Babes In WENNLand, Part 10

Alan rushed over to Lisa as the carts turned down the road and through the gate to Toyland Town. “Lisa, I had a great ride! Vardan read my palm. He said I'm going to have a real adventure and help save everyone!”

Lisa shook her head. “That stuff isn't real, Alan.”

“But it sure sounds good.” Scott pulled a key out of his pocket. “Glad Barnaby didn't swipe this. I know a back way in.”

Maple nodded. “We're supposed to meet Mr. Eldridge and C.J in the office. They and some of the workers were going to search the Factory for the toys. They have to be around here somewhere!”

Betty took Scott's hand as they headed inside. “I don't like this. It seems awfully quiet around here.”

Lisa noticed it, too. The hallway where they emerged was very silent. There was no sound of gears creaking, no chatter from workers, no clattering toys or swishing paint brushes. It was eerie. She felt like she was in an abandoned city.

“I'm afraid something may have gone wrong,” Gil added.

Scott pulled Betty close to him. “Stay together, everyone. I don't like the feel of this.”

Jack took Jill's hand. “I don't, either. There should at least be a few workers here.”

Alan shrugged. “Maybe they're all out at the Festival.”

Betty shook her head. “They're would at least be one or two people finishing up work.”

They finally made it up to Scott and Mr. Eldridge's office. “Come on.” He nodded at the door. “They should be here by now.”

“I'm scared,” Mackie whimpered. “What if there's monsters in there?”

“Then we'll deal with them.” Scott grinned as he opened the door. “Piece of cake!”

Lisa was the first to follow Scott in, with Alan close behind. She gasped. The first thing she saw were two big, ugly, hairy monsters holding onto their grandfather. He looked more worried about them than scared. Two more held C.J, who was trying his hardest to pull away.

“Children!” Mr. Eldridge glared at them. “Unhand me, you nasty brutes! You're going to make my new suit dirty.”

“Grandpa!” Alan started towards him, but one of the monsters grabbed his arm.

“Leave my brother alone!” Lisa ran over to the monster, but another one took her around the waist and lifted her into the air.

She heard Scott let out a growl as Pruitt Barnaby rose from his chair behind the desk. “Barnaby! I should have known you were behind this. I'll bet you were the one who planted that evidence.”

“Of course, I did.” He laughed and started around the desk. “It's all a part of my plan. I'm going to be the only Christmas gift-giver now.”

Betty gasped. “What? Are you crazy?”

“Not at all, my beautiful Miss Blue.” He got closer to her. “When Santa arrives at the Christmas Festival, he'll be greeted not by faithful Toylanders, but by my own army of trolls. They aren't very fond of toys. Those nasty old Toylanders have banished them to the Forest of No Return for a few too many years. They'll happily take care of Santa and his sack of toys. I'll be free to deliver things things that are far more useful for children, like socks and adding machines.”

“But that's no fun!” Alan yelled, struggling in the troll's arms.

“It's not supposed to be fun, you silly child.” Barnaby glared at him. “Children nowadays are spoiled and frivolous. It's time they learned that being an adult comes all too soon.”

“You'll never get away with this!” Mr. Eldridge snapped. He then went on with a grin. “For one thing, you don't know Santa. You don't understand how Christmas magic works.”

“Don't talk to me about magic, you senile old fool!” Barnaby looked like he was going to strike Mr. Eldridge with his cane, but Scott jumped in front of him.

“I won't let you hurt him like that!” Scott finally hit Barnaby as hard as he could in the chin. He went flying over the desk and into the chair!

The trolls all jumped on Scott at once. It took at least five of them to get his arms behind his back and wrestle him to the floor. They surrounded the others, herding them into a ragged circle in the center of the room. One troll shoved Betty over to Barnaby as he stumbled to the group. “That was a grave mistake, Piper,” Barnaby hissed.

“What are you going to do with us?” Jill asked in horror.

“I'll lock most of you, including the brats, in the factory basement until after the Christmas Festival.” He rubbed Betty's arm with his fingers. “I'll take care of the lovely Miss Blue and meddlesome Mr. Piper myself.”

“No!” Betty tried to pull away. “I won't let you do this!” Scott tried to lunge for Betty, but the trolls pulled him back.

The distraction gave Lisa the chance she needed. She kicked the troll as hard as she could in a sensitive place. He doubled over, letting her go. Alan stamped on the foot of the troll holding him. While he was hopping around, the boy ducked away. When Lisa turned around to find her grandpa, he'd simply disappeared.

Barnaby let out an angry roar. “Find the old man! Get those children!”

