Author's Notes: The bad news . . . I didn't finish before today. The good news—for you guys, anyway—I've been delayed. I'm not traveling again until tomorrow. So I'm posting this chapter now, and the next and final chapter will be posted to night.
As the Polar Express conductor would say (and Stork in this fic): Right on time.
Chapter 8: Believe
We gathered with the rest of the kids just as door from the largest building on the square opened up. Elves there were leading out the tiny dragons to hook up to the sleigh. And if you've ever seen a full-sized dragon, you know that "tiny" is still a pretty good size. They were the size of large ponies or small horses, whatever way you look at it. They were all so feisty that it took about four elves on each on to keep them flying off. As they led the dragons up to the sleigh, the elves sang:
"It's the spirit of the season.
You can feel it in the air.
You can hear it if you listen.
Everywhere,
So much care,
Like a prayer.
Whatever it is,
You need to share it.
It's the spirit of the season."
Finn cheered along with the rest of the elves as the dragons were hooked up. Apparently even he was getting into the Christmas spirit.
Horns began to play from a balcony above the door the dragons had appeared from. Then there was a drum roll. Something special was about to happen.
Out of the doors came two lines of elves, both lines carrying . . . lines of sleigh bells. They were beautiful little bells, silver and glistening.
The elves began singing again.
"It's the spirit of the season."
Then the elves shook the bells. All the elves cheered. "Yeah!" Junko cheered while Finn hollered. Aerrow exchanged a huge grin with Radarr, who was perched on his shoulder.
But I frowned. I hadn't heard anything.
The elves sang again.
"You can feel it in the air!"
And they shook the bells again.
But I still heard nothing.
The elves continued to shake the bells as they walked up to the dragons on the sleigh and started to attach them. I turned away, too embarrassed to face my friends.
"Aren't those bells the prettiest thing you ever heard?" Junko asked me. He wasn't looking at me; he was staring at the sleigh and dragons, like everyone else.
I shrank at those words. Why couldn't I hear those bells when everyone else could?
Just then, the horns played again, and total silence fell over the crowd.
Slowly the elves began the next song. Finn was so thrilled that he even joined them.
"Oh . . .
You better watch out, better not cry,
Better not pout. I'm telling you why!
Santa Claus is coming to town!"
When the last lyric finished, the doors opened once more, and a figure stepped in the doorway. There was so much light behind him that all I could see was his silhouette.
The elves and other children cheered. The dragons started jumping up and down excitedly. All around the square, speakers began blasting "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" as the figure started down the steps to head toward the sleigh.
Elves were climbing all over each other, standing on each other's shoulders to see. With all the bodies in my way, I couldn't get a clear view of anything. How could I know? How could I know what was happening was for real if I couldn't see?
"There he is!" Junko cried, jumping up and down on excitement.
"Where?" I asked, trying to see over everyone.
Aerrow pointed. "There. I see him! Over there!" Radarr squawked excitedly, standing on his shoulders to see for himself.
"I can't see him!" I said. I tried jumping, but no luck. There were just too many elves in my way.
I looked over at Stork. The Merb had smiled—just barely—and tipped his hat to somebody as he went by.
I jumped. For a moment I thought I saw a bearded man dressed in red, but then he disappeared again. "I can't see him! I can't see him!" I almost felt panicky. Was there a reason I couldn't see him?
I looked over at the sleigh. Maybe I would see him when he reached the platform with the sleigh.
There the dragons were jumped up and down eagerly, flapping their winds so excitedly that elves were gathering around, trying to keep them calm. I saw it as if in slow motion. One of the bells was loosening on the harness. Gradually it came undone until it was sent flying through the air. It clattered onto the cobblestone, bounced, clattered and bounced again, rolled over an iced puddle, and then came to rest right at my feet.
I reached down and picked it up. Junko had said it was the prettiest sound in the world. But when I rang the bell next to my ear, I didn't hear anything but air. And in that air, I could hear the word, that one little word, as if Arygyn were next to me and whispering in my ear. Doubter. Doubter. Doubter. Doubter.
I took the bell away from the bell. "Okay," I said to it. "Okay." I won't be a doubter anymore. What is it Stork had said? Sometimes the most real things in life are the things we can't see. And Dad. What had Dad said about my not believing? An end of the magic.
I was not going to let the magic end here.
I closed my eyes. "I believe," I told myself with as much conviction as I could muster. "I believe." I pictured Santa in my mind, just as I had done in Christmases past. "I believe."
I put the bell next to my ear again and shook it.
My eyes flew open. I shook it again just to be sure. There it was. I had heard it! I heard the bell ring! Oh, Junko was right! It was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard!
I took the bell away from my ear and held it front of my face, staring at its beautiful shining surface, hardly daring to believe the sound. But I did believe it. Somehow, in my heart I knew it.
As I gazed at the bell, I saw a reflection that at first wondered was just my imagination. But I was done thinking of things as "my imagination." I turned around, my breath catching in my throat.
