The One With The Truth About Santa
By: Jana~
Chapter Six
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--The apartment disappeared, like it just washed away, their surroundings being replaced by something unimaginable.
Holiday decorations hung from every corner; every wall; everywhere, and cheerful music filled the room as the dozens of people present laughed and busied themselves with tasks and activities.
Startled, she grabbed onto Chandler, using him for balance as the room they now stood in came into view.
"What did-? Where-? How did-?"
"Don't be afraid," he whispered, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
"Sir! You're back!"
Monica recognized immediately, the happy man on the approach. He was the man that stood in her livingroom; that handed her the snowflake pendant and necklace, then vanished just as abruptly as he appeared.
"Hey, Bernard," Chandler acknowledged with a smile. "Sorry it took me so long," he apologized. "Did the next shift make it in on time?"
"Yes, sir," Bernard answered. "No delay problems to report." His eyes then moved to Monica.
"Oh!" Chandler suddenly exclaimed. "I'm sorry, you two haven't been formerly introduced. Bernard, this is Monica. Monica, this is Bernard."
"It's wonderful to finally meet you, properly," Bernard returned, extending his hand to shake hers, but Monica just stared back in shock and confusion.
"She's still trying to come to terms," Chandler explained, and Bernard nodded in understanding.
"Sir," a young woman said as she stepped forward, "Welcome back!" She extended a tray as she offered, "Your Yoohoo with a crazy straw."
He smiled as he took the glass bottle from off the tray. "Ginny," he sighed appreciatively, "You always remember."
"It's my job, sir," she bowed gratefully. "May I get you anything, Monica?"
"How did you know-?"
"It's my job to know," she answered before the full question was asked. "Cocoa with marshmallows, yes?" When Monica didn't respond, Ginny smiled warmly. "It's my specialty. I'm sure you'll find it to your liking."
As Ginny walked away, Chandler's grip tightened around Monica, bringing her along as he started to head off in a specific direction. Bernard matched his steps perfectly. Heavily, half dazed, she moved with him, her eyes darting around as she took in the festive setting.
"Production is right on schedule, sir," Bernard informed proudly. "We did have a slight problem with one of the presents. For Ian Lantz, 11 years old, Nice List, Sector 92882-5, but we resolved it."
"Sounds like you're right on top of things," Chandler praised. "As usual."
"Thank you, sir!"
"We're going to be in my office," Chandler said as they approached a large door that held a wreath, lights, and decorations of all sorts. "Give us some time alone, ok?" he requested, then added, "Except for Ginny, when she brings Monica's hot cocoa."
"Yes, sir," Bernard said with a nod, seeming to stand a little taller as the instruction was given.
Chandler then opened the door, gesturing for Monica to enter, which she did hesitantly. Closing the door softly, he watched as she stepped further into the room, looking around as she hugged herself protectively.
"I'm standing here, seeing it- experiencing it, but yet I still don't believe it."
"I know what you mean," he told her, sympathetic. "When I was first told, I didn't believe it either."
She turned to face him. "I think you better start at the beginning."
"Almost a year ago, I was approached by a guy. Claimed to be a distant cousin. He bought me dinner, talked my ear off for hours, telling me about the importance of family, and taking over the family business when you're needed. Finally, he tells me, that he's Santa Claus. I figure he's a loon, so I humor him, telling him how fascinating it all sounds, and what a fun job."
"He then asks me if I would like to see the workshop, so I say sure. I actually screamed like a little girl as we arrived," he remembered with a smile. "I think I freaked everyone out more than I was freaked out!"
"It's real," he gestured around them, "And it's amazing. And it's not like the movies or books or legends or whatever. Apparently, the position is passed down within the family, but because of a freak accident, I ended up being the only male blood relation. Slight, but enough. If I hadn't taken the job, a new family would have been chosen to carry on the tradition."
"Jerry, my cousin, he begged me to take the job. He was getting old, and wanted to retire. To be involved in something so amazing? Of course I said yes!"
Sighing, she asked, "So, how does this work exactly? Flying reindeer? Elves working year round, making toys?"
"No," he said, explaining, "There are no flying reindeer. Well over one hundred years ago, before the Silaer became what it is today, one of the Santas used reindeer to pull his sled, but they never flew. We think that's how that story started. There are a lot of stories out there, depending on the region and beliefs, but most of them are far from true."
"The Silaer?" she asked.
"It's what we call the power to teleport. We think part of that power comes from the Aurora Borealis, but like I said, to dissect it would ruin the magic of it, so we just accept it as possible and use it for a great purpose."
"As for the toys," he continued. "No, the elves don't make the toys. They used to make them, way back when, but the elves now are actually in charge of finding and acquiring the toys. Some pitch in money from their own pockets. Usually, we do toy drives, fundraisers, take in donations…"
"How do you know what to get each child?"
He smiled. "He sees you when you're sleeping," he whispered, "He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good-"
"I know the song, Chandler," she interrupted, a slight smile on her face, "But, what if they ask for the impossible? Like, let's say a kid wishes for, I don't know, their family dog to not be dead anymore?"
"I can't raise the dead," he told her, "But I can find alternatives. Maybe go to the second or third item on the list. If there are no other requests, I may get the child a new dog, or something else that we have observed him wanting."
"How can the parents not know that there is a gift or gifts that they didn't buy? I mean, they gotta be wondering where they came from, right?"
Shaking his head, he explained, "With the magic that makes this possible, comes a blindness, if you will. To those who believe, they believe and find joy and wonderment in it. To those who don't believe, it just doesn't compute in their heads at all. It's quickly dismissed, as if the question has been answered and found unimportant or noteworthy."
"Ok, but, how can you deliver toys to boys and girls all over the world in one night? It's not possible!"
With a knowing grin he said in return, "So sure are you?"
She returned his smile, but answered seriously, "I'm not sure of anything anymore."
"Good!" Cupping her hand in both of his, he said, "Come with me. I want to show you something."
TO BE CONTINUED…
Little nod in there to my oldest son, Ian. I had hoped I would be able to finish this story by Christmas, but it looks like that won't be possible. Sorry about that.
Got the tree bought, but it still sits undecorated. Got all the presents bought and wrapped… Well, almost.
I have this possessed talking Dora the Explorer thingie for my niece, and just bumping it sets the thing off! She's not even gonna have to unwrap it to know what it is! So, I have been trying to figure out how to wrap it so it won't be going off every few seconds!
Still have to make the Vitabrod (Swedish Christmas bread made in my family for generations!), and finish the potato salad. Man, I'm just a busy little sicky-poo bee this holiday!
I'm still stupid sick. I have coughed so much, my internal organs hurt! Blech!
I know, whine, whine, whine.
Anyway, hope you all have a wonderful holiday! Don't eat too many sweets! They always taste good going down, but they really lose something in the translation when coming back up. Ewwww, right?
Ok, it's 1:30 in the freaking morning, and I have to be up in 4 hours to start the Vitabrod, so, gonna post this quick and be off to bed.
Please, be kind to this tired, sickly, over-worked and under appreciated writer and leave a review… k?
Happy Holidays! And MTLBYAKY