Lisa didn't stop to think. She grabbed Alan's hand and ran as fast as she could down the hallway. Two trolls and Gonzolo and Rodrigo were on their trail. Alan looked worried. “What are we gonna do? We can't out-run them!”

“Then we'll trick them.” Lisa turned around and waved her hand. “Come and get me! I'll bet you couldn't catch a cold!”

She took Alan's hand and lead him to the same door to the garbage compactor that Scott used to get rid of Barnaby earlier. She opened the door and let the two trolls, Rodrigo, and Gonzolo rush right in. She pushed Alan against the wall, letting them all trip ring into the slide that lead to the basement and the trash room.

“That gets rid of that trash,” said Alan with a grin.

“But what about Grandpa?” Lisa gulped. “And the others? We have to find a way to get them out!”

Alan pointed downstairs. “Didn't Mr. Barnaby say he was going to lock the others in the basement?”

Lisa nodded. “We'll get them first. We could use more help. Some of them could go recruit more people from the Christmas Festival. They'll need to know about what Pruitt's doing.”

She and Alan took the same elevator, with the same mouse who somehow managed to run up to the buttons to push them, they had the day before. It was only a minute or two before there was a “ding” and the door opened.

Babes In WENNLand, Part 11

The basement was a dark, scary place. Old toys, tools, and crates filled with ancient parts were scattered on rickety shelves. There were shadows and spooky creaking noises at every turn.

Rodrigo and Gonzolo stood on either side of a door at the very end of the room. They both stood to attention, holding what appeared to be pop guns...and looked very, very bored. They still had a little trash on them from the garbage room. Lisa could clearly see something key-shaped hanging out of Rodrigo's pocket.

Lisa pushed Alan behind a shelf. “How can we distract them?”

Alan grinned. “I know!” He whispered in his sister's ear.

Lisa giggled. “Well, ok! It's worth something.”

She went right over to Rodrigo. “Hi there!” She wanted to sound friendly, even though she was really scared.

“What are you doing here, kid?” Rodrigo made a face. “Shouldn't you be somewhere else?”

“Oh, no!” Lisa smiled. “How would you like to hear about Pittsburgh, where I come from?”

“Pittsburgh?” The fat man and the thin man exchanged looks. Rodrigo raised his eyebrows. “What's a Pittsburgh?”

“Oh, it's a place!” She grinned. “You wouldn't believe all the things they have there! There's carriages that go by themselves, with no horses or other animals pulling it. You can listen to a radio that'll play sound with no people around, and see baseball players that can hit a ball so far, it lands far away, and a department store that sells everything you can possibly imagine...”

Rodrigo and Gonzolo listened avidly to her words. After a while, their eyes started to glaze over, and their heads nodded. The moment they started looking comatose, Alan slid over and slipped the key from the skinny sailor's pocket.

“Whew!” Maple was the first out after Alan got the door open. “Thank goodness we're out of there! Now, let's find out what happened to my sheep.”

Rodrigo's eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Look at what you did, Gonzorgo!”

“What I did?” His plump friend poked him in the chest. “You're the one who just had to listen to the kid and all those wild stories!”

“Says who?” Rodrigo gave him a shove.

“I say!” Gonzorgo shoved him back. They were too busy arguing to pay attention to Jack, Jill, and Mackie bringing over a ball of twine from the utility closets. They had them tied up and shoved in the closet in no time.

“Now what are we going to do?” Lisa asked. “We don't know where Grandpa disappeared to, or what they did with the others.”

Jill nodded. “Jack and I need to get out to the Festival. We're a part of the Christmas show. So is Betty Blue, for that matter. Why don't Jack, Gil, and I go out and see if we can get help there, while the rest of you search for Scott, Betty, and Barnaby? I'm sure that nasty man has something terrible planned for them.”

Mackie gulped. “You know, maybe I'd better go to the Festival. I really need to announce the acts, and I'll be in the show, and...”

Maple grabbed the back of his nightshirt. “You're not going anywhere, except with us.”

“Please! We really need help!” Lisa begged.

Mackie sighed. “All right.” He pulled down his nightshirt. “Maybe I could use a little exercise. Those trolls aren't so tough. I'll bet I could take 'em down with one hand behind my back!”

“Let's get out of here, before we have to find out.” Maple escorted him and the kids out into the main basement.

“How are we going to find the others?” Lisa worried.

“I'm more worried about how we're getting out of here.” Wee Mackie Winkie looked around nervously. “I don't see any exit signs.”