There he was. He was everything I had always pictured, and yet he wasn't. He seemed to carry his own light with him, a light warm and welcoming. His red suit and hat were just like all the greeting cards, but it was a robe rather than a jacket with red pants. His beard really was white like snow. It even had the sparkle of snow. But his face . . . it wasn't that of the jolly, happy commercial fellow. It was old and wise beyond age, yet kind and gentle as anything I ever knew.
"What was that you said?" Santa Claus asked. His voice was both grave but light, deep but gentle, human but angelic.
"I-I believe," I answered. My mouth felt so dry that I couldn't speak properly. I looked around and realized the elves had made a ring around us, staring at us. "I believe," I repeated, a little more articulately. As soon as I said it, I felt stupid. Who just says, "I believe"? "I-I believe . . . this is yours." I held out the bell to him.
"Well," Santa Claus said, taking the bell from me in his gloved hand, "thank you."
Suddenly Finn stepped up. "Me! Me! Pick me, Santa!" he cried.
Junko shushed him. "Finn, what're ya doing? Stop it!" He looked downright embarrassed.
"Pick me, pick me! I want the first gift! I want the first gift!"
"Hush, Finn!" Aerrow scolded. Radarr glared at him from Aerrow's shoulder for added affect.
Finn shut up for Aerrow.
Santa Claus turned to Finn with all the royalty of the monarch but without the haughtiness of one. "Young man," he said, "patience." He nodded. "And a smidgen of humility might also serve you well."
Finn stepped back, suddenly looking very embarrassed. "Yes, sir."
"And you, young man," he said, turning to Junko. "A young man full of spirit. Christmas spirit." He let out a soft, "Ho, ho, ho," chuckle. "Keep up the good work."
Junko smiled serenely. "Thank you, Santa!"
Santa stepped aside to look at Aerrow and Radarr. "And Aerrow," he said. When Aerrow stared at him uncertainly, Santa raised an eyebrow and nodded toward him. "It is Aerrow?" Aerrow nodded. "A man of decision. Full of confidence and fire. And yet . . ."
Aerrow smiled tentatively. Radarr huddled close to him as if too protect him, although I didn't know from what.
Santa looked around at the rest of us. "I see you and Radarr have made some new friends."
Aerrow looked around at the rest of us, smiling. "Yes, sir," he answered. "We sure have."
Santa nodded. "That's a lucky lad. There's no greater gift than friendship. You do a good job taking care of them . . . and they of you.
"And speaking of gifts," Santa continued, raising his voice for all to hear and pointing at me, "let's have this young lady right here."
I felt my jaw drop to the floor. What? The first gift of Christmas . . . for me?
I glanced over at Stork to be sure this wasn't a prank. He nodded curtly. The guys all looked my way eagerly. There was a bit of envy on their faces, but for the most part, they seemed overjoyed for my sake.
Next thing I knew, a group of elves had picked me up and carried me over to the platform, where they plopped me down onto it. I looked up to see Santa had already gotten into his sleigh, taking the reins of the dragons. He sat there waiting for me before waving at me to join him.
I climbed up into the sleigh with him, feeling almost surreal. Once there, he set me on his lap and looked me right in the eye. "Now," he said, "what would you like for Christmas?"
"Me," I repeated, still unable to believe it.
"You," Santa agreed, nodding.
I took a deep breath and thought hard. I could ask for any material item in the world. So what was it I wanted most?
In an instant I knew. But it just seemed so silly, so outlandish, so simple, that I was reluctant to say it out loud. So I leaned in toward Santa and whispered into his ear.
Santa listened, nodding his head gravely as if this was a serious matter of the utmost importance. When I was done, he sat up. "Yes," he said. "Indeed." His gaze was quite thoughtful. Then he looked at me and said more forcefully, "Yes. Indeed!"
And with that, Santa stood up, as did I when I realized he had. He held up the bell I had found and given back to him for all to see. "The first gift of Christmas!" he cried.
All around there were cheers from the elves and the children. I . . . didn't know how to feel. Mostly I felt an unexplainable joy.
Santa leaned down toward me and held the bell out for me. "This bell," he said, "is a wonderful symbol of the spirit of Christmas, as am I. Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart."
And with that, he placed the bell gently in my hand.
As he did, we heard other bells ringing out, these the bells of a clock. It was midnight at last.
Santa gave my hand one last squeeze as he said, "Merry Christmas."
I turned away and started my way out of the sleigh, where Stork was waiting for me. "Better keep that in a safe place, unless you want the metal moths to get it."
Good, old Stork! He was right, though. I quickly slipped the bell in my pocket, terrified I might lose it if I carried it in my hands.
Once I was back with the other kids, they were smiling happily for me. "Hey! Hey!" Finn said. "Oh, dude, are you lucky!"
We all turned to see the dragons starting to take off. Santa laughed his deep, "Ho, ho, ho!" "Pull, Comet!" he yelled at one of the dragons. "Pull, boy! Prancer, that's a girl!"
