Chapter #6: Forever Changed

What awakened Tortimer for the final time wasn't a ghost, but sunlight streaming through his bedroom window. He jumped out of bed and looked at the time. It was 7:30 in the morning! He rushed to his window, opened it, and put his head out. The entire town was blanketed with snow, and some trees were adorned with red and green lights. He spied some children having a snowball fight, and called out to them.

"Mornin', kids! What day is it today?"

One of the children, a yellow Labrador, turned to him and shouted back, "You don't know? It is Christmas Day, sir!"

"Christmas Day! Yes!" He shut the window and rubbed his hands gleefully. "I haven't missed it! I still have time to go to my nephew's party and maybe even see Nook and his family! I've gotta git dressed!"

The mayor quickly got into his best tuxedo and hat and grabbed his best cane. Without even bothering to eat any breakfast, he rushed out of his house for the town hall, where he found Pelly sorting some mail.

"Pelly! What are ya doin' here!"

The bird seemed puzzled. "You told me to come here for work yesterday, Mr. Mayor."

"I did? Well, never mind that! I've changed my mind! You go home and have some fun with your family and friends! It's Christmas, after all!"

Pelly hesitated, wondering if Tortimer had gone crazy. But the mentioning of a break made her get her coat and raced out the door. "Thank you sir!"

"Have a Merry Christmas!" Once she was gone, Tortimer turned his attention to his office. He got out his secret stash of Bells from behind the famous painting he had on the wall and counted them. Then he tucked the amount he wanted into his moneybag and marched for the Museum. Blathers and his sister were decorating a Christmas tree. "Good mornin', Blathers, and Merry Christmas! I need a favor, ol' buddy!"

When he finished putting up the star, the owl climbed down from the ladder and asked, "What kind of favor, sir?"

"Can ya invite the Nooks over for, say, two hours? I'm gonna do somethin' special for 'em!"

"It would be a pleasure!" he replied.

"Good! Send 'em back around ten, okay?" The mayor left the Museum and ran for the beach, where his nephew's house was located. He paced past the door nearly ten times before finally getting enough courage to walk up to the door and rap on it with his cane. His nephew answered, and was quite surprised.

"Uncle Tortimer! I thought you weren't coming!"

"Well, I made a change of plans, but I only intend to stay for a short while; I have some important business to attend to," Tortimer said formally. The other partygoers greeted him with cheers, and they even drank his health. He talked and ate with a happiness he hadn't felt in years. But the time to go came all too soon, and he was begged to stay longer, but he refused and left for his business.

It was time for a shopping trip.

Later, at around ten 'o clock, the Nook family returned from their short stay at the Museum, talking and laughing. But when Tom opened the door to their room, they fell silent.

Their home had been transformed. The four cots had been removed, and three new beds took their places—a classic bed for Tom and Mrs. Nook and two blue beds for the twins. The old ranch couches had also been replaced with two identical ones, and a green table stood in the place of the picnic table. Their pantries were also stuffed with food of all types. A stack of presents stood on the table, and a few gifts lay on the beds.

But the most wonderful thing of all was the Christmas tree standing in the corner by the radio. It was adorned with colorful lights and ornaments, and a train set even ran around its base. A bright yellow star stood at the top, glowing with radiant light.

The Nooklings squealed in delight and raced into the house for their presents. Their parents could only sit down in the green table's matched chairs and gape at the entire scene.

"It's…amazing," said Tom. Then he noticed an envelope sitting far from the presents. He picked it up and carefully opened it. Inside was a letter. It read:

Dear Mr. Tom Nook,

Seasons Greetings to you and your family! I am sorry if I startled you in any way with my little surprise! Last night I had a change of heart, and I decided to reward you for your job efforts by giving you a Christmas break until after New Year's! I hope your boys like their gifts; I got them what most boys their age play with. I won't deduct any money from your salary for this; consider it a bonus! Enclosed is a check that should be sufficient for any specific needs you may have at the moment. Use it wisely!

Merry Christmas!

Mayor Tortimer Tortoise

Tom read it over again and again to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. Could his boss really have given these gifts to the family? It was in his handwriting, so it had to have been him!

Meanwhile, the rest of the family had gotten the Christmas fever. Mrs. Nook had opened all her presents almost as eagerly as her boys had; most of them were clothes, cookbooks, or silverware. Tommy was playing with a toy fire truck, and Tiny Timmy was drawing on his new doodle pad with a set of crayons.

Then there was a rap at the door. Nearly dropping the letter, Tom got up and answered it, and there stood, to his surprise, Tortimer himself!

"Howdy, Nooks, and Merry Christmas!" he greeted them with a delighted smile.

"Mr. Mayor," stammered Tom, "did you…did you do all this?"

"So ya read my letter, eh? And the answer is yes. I bought all this for ya!"

A cry of "Yipee!" erupted from the twins. Both of them ran (Tiny Timmy hobbled over with his crutch) up to him and attached themselves to his legs. "Thank you, Mr. Mayor, sir!" they said in unison. He patted their heads as a way to say, "You're welcome".

Tortimer turned to Tom again and inquired, "Did ya see my check to you?"

"Erm, no, let me get it." He ran back to the table for the letter, where his wife was already pulling out the check. She gasped at the number written on it.

"Thomas, this is for 200,000 Bells!"

The coons stared at the check in complete astonishment. Even Tommy and Tiny Timmy turned (sorry, another tongue twister) to look at it with wide eyes.

"Is that a lot of money, Mommy?" asked Tommy. His mother simply nodded.

Tortimer scratched his chin as if in thought. "If ya remember, I asked ya to spend it wisely. Why not on, say, an operation?"

Tiny Timmy's jerked up at him, and the little coon gazed at him with eyes the size of saucers. Then he looked back at his parents and said, "Daddy, isn't that enough to fix my leg?"

"Why, yes, son, yes it is," replied the raccoon while he looked at Tortimer with thankful, tear-filled eyes.

The boy gave a little leap. "Whoopee!" He began dancing in place, and he even grabbed his brother's arms and spun around in circles.

"How can we ever repay you for this?" said Mrs. Nook.

"All I ask is that you let me help you start up your business again! But for now, would ya mind if I stayed here for the holiday?"

"Not at all, boss, not at all. We'd be delighted to have you," Tom replied happily.

Tiny Timmy then pulled gently on the old tortoise's pant leg, wanting to be held for a moment. Tortimer gently picked him up, set him partly on his shoulder, and took off his hat to put it on the boy's head.

As he adjusted the hat to fit on him, Timmy cried, "God Bless Us, Everyone!"

THE END

What a story! Thanks for reading it! I only have one more thing to say: Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and God Bless Us, Everyone! (climbs on Hoverbike and drives off into the sunset)("God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" plays)