“There has to be a way out!” Maple looked up as they heard grinding noises. “What's that?” She sniffed and then wrinkled her nose deeply. “And what's that smell? What died?”

Mackie Winkie ducked behind her. “It's the trolls! They're coming for us!”

Maple rolled her eyes. “They smell worse than that.”

“No, it smells more like...” Lisa sniffed, then wrinkled her own nose. “Garbage?”

Alan's eyes widened. He started running. “Lisa, do you remember what Scott said yesterday about the trash compactor? It only runs every other day?”

“And it didn't run yesterday!” Lisa hurried to catch up with her brother. “Someone must have just turned it on!”

Alan skidded around a corner. “And I'll bet that someone was Barnaby!”

They finally came to a door at the other end of the basement. “Whoa, kids!” Maple finally stopped behind them, Mackie bringing up the rear. “What's goin' on?”

“Someone started the trash compactor,” Alan said breathlessly, “and I think I know who!”

“Me too!” Lisa was thankful the door opened easily. She went in first, putting a finger to her lips. She could already hear Barnaby's nasty laughter.  

Babes In WENNLand, Part 12

She gasped as they tip-toed across the room. It opened into an enormous conveyor belt that rolled into a round, pot-bellied furnace the size of an ocean liner. The room was dark...but there was enough light to see trolls loading boxes and crates of toys onto the belt, including most of the big toy soldiers!

Scott lay among the masses of toys. He was bound tightly with heavy twine and gagged with an old rag. He struggled and snarled, trying to get free. The conveyor belt moved closer and closer to the hot, smoldering flames. It was already consuming massive amounts of trash.

Betty was trying to kick at Barnaby, ignoring her shoe flying off. “Let him go! Let him and the toys go free!”

“Oh, I will.” Barnaby turned to her and grinned wickedly. “If you marry me.”

“I...” Betty looked out to Scott, who watched with wide, horrified brown eyes. “I can't...”

“Would you rather your beloved thief was burnt to a crisp, not to mention most of your inventory?” Barnaby smirked. “There's the issue of your mother's mortgage, too. I could still throw you all into the streets.”

Betty finally looked at her one bare foot. “I have no choice. I'll marry you.”

“No!” Lisa and Alan burst into the room, with Maple and Mackie close behind.

Barnaby just made a face. “What in Toyland are all of you doing here?”

“We'd like to ask you the same thing!” Maple put her hands on her hips. “Why are you so interested in Betty n' Scotty, anyway?”

“Haven't you figured that out yet, foolish shepherdess?” He grabbed Betty's arm. “Miss Blue here is a very attractive woman with many...assets.” He ran his fingers over her arm, gazing at her like a cat about to eat a canary.

Betty tried to pull her arm away as Scott yelled under the gag. “Stop that! You're scaring me.”

The trolls who were tying Scott to the conveyor belt were already gathering around Mackie and Maple. Alan ducked under the troll's arms. Lisa followed him.

“Lisa,” Alan said, rushing over to the conveyor belt, “do you remember what happened the last time I used my slingshot at home?”

“Yeah.” Lisa ducked under two trolls who were leaping for her at the same time. They ended up running into each other and knocking themselves out. “You hit Mr. Warkowski's second-story window and broke his favorite vase. Which, I may remind you, you're still paying for out of your allowance.”

“Geez sis, I didn't know he had that ol' thing in the window!” Alan was digging through the piles of toys on the belt. “I'm gonna keep Mr. Barnaby busy. You get Scott.”

“But Alan...”

She heard Betty scream. Barnaby had her over his shoulder. “Take care of them, my pets! I have to get to the Festival!”

Maple was swatting trolls away with her cane. “Hey! Barnaby never told me where my sheep are!”

Lisa wasn't very good with knots, but with Mackie Winkie's help, she did manage to get Scott untied. “Thanks, folks,” Scott said as they helped him roll off. “Now we've just got to get the toys off of there, before...”

Even as he landed feet-first on the ground, they heard the sound of a “ping” against metal. The conveyor belt came to a grinding, rusty halt. Alan stood under what looked like a grimy old lever, grinning.

“Nice work, little brother!” Lisa gave him a little hug.

“What are we going to do about these guys?” Maple indicated the unconscious trolls on the ground, thanks to Maple's crook.

Scott grabbed the twine. “I don't think this will last for very long, but it should work long enough for us to get out of here.”

“Allow me.” Lisa's eyes widened when the ropes suddenly went around the trolls by themselves! Mr. Eldridge stood behind them, smiling. “Well, at least I got them all on this time. The last time I tied rope, it ended up on my hand. It was a strange place for rope, but if that's where it wanted to be...”

