
He walked past the pantry to the living room
A fire was burning but it didn’t melt his gloom
But he did see a sight that brightened his face so young
For above from the mantle all the stockings were hung
As his mother did watch him and she saw his face frown
And she walked up behind him and held him to her gown
“I know this is all new to you,” her voice whispered
Her hug felt as light as the song of a bird
“But we’re all here together, as the same family”
And he hugged her back just as tight as could be
He felt himself yawn as they both sat by the fire
She smiled and said”I think my little boy’s tired”
Smiling she picked him up and danced round the floor
And she danced up the stairs and she danced through his door
She laid him down on his bed with his head on the pillow
“All that travelling last night, you must be a tired fellow”
And with a kiss on his cheek and she pulled up his quilt
She knew he was scared and felt a tinge of guilt
But she knew that a nap would help him find his smile
So she returned to unpacking to let him sleep awhile
His eyes were half closed but opened wide with a fear
What if Santa did not know that they had moved here
He huddled in his covers with a tear in his eyes
And he drifted to sleep with just a start of a cry
He couldn’t remember if he had started to dream
For things suddenly felt strange, not as they had seemed
He opened his eyes and he was not in his bed
He was lying on a seat moving in a large sled
The windows were covered with ice and some snow
He sat up abruptly and felt his ride slow
What got me here? He wondered as the sled stopped to park
“Your eyes did,” a deep voice was heard to remark
And the little boy looked up, away from the dark
At the base of a grand set of inlaid slate stairs
Stood a man with a pipe and a head of gray hair
He didn’t seem jolly but his blue eyes did smile
Nor appear overweight or a beard his hairstyle
The tall man strode off of his porch to the sleigh
He knelt down as they could talk closer that way
He was the host and was made for the role
“My name is Nick,” he said, “welcome to the North Pole.”
He took the boys hand in his and they both walked
They climbed up the staircase and neither one talked
At the top of the mountain of stairs was a gate
The man pushed on some buttons upon the door plate
With a large hiss the boy heard a deadbolt release
And the large gates swung open until the motion did cease
As the little boy looked what a sight found his eyes!
There was a village before him and he stared in surprise
The man watched his face with just a hint of a smile
Next to wondering eyes, he lit his pipe meanwhile
“There’s a lot that’s been done here,” he laughed merrily
“Tasks from hardworking friends,” he said.” Not just by me.”
And the little eyes searched hard trying to see an elf.
The man smiled, “I wanted to meet you and show you myself.”
The boy looked in his eyes but his voice was delayed
But he found it and he whispered, “I’m afraid.”
The voice that replied was deep and gentle
“I know that,” the man said, ‘”I see your eyes are full”
He looked deeply into the face of this lamb
“If you believe in me, “he said. “You know who I am.”
The young boy turned to look at his face
And his blue eyes met blue eyes that he knew from someplace
All of the snow and lamps like candy canes
A light bulb came on in the little boys’ brain
And suddenly his eyes lit up with awe
With eyes and mouth wide he exclaimed “You’re Santa Clause!”
The old man saw his shoulders shake and he could tell
Although the boys unending smile hid it well
The North Pole’s winds, at times, both harsh and bold
The little boy’s thin t-shirt was far too cold
He pulled a small gold whistle from inside his coat
He put it to his lips and blew a silent note
Before the two could take a step more on the track
A pair of Elves appeared and placed a robe upon his back
He pulled it tightly about him and he smiled with glee
At the two tiny Elves who bowed and giggled merrily
Hand in hand they all walked as the boy beheld
The large house at the streets end where Santa dwelled
The street a giant circle laid with cobblestone
Centered by a fountain of ice which like crystal shone
On the outer edge were houses built of brick and mortar
They each had high rooftops although the doors were shorter
The street lamps were on poles that looked like candy canes
Speakers on the lamp poles played holiday refrains
Wide eyed the boy looked to the left and right
His wonderment showed in his eyes as pure delight
He wondered,” How come the snow is gone from here?
Outside the gate I saw that it was everywhere?”
The Elves wore knowing smiles upon their face
The old man said “There’s a lot of Christmas magic in this place!”