We all stared with open mouths. Despite the huge sack, the sleigh was moving, skidding across the platform as the dragons took to the air.
"Good boy, Donder!" Santa cried.
And then the sleigh was in the air.
We all watch in amazement as Santa circled the square twice, then three times, calling all the dragons by name. "Now, Dasher. Now Dancer. Now, Prancer and Vixen!" They swooped in and flew low over our heads before ascending again.
Junko smiled from ear to ear. "It's everything I dreamed it would be!" he said. Finn's face was just as jubilant, and Radarr seemed to be basking in everyone's joy.
Aerrow . . . he was serenely calm, as if feeling a true peacefulness for the first time in his life. But then worry creased his face. "Could . . . could all this be nothing but a dream?" he asked me.
"No," I assured him. "It's real. Every bit of it."
The sleigh was circling the tree now. Santa gave on last crack of his whip, striking the star and sending even more lights sparkling on the tree. And then, in a flash, he was gone, leaving magic like fireworks etched across the sky.
At first there was totally silence. Then every elf in the square cheered and threw their hats in the air. Another year, another group of children pleased!
Apparently for the elves this meant party time. A band immediately got up on the sleigh platform and started playing "Rockin' on Top of the World," which made sense since this was Polar Terra. Junko attempted to dance, and Finn was rocking out to the music with air guitar. Even Aerrow couldn't wipe the silly grin off his face.
Radarr was looking to be enjoying himself as much as anyone else . . . until the chicken came back. She spotted him in the crowd and came fluttering over. With a screech of terror, Radarr leapt from Aerrow's shoulder and scampered off into the crowd with the chicken running after, leaving a trail of feathers.
But although the elves were partying, Stork seemed to think it was time to get to bed. "All aboard!" he called, looking at his watch.
As we were boarding, Stork stood at the door. "Tickets," he said. "Have your tickets ready."
As each kid got on, Stork gave them a piece of advice. Mostly it was stuff our parents tell us with a Stork twist. "Eat your five food groups every day, or you'll shrivel up and die," he said to one, and to Hamish, the guy with braces, "Remember to brush after every meal if you don't want to die of gum disease," and to still another, "Remember to duck and cover, or you're doomed."
I watched curiously. What would he say to me?
When he got to Finn's ticket, he took it and did his fancy punching and handed it back. But he didn't give any motherly wisdom.
Finn looked at his ticket. "'Lean,'" he read, rolling his eyes. "Whatever that's s'posed to mean."
Stork glared at him. "'Lean' is spelled with four letters," he growled. "I believe I punched five." He flicked Finn's thumb out of the way.
"Hey!" Finn said to him. I groaned, thinking he was at it again. Finn snatched his hand and ticket away from Stork and said, "Are you telling me I don't know how to . . ." But he looked at the ticket one more time and stopped. "Oh," he said. "Whoops. It says 'learn.' My bad, dude." And with that, he headed up the plank.
"Lesson learned," Stork said simply, addressing the next person.
It was Aerrow. He took it and punched it and then gave it back.
Aerrow and I looked at it. It said, "DEPEND ON." But when he flipped it over, it said, "RELY ON." Another flip and it said, "COUNT ON." With one more flip, it said, "LEAD ON."
"That's one special ticket you got there," Stork said.
"Sure is," Aerrow agreed, looking up. "But . . . lead on? How can I lead anywhere?"
"You did it tonight, didn't ya?" Stork pointed out. He saluted him. "Follow you anywhere, sir! Even though you'll probably be forced to lead us into impending doom."
How cheery.
"So," Stork went on, "can you count on us to get you home safe and sound?"
Aerrow smiled. "Yes, sir," he said. "Me," he turned to look at me and Junko, "and my friends."
But he hesitated just as he was about to get on. "Wait a minute, sir," he said. Then he turned around and cried, "Radarr!"
At first, no one came. Aerrow shouted a second time.
Out of the rows of dancing elves came a streak of blue as Radarr scurried as fast as possible up the plank. The white hen was still following close behind.
Aerrow watched them disappear into the ship and said, "Okay, I'm set." Only then did he walk up the plank.
Junko was next. Stork did his punching and then handed it back like before. Junko took it and peered at it. "Inspire?" he said.
"Yes, inspire," Stork said. "Inspiration. You're the light that keeps your friends going, boy. Just make sure you don't spread any diseases while you're at it."
Junko let that last part slide and smiled as he got on the ship.
When I stepped up, the last to board, Stork said, "Ah, yes. Young lady with all the questions. Ticket."
I placed the ticket in his outstretched hand. But instead of punching it like he did all the others, he put it behind his back and punched it like that. Then he handed it back, and I read it. "It says—"
But Stork shushed me. "It's nothing I need to know."
I smiled at him and walked up the plank. My word made me feel the warmest I had ever felt and was true in every respect.
Punched on my ticket was the word 'BELIEVE.'