“Grandpa!” Alan ran over to him first. “Are you all right? Did those trolls hurt you?”

“The trolls?” Mr. Eldridge looked confused for a minute. Then a light almost seemed to go on in his eyes. “Oh, those things.” He shrugged. “I don't think they ever saw me. I disappeared from there, and reappeared here. It's just a matter of making things go from one place to another.”

“We've got to get out to the Christmas Festival.” Scott was already taking a sword from one of the toy soldiers. “Barnaby has Betty, and he's got something up his sleeve for Santa.”

“But if we go out there, we'll just get caught by Barnaby and his boys.” Mackie gulped. “They already tried to get rid of Scott. What if they hurt the rest of us?”

Alan bit his lip. “It would take a whole army to take on those guys!”

That was when Lisa looked at one of the soldiers laying on the conveyor belt. “We do have an army!” She started to tug at the soldier's arm. “We have the tin soldiers! Remember how they threw Barnaby out yesterday?”

“Yeah!” Alan tried to help her. Scott, Maple, and Mackie pushed off toys and dragged out more. Mr. Eldridge made the rest appear on the floor. They were battered and dented, but most of them seemed to be largely intact.

“Well, what are you all waiting for?” Maple grabbed the key on the back of the soldier closest to her. “Wind them up as fast as you can!”

Lisa and Alan wound the one nearest to them together. They ducked aside as the soldier slowly and stiffly rose to his feet. Lisa was surprised to see that her grandfather just needed to touch them to bring them to life.

Lisa and Alan's eyes widened. “How did you do that?” Lisa asked, surprised.

“Oh, I can do a lot of things you wouldn't believe.” Mr. Eldridge smiled. “That's why it's called 'magic.'”

Scott was winding up the last one. “We have to get out to the Christmas Festival.”

Alan climbed onto a soldier's shoulders. “Hey, this is great!” He grinned. “Come on, sis! This is fun! I can see everyone up here!”

Lisa smiled. “Well...why not?” She managed to climb onto a soldier's shoulders. He adjusted her, pulling her legs around his neck. She was surprised when he actually looked up and grinned at her.

Scott had snared one of the toy soldiers' tall red and gold-trimmed hats and shiny swords. “Ok everyone, let's move 'em out!” He grabbed Mackie by his collar and set off first, followed by Maple and her crook, then the soldiers and the planes, with Mr. Eldridge bringing up the rear.

“How are we going to get out of here?” Lisa wondered as they clattered across the stone floor of the basement.

“This way.” Scott turned to the largest tin soldier. “Oh officer, would you open that door for us?” The tin soldier did so...punching a hole in the door and reaching in to open the knob!

Maple raised an eyebrow. “Uh...remind me not to ever upset you boys.”

Mackie gulped and ducked behind her. “I kind of like my face. I'd rather you boys twisted the trolls like that.”

Lisa had never been a part of such a parade! Drummers rolls their sticks. Cymbals crashed. The music coming from Toyland Town square seemed to augment the clip-clatter of the toy soldiers. Mr. Eldridge made even more appear, seemingly made from the iron posts around the fences at the factory. One minute, they were just long poles...the next, human-like soldiers.

“But Grandpa...how?” Lisa asked as they marched along the rock candy road. “How can you do that? You can't do it at home! There's no way!”

Mr. Eldridge took the child's hand. “Lisa, magic is something that can't be explained. Sometimes, you just have to believe. I know I do, and I'm far older than you or your mother.”  

Babes In WENNLand, Part 13

“Look!” Alan pointed to the stage. The trolls were already in town, knocking over booths, tearing down decorations. A circle of them tried to pull down the Christmas tree in the square. They were chasing everyone in town. Jack and Jill tried to perform their show at the Gingerbread Theater over the trolls' heads, but no one was really paying attention to them.

Jill turned to Jack. “I really don't think trolls appreciate Shakespeare much.” When one troll tried to throw a tomato at her, she leaned in and hit him in the snout! “You need to learn a little culture, you hairy beast!” she snapped.

Jack tried to move back as more trolls climbed on the stage. “Um, Jill, I don't think upsetting them is a good idea.”

“I don't think letting them tear us and our theater apart is a good idea.” Jill grabbed a wooden tree shape and started walloping at a troll with it. “Grab some scenery and help me get them offstage!”

Barnaby smirked as he made his way to the center square. “That's right, boys. Take what you want. Destroy the rest. But save our special surprise for Mr. Claus.”