“Now look there, “and pointed, “See who expects us there!”
The boy saw a woman at the door with salt and pepper hair
The Christmas Village manor was just a short walk more
“That’s my wife Leila, Mrs. Clause that stands there in the door!”
Her green eyes were upon him with a welcome gaze
He stepped upon the front porch above the walkways
“Welcome,” she smiled to him, “Welcome on this special day, dear.”
She shook his hand and in a hug she drew him near
“Let us get inside,”she said, “And out of the cold!”
He was amazed to find that Mrs. Clause was not that old
“Why your cheeks are pink!” She laughed,”But I can understand.”
And she put a steaming mug of cocoa in to his hand
He sipped and found the taste to be the best he’d tried
If his tongue could be believed and it was a trusty guide
He looked around amazed by all that he could see
But what caught his eyes the most was the amazing tree
It was taller than he was, maybe two or three times
It was filled with colored candles and bells that chimed
And atop it was an angel that looked like a doll
Its arms held wide, it held a banner that said peace to all
There were many decorations hung about the walls
And oil paintings and ornaments, large colored balls
A fire burned brightly in the fireplace
He could feel it’s warmth about his body and upon his face
He turned to see his hosts both smiling hand in hand
“I can’t believe I’m here,” he breathed, “It was never planned!”
The old man took a seat and set his smoking pipe in a tray
“You called out to me, son,” he said. “I heard your tears today.”
“Now sometimes I might have just found a way to dry your eyes,”
He smiled, “But I thought I’d do it with a large surprise.”
The boy looked at him and he asked “Why would that be?”
“It’s simple, son, “he stated, “Because you believe in me.”
The boy looked deeply at him with a furrowed brow
“But, Santa,” he exclaimed,” I thought of this just now!”
“How can you be so skinny and how come you are shaved?!”
“You look so round and jolly in every Christmas card I’ve saved?”
The man reared back his head and slapped his knees just so
And his eyes were twinkling as he let out a mighty “Ho, Ho, Ho!”
“Well,” he said, with a smile and a glance over at his wife
“Let me show you,” he began, “a little bit about our life.”
He rose up to his feet and led the boy across the room
They continued down a hall where poinsettias were in bloom
The boy’s excitement grew as the two approached a wall
As the old man pressed a button and a door began to crawl
It slid silently into the wall to reveal a hidden space
“This is my elevator,” he said. “It’s the way to move about the place.”
As the door slid closed before them and the floor began to drop
The old man started speaking, “Now let me take it from the top.”
“I have been around quite a long time,” he began
“Giving joy and hope to others has always been my plan.”
He went on, “It started a lifetime ago long before many were born.”
“But even with these many changes the idea never has been worn”
He paused as the elevator slowed until it stopped
And they waited till the door was open and the cage had dropped
Another hallway now before them with a large doorway at the end
“You are about to see,” he smiled, “what few have seen my friend.”
“This is my workshop,” he said,” Full of gifts and ribbons and wrapping”
“You wish for what’s in your heart,” he smiled,” this is where we make it happen.”
With that he opened up the door and stepped off to one side
From his first look the little boy’s mouth and eyes were wide
They stood there at the edge of an enormous shop
The entry from the hallway, a circle slide that never seemed to stop
Every thing was run by Elves, kept busy by their tasks
Doing much more than making toys and sipping cocoa from their casks
A large group was doing the wrapping making wrap and ribbons fly
Another group was testing toys, no broken ones got by
Computers linked to department stores in every country you could find
And Elves were searching EBay for those gifts so hard to find
There were Elves with steaming mugs piled high on wide round trays
A large set of double doors proclaimed it held the Christmas sleigh
An oversized hallway held a sign big as a table
It had an arrow pointing and the painted words The Stables
There were lights of different colors flashing like a big arcade
There was a mechanical band up near the roof that Christmas music played
The little boy was overwhelmed, it was better than he’d thought
And he climbed into the slide and he went down it like a shot
Santa quickly followed, they tumbled together at the end
They joined the Elfish laughter which Santa didn’t need to pretend
They stood up from their clumsy landing as fast as they were able
Still laughing at their silly antics they walked to Santa’s table
The boy noticed the large suit of red in a clear dry cleaning bag
He sat down on the ottoman while the Elves started playing tag
“This place is filled with Christmas Magic, as wonderful as it seems”
He smiled down at the boy and said, “Would you like to meet the team?”
