Babes In WENNLand, Part 15

Santa was everything all the books described him as. He looked just like he'd walked out of the Coca Cola ads. He was fat and round and jolly. His bright red velvet suit trimmed with white fur barely stayed closed on his round stomach. It even shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly. His eyes...Lisa had to squint at his eyes. They seemed familiar. She knew them from somewhere.

Alan was tugging at her sleeve. “Lisa, have you seen Grandpa? He just disappeared!”

Lisa looked around. “I don't know. He was here a minute ago.”

“Maybe we should ask Santa!” Alan started to pull her over to the plump older man.

Santa was already making the rounds, shaking hands and laughing and joking with the citizens of Toyland. He stopped first at Barnaby. “Pruitt Barnaby, have you been making trouble again?”

“He has.” Mother Goose sighed. “But it was partially my fault. I said I didn't want it to be Christmas. It's been so hard for me since Ben died. I now know what I wanted was wrong.”

Santa nodded. “I understand your pain, Mother Goose. I've lived much longer than you, and I've seen a great many people come and go. You must remember that we never really lose the ones we love. Not as long as we still have them in here.” He patted his heart. “Christmas is a good time to start healing. It'll be hard for you, but I think you can do it.”

He moved onto Pruitt Barnaby next. He shook his head. “What have you done this time, Barnaby?”

Scott, his hand now wrapped in white cotton and lace, came to Santa's side. Lisa was happy to notice he and Betty held hands. “I think we can shed some light on that. He stole our toy inventory and lied to Betty about the ownership of the factory. She's the real heir to Ben's part.”

Maple was holding Gil's hand. “He stole my sheep, too! My poor babies are so scared, they're all tremblin' in their little curly wool sweaters.”

Gertie pushed through the crowd, joining Scott and Betty. “He framed Scott for his crime. He hired those men” she pointed at Rodrigo and Gonzolo, who were hiding in the crowd and trying not to be noticed, “to plant sausage in the office and make it look like Scott stole everything.”

“But I didn't steal anything.” Scott took Betty's hand. He pulled out what looked like a pair of beautiful crystal shoes. “I was looking for the right crystal for this. I wanted it to be a surprise. I wanted a pair you'd love so much, you'd never lose.” As he knelt to put the shoes on her feet, he gazed up at her with large, hopeful eyes. “While I'm on my knees, will you marry me, Betty Blue?”

Betty smiled and hugged him. “Yes, Scott. Yes, I will!”

Lisa sighed...but then remembered she had things to tell Santa, too. She gulped. Santa was almost a celebrity, like Clark Gable. She'd never talked to a celebrity before! “Mr. Santa..Mr. Claus, sir...”

Santa knelt beside her and smiled. There was something about his gentle smile...she knew it. She knew it well. “Yes, Lisa Herbert?” He looked confused. “What are you and your brother doing here? You should be back in Pittsburgh with your mother and grandfather.” Santa patted her head. “Your grandfather is a very good man. He knows all about everything.”

“Sir,” she said quickly, “that's just what we want to ask. First of all, can you help the people of Toyland Town? Scott didn't do anything wrong.”

“Yeah!” Alan added. “He was framed, see?” He pointed at Barnaby. “He's the mean old bully who did it! He was gonna turn the trolls on you an' take over as Santa.”

Santa slowly got to his feet, rubbing his back. “That's getting harder and harder to do! I'm not as young as I used to be.” He finally made his way over to Barnaby. “Is this true, Barnaby?”

Barnaby smirked. “Now, whom would you believe, some silly child, or the richest man in Toyland?”

Santa took Barnaby's cane. “The child, of course. Unlike Barnabys, children almost never try to take over Toyland, unless they're pretending to be the villain in a radio story.” He waved his hand. The cane was surrounded by red and green sparkles, until it resembled a very, very long candy cane. “That's much better.” He handed it back to the fuming Barnaby. “Here. Now it can't cause any more damage.”

Mother Goose sighed. “But what are we going to do about him?”

Santa looked at the trolls being held off by the toy soldiers. “Since he's so fond of the trolls, why doesn't he live with them?”

The toy soldiers were already dragging Barnaby to the gate. “What?” Barnaby's eyes were wide with horror. “But I...”

Santa waved his hand. “Barnaby, you're now banished to the Forest of No Return. All of your businesses will be sold or given to other, nicer people who might do better things with them.”

Barnaby turned ten shades of purple. “No! I refuse to go!” But the toy soldiers were loading him into one of the gypsies' carts with Rodrigo, Gonzorgo, and the remaining trolls. “This is all your faults! You shouldn't have told everyone my wonderful plan!”