Betty struggled in the trolls' arms. “What surprise?”

“He'll be stepping down as of this Christmas Eve,” Barnaby smirked. “My boys will take care of that.”

“He'll never let you take over!” She tried to kick at him, but he dodged her easily.

“That's what you think, my dear.” He lifted her chin. “You know...do you know who inherits the factory? Whom Jack Hubbard left his share to?”

“No,” Betty grumbled. “No one does. I wish he did. We wouldn't be having half the problems we are now.”

“Why, he left it to you, dear.” Barnaby smirked at the girl's shocked expression. “Why do you think I wanted to marry you?”

Betty shook her head. “Me? Why me?”

“According to the papers my men stole, he thought you were the best for the job.” Barnaby yanked her closer. “And you will be the best for the job. We'll run the factory together. You are a competent worker.”

“That's all you want me for?” She glared at him. “I knew you couldn't love me.”

“Love doesn't matter, dear.” He grabbed her arm. “Now, come along to the priest like a good girl...”

That was when he heard the drums. “What is that?”  

Jill looked up from the stage. The trolls were everywhere, invading every home. Gil was trying to push them out of the musician's shop. Gertie and the children were throwing every pot and pan they owned at them, but they were already carrying several of the children over their shoulders.

Gil laughed, shaking his fist. “Here they come! Would ya look at that?”

Lisa grinned as they marched right through the main square, stopping in front of the stage. The toy soldiers let them off at where the Christmas tree had been. Every single toy soldier went right after the trolls. Lisa and Alan watched in delight as they kicked, threw, and poked the trolls towards the gates.

“Lass n' lad, I can tell you that you're a sight for sore eyes.” Gil hurried over to them.

“Gil!” Maple gave him a fierce hug. “Barnaby's after Santa! We've gotta stop him!”

“That's right!” Alan grinned and took the slingshots out of his pocket. He tossed one to Lisa. “Come on, sis! We've gotta help!”

Scott hurried over. “Where's Betty?”

Jill pointed towards the gate on the edge of town. “Barnaby made off with her. Now, get off my stage. You're blocking the view for Santa.”

More trolls were trailing Barnaby. Mr. Eldridge finally puffed over to them. “You children...need to stay...with me. I'm not as young as you are anymore!”

“Grandpa, they're going to hurt Scott!” Alan tugged on his sleeve.

“Oh, I'm sure he knows what he's doing,” Mr. Eldridge insisted.

“What if he gets hurt?” Lisa frowned. “I wish there was some way we could help!”

“There is.” Mr. Eldridge picked up a pile of candy canes from one of the fallen booths. “You'll have to help me. I can distract Mr. Barnaby, but I need a great deal of magic to do it.”

“Magic?” Lisa frowned. “How's that going to help Scott?”

“You just watch!” The two children saw their grandfather wave his hand. Red and green sparkles gathered around the candy canes...but nothing happened.

Alan was disappointed. “What happened to the magic, Grandpa?”

Mr. Eldridge shook his head. “I don't know. I'll try again.” He waved his hand once more. The candy canes lifted...but that was all. They finally settled down again.

“I knew it!” Lisa kicked at a rock. “There's no magic!”

“That's the problem.” Mr. Eldridge turned to the girl. “It doesn't work when there's one person there who won't believe in it.”

“Lisa!” Alan gave her a very annoyed look. “How could you not believe?”

Lisa was confused. “I don't know what to think. Magic...it's not supposed to be for grown-ups.”

Mr. Eldridge took the girl's hand and knelt down in front of her. “Lisa,” he said gently. “magic is for everyone, old or young. Look at me. I'm much, much older than you are, and I believe in magic. There's nothing wrong with being a child at heart...especially when you really are still one.”

Lisa finally looked in his eyes. “I...I want to believe, Grandpa, but...”

The old man nodded. “But?”

Lisa gulped. “I'm scared. How can I help Mother and take care of things if I'm just a kid?”

Her grandfather squeezed her hand gently. “You're not just a kid. You're a person, and you're still growing and learning. We all are, Lisa. Even adults. You never stop learning and believing as long as you're alive.”

Alan shook his head. “Come on, sis! It's not so bad to be a kid. We get to have fun! We can do a lot of things the grown-ups can't.” He picked up a candy cane. “Like eat these until we get sick.”

Lisa looked at the candy canes. “What are you trying to do, Grandpa?”

“Build a weapon he can use to take out Barnaby, or at least distract him.” He waved his hand...and nothing happened again.

That was when Lisa remembered what she had in her pocket. She pulled out the candy cane Mr. Sherwood gave her back at the station. “Will this help, Grandpa?”