The boy though his head might fly off, so quickly did he nod
He couldn’t wait to see the reindeer that carried Santa Claus abroad
They walked around the teams of busy Elves who smiled and nodded as they passed
They came upon the hallway, and continued down it rather fast
The floor became a patio, of hardened flattened stone
Single stables one by one, holding the only reindeer that have ever flown
They walked out to the center of what looked to be a barn
He said, “I’m going to call them out here, but you should be forewarned”
“These reindeer are a loving lot, “Santa laughed, “They’ve never let me down yet.”
He went on,” But I am sure they’ll lick your face so be ready to get wet!”
He placed fingers to his lips and blew a whistle like a toy
There was a stirring as the deer ran out and rushed to meet the boy
He was laughing with delight as each one licked him on his face
They let his small hands pet them and touch each crown they wore
And he saw their antlers ringing from the bells that played a score
They had collars too, with nametags made from shiny golden flake
And he smiled to himself at the funny noises that they make
One by one they turned away as if to a master’s call
One by one they all returned inside their reindeer stall
Santa said “Well, we’ll let them eat, it’s dinner time for them.”
And the two walked back to the desk, Santa held his pipe by the stem
“Before too long comes my biggest day,” Santa Claus said now.
“On the night before it happens I will fatten up somehow
I fall asleep to rest myself before my long journey through the air
And when I wake to take the reigns I find my beard is there.
During months we are off season, my wife and I will roam the lands
And when folks see me as I am now, no one knows who I really am.”
When he had finished speaking, he drained the last drop from his mug
He sat upon the desk chair there atop the braided rug
“Well my boy,” he told him, “What a busy day you’ve had!”
The boy knew the visit was ending and it made his eyes look sad
Santa smiled and he said “Why do you look with such dismay?”
The boy met his eyes and said, “I have had such fun today.”
Santa said,” I’m glad you came but you know I must prepare.”
“But,” he said, “I wanted you to know that I knew where
To find you since your family is now in a brand new home.
The team will find your rooftop when on Christmas Eve we roam.”
The little boy rushed forward and gave Santa such a hug
Santa picked him up and the little boy gave such a shrug
Once again the blue eyes met and understanding passed between
Santa took the boys hand and said, “Now that you’ve seen,
I will see that you get safely home and I want no more tears.”
The little boy exclaimed “Santa, we must have been gone here for years!
My mother will be worried that I’m not asleep in my bed.
She might think I ran away or may be even dead!”
Santa knelt before him and his eyes then left no doubt
“Do you remember the Christmas magic, “he said, “That I told you about?”
As his nod Santa continued, “Time is special here at the North Pole.
There is always as much as you need, sometimes a minute seems not whole.
When you awaken from your nap you’ll find not a moment has moved on,
And it is doubtful that you mom will even know that you were gone!”
The boy didn’t understand it all but didn’t think he must
He knew that Santa told him only that which he could trust
Together they walked to a door, one not noticed there before
“This is a clever shortcut,” Santa said, “but there is more”
He said,” Whenever doubt fills you, or you are feeling blue,
I will know it when it happens and I will send some magic to you.”
The boy turned the doorknob, and pulled open the door
And, all of a sudden he saw the carpet on his rooms’ floor
His head was on his pillow, his quilt was drawn up to his chin
He was in a happy mood, but didn’t recall where he had been
He slid himself out of his bed and soon walked out through the door
He didn’t notice the piece of holly on his window that wasn’t there before
He found his mother sitting at the kitchen counter sipping tea
He sat upon the stool beside her as the little hand clicked to three
“Look at all the snow,” she said, “no more afternoon tide.”
He said, “Let’s go build a snowman, I’ll race you outside!”

The End

©MikeM

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