Rodrigo ignored him and blew a kiss to Mother Goose. “I could never resist a pretty lady.” Gonzorgo just glared at him.

Floretta smiled as she climbed onto the cart. “We'll make sure these criminals get into the Forest of No Return and stay there.”

Santa nodded. “Please do that. And thank you for your help, Floretta. Your people are welcome here anytime.”

“Thank you, Santa!” The remaining gypsies loaded the trolls who hadn't already fled into the carts. Everyone waved as they rolled off down the road to the Forest of No Return.

Santa turned to address the remaining citizens of Toyland. “Citizens of Toyland, I'm so glad to be among you! It's very close to Christmas. We need as many toys as we can. There's so many good children out there this year, and some may not otherwise be getting gifts. We make children happy. This is one of the most important things anyone can do.”

Santa turned to Lisa and Alan. “How would you children like a ride home to Pittsburgh?”

Alan's eyes widened. “Really? You really want us to come with you in your sleigh?”

“Of course!” He smiled. “You understand, this is just a practice run. It's not quite Christmas Eve yet.”

“It's still exciting!” Alan turned to Lisa. “Come on, sis! We'll never get to do this again!”

Lisa looked around her. “But what about Grandpa? We need to find him. He knows his way back.”

Santa chuckled...and then, Lisa realized whom he looked like. “Oh, he's fine, little one. He understands.”

Lisa reached for his hand. “Grandpa?”

He just lead her to the sleigh. “Now, you and Alan go say good-bye and thank all of these nice people, and we'll go home.”

There were many hugs all around, from everyone. “If you're ever in Toyland again, look us up,” Jack said with one of his handsome smiles.

Jill nodded, her purple skirts rustling as she struck a pose. “We'll show you all of the classics, free of charge. You just need to appreciate my virtuosity.”

“Or at least, her vocabulary,” her husband chuckled.

They got hugs from Gil, Mackie, Gertie, and Maple next. “You kids be good now,” Maple sniffled.

“We owe you more than we can ever repay,” Gil added. “You were the ones who figured out what happened with the sheep.”

“And you believed in me when no one else did,” Scott added. He, Gertie, and Betty gave the children hugs next. “Thanks to you, Betty and I will be married as soon as the busy season is over.”

Gertie beamed. “And I don't have to worry about the children and me being thrown out.”

Santa nodded. “I'm taking charge of all of Barnaby's holdings.” He eyed Gertie, who smiled back at him. “Mrs. Hubbard and her family can stay in their home as long as they want.”

Lisa went to Mother Goose last. The older woman's eyes were sad. “I'm going to miss you, Mother Goose,” she said softly.

“I'll miss you, little one,” she admitted. “You and your grandfather helped me understand that I have a lot of healing to do...and I'm ready for it to start now.”

Lisa and Alan kept waving at their new friends, even as the toy soldiers loaded bags and bags and bags of toys onto the sleigh. Lisa had never seen so many bags before! They seemed to reach the sky. Lisa doubted there would be any room for her and Alan, but Scott and Gil easily helped them into the front seat.

“This is so neat!” Alan was bouncing around. “Can I say the reindeer's names? Can I?”

Santa nodded. “Of course!” He handed him the reins. “You can even get us started.”

“Oh boy!” He called out the famous lines, even as Lisa laughed at his excited expression. “Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen!”

Lisa finished, catching his growing enthusiasm. “On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen!”

“And don't forget Rudolph!” Alan added. “He's the new one at Montgomery Ward. Mother bought us the story about him.”

Santa shook his head. “I'm afraid we don't have him in the roster. We still haven't found a way for a reindeer's nose to glow like that. Oh well, someday!”

Alan flicked the reins, and then, they were off like a shot! Lisa looked behind her, waving at her new friends, until they were as tiny as ants crawling around hill-like houses on the green ground below them.

“How long will it take to get back to Pittsburgh, Gra...Santa?” Alan asked, cuddling against him. “I'm tired.”

“Oh, not long, as you figure time.” He nodded at Alan's drowsy eyes and Lisa's yawn. “Should be enough time for you children to take a nap before you get back.”

“But I'm not...” Lisa yawned again. “Tired.”

Gran...Santa let out another one of his deep, jolly chuckles. “That's not what I just heard.” He put an arm around the little girl. “You go to sleep. When you wake up, this will all just be a dream.”

“No...” Even as she said that, she could feel her eyes flutter. “Too real to be a dream...”

“Sleep, my little one.” She heard his warm voice as she and Alan fell against him. “You've had a busy day. After all, children need their rest.”

“Yes,” she murmured, “a child...I'm a child...”

And that was the last thing she remembered. Her head finally drooped against Santa's soft velvety red suit before the world seemed to darken all around her.