Mr. Eldridge smiled at the little girl. “Thank you, Lisa. I think it will.” He placed the last candy cane on the top of the pile. The two children watched as he waved his hand again. This time, red and green light danced and glittered and glowed. The light seemed to pull the canes together...until they revealed a toy soldier in a red-and-white uniform.

Alan grinned. “He's neat, Grandpa!” He played with his little gun. “What does this...ow!” He jumped away. The gun shot on its own power. Alan rubbed his cheek. “What was that?”

Lisa knew what it was. “Mints! It was mint candy!” She turned to her grandfather. “Hard candies hurt when you throw them at people...”

“Yes,” Mr. Eldridge admitted, “but don't throw them too hard. We just want to get his attention.”

Babes In WENNLand, Part 14

Scott had run in front of Barnaby just as he reached the gate with Betty. He put out his sword. “Barnaby, if you touch a hair on her head, so help me, I will stick this through that fat gut of yours!”

Barnaby smirked. “Look who's run off to become a toy soldier!”

“I'm not running anymore. I know who I am.” Scott raised his chin. “And I don't care what Betty owns. I still love her.”

“Oh Scott...” Betty started towards him, but Barnaby pushed her at the trolls.

“Oh no, you don't.” He reached for his cane. “I knew you were going to be trouble, Piper.” Scott narrowed his eyes as Barnaby yanked a sword out of the cane's shell. “That's why I wanted to get rid of you.”

Scott glared at him. “That whole thing with the sheep and the toys was a set-up from the start. I just knew you framed me!”

“Of course, I did.” He lunged at the young man. “You kept getting in the way of my wonderful plans!”

Scott ducked around the gates as their swords flew. “Someone had to. You're through, Barnaby. The toy soldiers are already taking care of those trolls of yours. We're not gonna let you touch Santa or the toys. Christmas will go on as planned.”

Barnaby sneered. “What about Mother Goose? She doesn't want Christmas to go on. She wants me to take it over. This was her idea.”

“What?!” Scott was so surprised, he just stared at Pruitt. Stopping for even a moment didn't prove to be wise. Barnaby slashed Scott's hand with the sword, cutting open his knuckle. Scott let out a cry and dropped his weapon, clutching his bleeding hand.

Pruitt shoved his sword under Scott's chin. “Oh, yes. I'm only following orders. Mother Goose wants Christmas gone. I want it to belong to me. After all, they're only children. Children need discipline, rules, organization. They don't need foolish toys.”

“Oh yes, they do!” Barnaby looked up just in time to see the old head of the factory and his two grandbrats standing right behind him. The children aimed slingshots at him. The old man held up one of his toy soldiers.

Barnaby sneered. “What can your little weapons do? They're only toys.”

“You'd be surprised, Barnaby.” Mr. Eldridge aimed the toy soldier's gun. “You should never underestimate a child or a toy. After all, they'll be grown-up someday, too.”

“That's right!” Lisa nodded at Barnaby's hand. “Come on, Alan! Let's get him!”

Barnaby let out a howl as a hard candy flung from a slingshot hit him directly in the knuckle. He was hit by another, then another. He finally dropped his sword...just as Mr. Eldridge pulled the lever on the toy soldier's gun. Everyone was surprised when the soldier let off a massive BANG! It knocked half the square off their feet.  

“What was that all about?” Mother Gloria Goose swatted her way through the remaining smoke, pushing past Toylanders and toy soldiers who were tying up trolls or chasing them off. Betty ran to Scott, who still held his hand. “Barnaby?”

Two toy soldiers were already tugging him to his feet. “Mrs. Goose,” he puffed, “I want this old man placed under arrest for nearly taking my head off! This...this half-breed wastrel,” he glared at Scott, who glared back, “was fighting with me over a silly little idea I had...”

“Mother Goose...” Lisa started, tugging at her green skirts.

“I think she's a 'highness,'” Alan added uncertainly.

“Your highness,” Lisa added, “could we talk to you? Please?”

She knelt down by the two children. “Yes, little ones?”

Lisa gulped. She'd never gotten an adult's attention like this before. “Please...please let Christmas go on.”

She frowned. “What?”

“You have to!” Alan nodded. “What about every kid on Earth? We love Christmas!”

Gloria Goose frowned. “You don't understand. I'm doing this for everyone's good. I want to go to one place where it doesn't feel like Christmas. Where I don't have to remember...”

