The streets of Burgess were covered in snow, just as they always were during that time of the year. Jamie gazed out of the window, clutching a book in his hands, staring into space, oblivious to the chilly winter wind drifting in. The sky was darkening and he could see the Christmas lights of his neighbours' houses lighting up. From where he stood he could hear Sophie and his mom chattering about the North Pole; Mrs. Bennett was curious and full of questions and Sophie was giving subtle hints on what they were to find there. Most of it was based on Jack's description of the place, as neither had been there. Jamie felt thrilled at the thought of visiting Santa's Workshop.
He looked down at the book he had been holding. As he read the title that flashed across the front cover, he smirked. He was going to have a lot of fun.
#
"Right, so Santa's workshop is in Russia?" asked Mrs. Bennett, for what seemed to be the hundredth time. She still could not grasp the fact that the mythical place had been on Earth all the while. Neither had she gotten used to the idea of the existence of a hidden place filled with walking eggs dominated by a six-feet tall rabbit also known as the Easter Bunny in the underground oasis deep under the Australian Outback. The kids had decided to leave the entrance to Pitch's lair out, but they didn't forget to mention Tooth's palace, during which Mrs. Bennett had commanded them to stop so she could sit down and compose herself.
"Nope, it's in Ireland," Sophie answered. Mrs. Bennett sensed the sarcasm in her voice and didn't respond. The three of them waited outside, watching as the winter spirit soared above them and swopped downwards before landing lightly in the front yard, smirking. Jamie waved, ecstatic.
"North doesn't trust me," he said. "He's sending transportation over."
Just as those words left Jack's mouth, a loud thump could be heard as something large landed on the roof. All three of them jumped and hurried to see what it was. A small sleigh was perched on the roof, with only one reindeer harnessed to it. It was just enough for three. "It's pretty safe, don't you worry," Jack assured a stunned Mrs. Bennett. "North began working on it as soon as he heard you were coming to the North Pole for Christmas, and it's gone through several test drives, and is in perfect working order. Or so he says."
Mrs. Bennett blinked several times, half-expecting the sleigh to disappear as quickly as it came. When it didn't, she cast nervous glances around, worried the neighbours would spot it. It was not yet dark enough to conceal it. That would lead to a lot of awkward questions.
"And don't worry about that, either," Jack continued, as though reading the woman's mind. "Only those who believe can see it. So it would be advisable not to stop believing halfway, for there is a huge chance you might just fall out of the sky. Though I'm not sure about that one."
Just then, there came a shout from the next house, as a window was pushed open and a kid looked out, upwards, at the sleigh on the roof. "Whoa! You have to see this, mom! There's a sleigh on the roof of Jamie and Sophie Bennett's house! With a reindeer!" He turned away to get his mother. The three Bennetts exchanged glances. The reindeer made an impatient sound and began pawing the roof like an impatient horse. It glanced in their direction.
"We should get moving," Jamie said.
"Yeah, let's all prop a ladder against the wall and climb up onto the roof," said Sophie. "Now that would lead to some real awkward questions!"
As though it had understood what she said, the reindeer leaped off the roof and sailed gently to the ground, landing in front of the house, outside the gate. They hurried out and piled in, fighting over seats.
"I'm sitting at the side!" Sophie whined, childishly, shoving her brother. "You'll probably fall off or something."
"Oh yeah? You're so light, the wind will carry you away! Now, get-"
"Will the two of you just quit it? We're going to attract the attention of everyone in the neighbourhood. scrambling about in the air," snapped Mrs. Bennett. "The two of you will sit on either side, I'll take the middle seat. Fair enough?"
"Oh, sorry, mom, didn't think about that," Jamie said. "Well, okay, just thought you wanted the side seat." He stepped aside as his mother climbed in and got in after her. The reindeer took off with a sudden lurch, and rose higher. As the cold winter wind whipped their hair and stung their faces, Mrs. Bennett struggled to put on a ski mask which she had brought along just in case. Jamie tugged at his hat and tried to bring it down over his face as he noticed Sophie doing the same.
Jack, who had flown up after the sleigh, holding on to it, couldn't help smirking. "It's going to be a pretty short journey, unfortunately. Look what North gave me," he said, holding up a snowglobe. He shook it slightly as the fake snow swirled within it. "To the North Pole," he said in a dramatic voice and the three Bennetts glimpsed the image of a palace appearing in the globe before Jack threw it forwards. It burst into a portal which the reindeer headed straight for. As they entered the portal, they were enveloped by a brilliant spectrum for a few brief moments before flying out into another part of the Earth. The view was breathtaking and the three of them stared with their eyes wide open, oblivious to the cold for several moments. Located on an icy tundra was a gigantic Russian palace. As the sleigh neared it, sounds of working Yetis could be heard. The sleigh traveled through an icy tunnel before parking itself outside the entrance of the workshop. A Yeti was already waiting there, apparently, for them. He seemed excited as it was not often they had mortals in the factory.
Jamie and Sophie climbed out in a rush, almost bursting with excitement. Mrs. Bennett remained where she was, in the sleigh, her dropped jaw refusing to close. She stared at the Yeti, remembering Sophie's description of 'large, hairy creatures milling about, working on the toys'. Yetis didn't cross her mind then.
"Come on, mom!" Jamie called as he and Sophie entered the workshop. "Save the surprise, there's more inside!"
Mrs. Bennett got out and took tentative steps towards the slightly ajar door, fearing it would all suddenly disappear and be nothing but a mere dream. It was too wonderful to be true. Why, she had fantasised about visiting Santa's workshop since she was a kid! Those fantasies stopped, however, when she was a teenager. And here she was, on the threshold of the real thing, as an adult.
Jamie and Sophie bumped into a bulky figure as they ran in and heard cheerful laughter. "Ah, you're finally here! Was fearing the sleigh would malfunction."
The Bennett siblings looked up to see North, who was beaming at them. "And where is your mother?" he asked.
Both turned to see Mrs. Bennett walking in, surveying the place with wide eyes, taking in everything. The elves scuttled about her feet, all rather surprised to see an adult in the workshop. Mrs. Bennett was equally surprised to see them, as she had imagined elves to be medium-sized creatures with caps and pointed ears. Jamie and Sophie couldn't help laughing. They were definitely stunned at the sight of it even after listening to Jack describe the place, so they were guessing it was an even bigger thing for their mom, who had just recently started believing again.
"Mom's so lucky," Sophie stated. "She starts believing again, and poof! she meets Jack Frost, and several months later, gets to see the North Pole. You had to believe for ten years before you actually got to see anything."
North chuckled, overhearing that. Jamie couldn't help smirking. He ambled over to his mother, who was starting to look faint, and took her by the hand. "Don't pass out, mom, you're too heavy for me to catch," Jamie said, successfully eliciting a smile from Mrs. Bennett. She shook hands with North, still in a state of utter disbelief. "So, you're the infamous Santa Claus," she said. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you." There was an emphasis on 'finally'.
"Come, I'll give you all guided tour of the place," North said, turning and walking deeper into the workshop. The Bennetts followed, gazing around in wonder, Jack following. They were first brought to the globe of belief which Jamie and Sophie already knew all about. It was a sight to behold. North began explaining all about it to Mrs. Bennett who nodded occasionally, staring at the globe as it spun slowly, at the lights in every country. They were given a thorough tour of the place, including the factory where the toys were made and North's office where ice sculptures and designs of toys stood.
"Icy prototypes. Well I never!" Mrs. Bennett exclaimed, studying each one.
Once the tour was over, they were treated to a small meal. