Chapter Four
The biggest of the two people was obviously Santa. He wore big, black trousers and red jumper that looked like someone would wear near Christmas time. His eyes were just like Jack's and sparkled just like a diamond. His long, white beard looked well kept and clean and his smile could fill up any room with happiness.
'Vell, hello there. Are you Beth?' North's voice rang in Beth's ears, her jaw was still dropped down. Suddenly realising that it was rude, she shut her mouth so fast her teeth clenched together. Her cheeks were turning red with embarrassment, but nevertheless, she replied.
'Yes, I'm Beth.' she smiled at North and he smiled back.
'I'm not quite sure if you know me, but I'm Nicholas. You can call me North.'
'Yeah, I know who you are! You're Santa! I mean, err North.' she blushed brighter.
'This is Sandman or Sandy.' he gestured to a golden man. Beth waved and he siled back, his golden hands dropping little specs of gleaming sand. Sandy was much shorter than North and had a much less intimidating look and feel about him. His eyes shined just like the sun as did his hair!
For once in her life, Beth felt as if she could soar higher than any bird, that she would win any battle and that she had the best friends in the world. She finally felt as if she were special. Yes, Beth did have many great memories with her friends from school, but she was always the one that people picked on; always the one that people would make fun of. Now, she was surrounded with people who actually knew her secret; She loved imagination and creativity. She loved making up stories of distant lands with magical beings and being here with three amazing people made her heart do summersaults. 'How vas your trip here?' North spoke again
'Oh, it was fine.' she grinned at him.
'North, I'll tell you.' Jack butted in 'I was so surprised when she could see me straight away. How many 14 year olds do you get believing?'
'Yes, Jack. But, she obviously has a great imagination.' North winked at her and Beth felt her cheeks blushing again.
'What do you mean? Believing?' Now she was confused. 'Can someone explain?' At this, Sandy shot his hand into the air. Beth turned to face the golden man. He started creating pictures at the top of his head. They were being made entirely from sand and it was constantly changing. First a dolphin, then a flower and a football player...
'Calm down, Sandy!' Jack was laughing. Sandy stopped forming the little pictures. ' Basically, we are Guardians. That means that if you believe in us, you can see us and hear us, but if you don't believe in us, then you cant hear us or see us.'
'So because I believe in you... I can see and hear you?'
'Yep. You see those little lights on the globe?' he pointed towards the massive world. 'Well, all those lights are children who believe in us. If children stop believing in us, well.. We'll just waste away. That's why it's tough being a Guardian, ay Sandy?' Sandy nodded and created a tick out of sand that sat on top of his head, bobbing up and down slowly until it disappeared with a 'poof'.
'I get it now, but that still doesn't explain everything. Why am I here?' Sandy, Jack and North all starred at Beth. Now all of the had small frowns on their faces.
'Man in Moon.' North replied. 'He chose you.'
'He chose me? For what?' Beth was confused.
'To be the next Spring Guardian.' Jack joined in.
'Follow me, Beth.' North had started walking out the door. He re-traced Beth and Jack's steps from earlier and go inside the lift. Beth joined him. They both travelled back up to the first floor where they stopped in front of a stone 'G' surrounded with pictures in triangles. Each triangle had a picture of each Guardian. One for Sandy, North, Jack, Bunny and Tooth. 'Ah! About time he showed up!' North shouted. He pointed towards a massive hole in the roof of the building where a silver moon was sitting. A ray of light gleamed down and landed on the stone 'G'. A chamber opened up and revealed an enormous stone of some sort! It was clear and reflected the rays of moon beam. It glimmered just like Sandy.
'Beth, if you allow us to... you can become the Spring Guardian, Blossom.' Jack had pitched in. 'Once you've changed you'll be like me before I was a real Guardian. Before I took oath. You will remember your past life, but not in much detail, I'm afraid.' He looked down at his bare feet.
'So if I agree to do this, I wont have a family again?' All of them shook their heads.
'You will be loved by children everywhere, Beth. You will get to make Spring, your favourite season.' Jack reminded Beth of this fact. Spring was the best part of the year for her. She would get to make it. That would be fun.
'Wont my family be worried?' this time Beth's voice was shaking slightly.
'No. They vill not remember having a daughter after the change.' North spoke calmly, but gently, like he knew it was a tough decision. Beth looked around at all of the Guardians. She would be able to become a Guardian. She could make Spring, bring happiness to children. But her family will be gone. She would never see her sister again. The thought of her sister reminded her of her nice shoes. Her sister never wore shoes. Beth slowly slipped of the beautiful pink shoes and shoved them out of the way.
'I'll do it.' Beth's tone was confident. She was smiling and so was Jack.
'Are you sure?' North seemed considerably more cheerful.
'Yes...' There was a glimmer of light and Beth blacked out.