“What it's like to be alone?” Lisa nodded, too. “I know how you feel. My dad left. I'm alone, too. Well, except for my mother and brother.” She took a breath and continued. “Please. I know you're sad. It's not fun to be sad. You have to remember, you're not the only person who's lost somebody.”

Mr. Eldridge nodded, taking Lisa's hand. “That's right. Life goes on, my dear. I lost my own wife many years ago, and I thought I'd never go on, but it did happen. Sometimes, it happens in spite of ourselves.”

Gloria shook her head, looking at them. “I...well...”

Lisa looked up as they heard whooping from the square. “The gypsies!” she and Alan said in unison. Maple let out a happy yelp as the sound of little hooves paraded into the square. Great balls of gray and white and black fluff followed Floretta and her carts into the area where the tree had been. “Oooh,” said Lisa in delight, “they found Maple's sheep!”

“My poor babies!” Maple threw her arms around all of them as they gathered around her. “Ginger...Fleecy...Millie...oh, you poor darlings! I'll never let you out of my sight again!”

The tiniest lamb tugged on Lisa's skirt. She giggled and patted its head. “Hi there, Woolie!”

Gil shook Vardon's hand. “Where did all of you blokes find 'em? We searched the whole bloomin' woods for 'em!”

Floretta waved her chocolate truffle-filled basket. “They were in a pen in the yards surrounding Crooked Manor!”

Scott glared at him. “That's your domain, Barnaby.”

Mother Gloria Goose was the one glaring now. “Why would you steal your own sheep?”

“I think these blokes can explain that.” Gil nodded as Gonzorgo and Rodrigo stumbled over, followed by C.J Grumio.

“Thank goodness we got outta that closet!” Rodridgo whined. “It was getting' kinda stuffy in there!”

“No thanks to you,” Gonzorgo grumbled. “All you did was complain about your arm bein' sore.”

“Me?!” Rodrigo looked indignant. “Who's the one who figured out how to roll down the hallway and get back on our feet?”

C.J groaned. “You're lucky I came back and untied you. I'm starting to regret it.”

Mother Goose groaned as the toy soldiers and gypsies took their arms. “Gentlemen, enough!” Two of the toy soldiers pushed them before her. “Would you please tell me what your plan with the theft of the sheep was about?”

Rodrigo kissed her hand, ignoring Barnaby's loud groans. “For a good lookin' ol' dame like you, I'd tell you every single crime I ever committed.”

She grinned. “I just need to know about one.”

Gonzorgo opened his mouth first. “It's like this, Your Goose-ness. We were hired by some guy named Barnaby,” he waved a hand at him, “to steal the sheep an' plant the sausage in Scott Piper's office to make it look like he did it.”

“We stole some papers for him, too,” Rodrigo added. “Something about the owners of the factory and that Betty Blue dame.”

Betty turned to Barnaby, glaring razor-sharp hard candy shards at him. “You knew all along! Why didn't you tell anyone before?”

“I didn't want you to know.” Barnaby gave her another one of his sneers. “I wanted to take over the factory myself. If I got you, it was a...bonus.”

“Mr. Barnaby,” Gloria Goose started, “where are those papers now?”

“They're in his safe at Crooked Manor.” Rodrigo pointed towards the Parched Mountains. “We saw him put it up there!”

Barnaby groaned. “Don't tell her, you fool!”

“It ain't nice to lie to a lady.” Rodrigo kissed Mother Goose's hand again. “Especially one as charmin' as this.”

Mother Goose gave them a wan smile. “Thank you, gentlemen.” She turned to Barnaby. “Well, what do you have to say for yourself?”

“Yeah!” Alan added, his hands on his hips. “You're not Santa! You'd never be Santa!”

“If you don't like Christmas,” Lisa asked the older man with the slick black hair, “why do you want to be Santa?”

“Because I don't understand any of this!” Barnaby waved his hands at the decorations. “I was raised to know business, not play. I can't see how any of this could make anyone happy.”

Betty was wrapping part of her petticoat around Scott's bleeding hand. “Maybe most kids aren't like you, Barnaby,” he pointed out. “Most of them just want to be kids. They're still learning.”

Jill looked up as the sound of jingle bells rang through the square. “It's time! He's coming!”

Gil and Maple exchanged worried looks. “What are we going to do, mate?” Gil asked. “Everything's a mess, and there's still trolls here.”

“Santa will know what to do!” Alan looked up at Mr. Eldridge. “Right, Grandpa?”

His grandfather gave him a hug. “Of course he will.”

