Travelin’ Rick’s Christmas
Hi there, boys and girls! I’m going to tell you about the best Christmas that I have ever had. It was the year 1975. I heard that Santa Claus was sick and wasn’t going to be able to bring any presents to anyone that Christmas and anyone included parents, grandparents and kids. When I heard that, I knew that I had to do something. I knew that I would have to go up to the North Pole and get Santa back to his jolly old self.
The very next morning, I boarded a train that was headed to the North Pole. It was a long train ride but I saw some wonderful scenery on my trip. I saw several polar bears and when I saw Santa’s castle, it almost took my breath away, with the beauty.
I knocked on the door and was surprised when Mrs. Claus opened the door in her housecoat and slippers. She looked like she was very ill, too.
“Oh dear,” said Mrs. Claus. “I must look a sight! Travelin’ Rick, it is so nice of you to come to see us but you must not stay long. I don’t want you to get sick either.”
“Oh Mrs. Claus,” I said. “I came here to get Santa back to health. There are going to be a lot of disappointed boys and girls this year if Santa doesn’t get well.”
“Travelin’ Rick,” said Mrs. Claus. “I thank you so much! I’ve been so worried about Santa too! I was going to do the Christmas Eve thing myself with the elves but then I got sick too!”
“Okay,” I replied. “We have exactly three days to get you and Santa back to health. Point me to your kitchen. I’m going to make you a big pot of chicken soup and I’m going to nurse you and Santa back to health.”
“Right this way,” said Mrs. Claus, showing me to the kitchen.
I went to work right away, making a big pot of homemade chicken soup. I sliced fresh carrots, celery and onions and added a big plump chicken. I took two bowls of the hot chicken soup up to Santa’s room where he and Mrs. Claus were shivering under the covers.
“Ho! Ho! Ho!” called Santa, coughing half-way through. “Look what we have here, dear, some homemade chicken soup. That is just what we need to get better.”
Santa and Mrs. Claus ate the big bowl of soup and I could tell that they were starting to feel better already.
“Okay,” said Santa, the next morning, after he and Mrs. Claus had a wonderful night’s sleep. “We have only two more days left til Christmas. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Santa started putting his feet on the floor and was searching around for his slippers.
“Oh no!” I exclaimed to Santa. “You get back in that bed right now.”
“But,” said Santa. “I’ve got so much work to do.”
“The elves and I have it all under control,” I said. “I spoke to them already this morning. The toys are almost ready.”
“Okay,” said Santa, getting back under his warm blankets. “Wait, though. What about Freddy? Is he doing his share of the work? If I’m not there to watch out for him, he won’t do his work.”
Freddy was one of Santa’s elves that worked in his workshop. He was what you might call a troublesome elf and whenever Santa turns his back on him he is always causing some sort of mischief.
“Well,” I said. “I’ve taken care of Freddy.”
“Oh wonderful,” said Santa, settling down in his bed.
Just then, Freddy came into Santa’s bedroom with a tray filled with two bowls of steaming hot chicken soup.
“Freddy is helping me out,” I laughed, when I saw a confused look on Santa’s face.
Christmas Eve morning came along and Santa and Mrs. Claus were both feeling so much better. Santa was very anxious to get the sleigh loaded with all the presents and gifts for the children, who would have been so disappointed if Santa could not have made his yearly trip.
“Travelin’ Rick,” said Santa later on that day. “I just wanted to say that I am so grateful for your help.”
“Oh that is not a problem,” I said. “I’m only glad that I was able to get you and Mrs. Claus back to health.”
“Come on,” said Santa, to me, once he was in the sleigh, ready for take-off. “I’ll give you a ride home.”
“Sure,” I said, very pleased to have a chance to ride in the sleigh with Santa.
Christmas morning, I woke up a little later than usual. However, there, under the Christmas tree was an extra special parcel from Santa.
Moral of this Story:
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