Chapter 2: The Second Letter

Toto and Muta were, for once, working together without having to be told by the Baron. In fact, they were working together for the Baron's sake, in the hopes of surprising him. It was relatively easy at the moment, as the doll was away getting his paint re-done, so that he could look his best for the festive season.

Dear Santa,

We understand that at Christmas you grant wishes for those who have been good through the year,

– "Rules you out, fatso," the bird said, reading what his partner in secrecy was writing. "I will be impressed if this Santa person can even read your writing."

"Shut it, bird brain. We aren't asking anything for us after all," the fat cat snapped back, distracted from his writing. –

Several years ago, we made the acquaintance of a girl named Haru. She was in trouble at the time, due to being too nice for her own good, and we helped her out of it.

– "What now? How do I say that we want him to reunite her and the Baron for Christmas?" Muta asked, his attempted eloquence in writing, not to mention the oversimplification of a grand adventure, making his head hurt a little with the strain.

"Here, give me the pencil, I'll try," the crow said, hopping closer. Carefully, he took the HB in his beak and started scratching at the page.

"And you call my writing bad." –

We care very much for Miss Haru, and in the years since we said goodbye, we have been keeping an eye on her, just to make sure she is all right. She has grown into a fine woman, but when we see her, we think that her smiles aren't as genuine and happy as they should be.

Our friend, the Baron, also misses her very much, but he won't see her. He pretends that he is letting her get on with her life, but since they said goodbye, he has not been moving on with his. Maybe he is just a figurine, but surely, he deserves happiness too?

It is our Christmas wish that you might find some way to unite our two friends. We have tried all sorts of things, but nothing we do or say seems to work.

From Toto and Muta

"Looks good," said the fat cat, reading the last part. "Now we just have to address it, and post it. I can do that on my way to the crossroads tomorrow."

Toto nodded, putting down the pencil again. Now they just had to decorate the refuge, ready for Christmas. The only part of their surprise they knew for sure would definitely happen.

-o0o-

"Mary! Mary! Come and have a look at this! It must be my birthday as well as Christmas! I think this solves it!" The jolly fat man cried, running from the letter room to his wife's stitching parlour, where she supervised the making of doll dresses.

She smiled at him when she had finished reading the letter.

"Better tell Pumpernickel to go and find this Baron fellow," she said, giving her husband a kiss on his rosy cheek.