Lisa only hoped he was right. Everyone in Toyland cheered (except the trolls) as the bright red sleigh seen in every illustration of The Night Before Christmas made a smooth, tinkling landing right next to where the Christmas tree had been in the center of the square.

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.

Babes In WENNLand, Epilogue

“Lisa?” A hand shook her shoulder. “Lisa? Sis?”

“Alan, go away,” she muttered. She felt...oddly cold again. And really stiff. She felt like she'd been sleeping against something hard.

“Sis, Mom's here!” She opened her eyes. They were back in the storage room at WENN. Mr. Eldridge was on her other side, his chuckles sounding just as warm and bowl-full-of-jelly-ish as Santa's.

“You two must have been warn out after all the excitement earlier,” her grandfather said with a smile. “I found you both asleep in here. You've been out for at least 20 minutes. I've said your mother should get you to bed earlier. It's healthier.”

“Oh Grandpa!” Lisa hugged him. “I had the most wonderful dream. You were in it, and Mr. Sherwood, and Miss Roberts, and that mean old Mr. Pruitt. It was like The Wizard of Oz, but everyone was a Mother Goose character instead of lions and tin men. And I met Mother Goose herself, and real gypsies, and we helped defeat the wicked Barnaby!” She looked into his eyes under those round glasses of his. “But most of all, I learned that it's not really that bad to be a kid. After all, I only have a little time left to be a kid. I'll be a grown-up sooner or later.”

Mr. Eldridge smiled. “I'm glad to hear that, Lisa.”

“It's about time!” her brother added. “I know you're a kid. I've always known that.”

“Lisa, Alan, there you are!” Betty and Scott were at the door. They were arm in arm, both all smiles. “Your mother's here. You're going home.”

Mother hurried past them, her arms open and waiting. Lisa never saw anyone look so wonderful. She wore her same old purple coat and had the same flyaway dark-blond curls that Lisa and Alan had and the same big eyes and round face. Something was different, though. She almost seemed like a child again. “There you are! I'm so sorry I'm late. I was busy demonstrating new toys at the store, and I lost track of time...”

“It's all right, Mother.” Lisa just hugged her. “I understand.”

Mother turned to Scott and Betty. “Thank you all for taking care of them.” She hugged Mr. Eldridge. “Oh Dad, I owe you more than I can repay.”

“Just try to get off work earlier from now on,” Mr. Eldridge scolded his daughter lightly. “After all, they won't be children forever. You'll only have them like this once.”

Mother nodded. “I swear, I'm going to try to take more time off. I miss my kids. They're all I have.”

“Mother,” Lisa said, “can we read Babes In Toyland when we get home?”

“I thought you said fairy tales were for babies,” Alan teased.

Lisa grinned. “Maybe I changed my mind.”

Betty went into the Green Room and came back with the book Mr. Eldridge read the children earlier. “Here. Keep this. We won't be doing Babes In Toyland again for 'A Book at Bedtime' until next Christmas. I can get another copy.”

Mother took the book graciously. “Thank you, miss. The kids will love it.”

Scott took Betty's arm. “And now, Miss Roberts and I have a date to catch up on.”

Betty frowned. “But Scott...”

He gave her that big, plump-cheeked grin. “Oh come on, Betty! Call it a Christmas treat.”

“Well...” She sighed. “All right. But not for too long. I have to change those scripts.”

Scott nodded. “Fair enough. We'll talk about how to deal with Pruitt and Gloria Redmond on the way.”

Lisa tugged on Scott's sleeve. “Mr. Sherwood, Mr. Pruitt really has it in for you! He's the one who hired those two silly men. They were looking for information on you.”

Scott's big grin turned down. “That doesn't surprise me. I don't think he likes me very much.”

Betty took Scott's arm firmly. “We'll have to figure out something to do about that too.”

Mother put her arms around Lisa and Alan. “We need to get to dinner, too. It's been a busy day.”

Lisa leaned on her mother as they made their way to the exit, waving to Miss Reece at the reception desk on the way. “Mother, I had the strangest dream. I met Santa Claus! He told me I should try to be a kid, just for now.”

“And you should, Lisa.” She brushed her daughter's hair from her face as Mr. Eldridge opened the door for them. “You'll always be my little girl.”

“I love you, Mother,” Lisa said, following her out the door.

“So do I!” Alan added.

Mother smiled. “And I love you, my cherubs.”

Mr. Eldridge smiled as he watched the trio follow Betty and Scott out the door. “Understood completely.” He stuffed the Santa hat in his pocket, then went to see if he could attempt to wrestle with the vacuum cleaner again. That confounded contraption had a mind of its own sometimes...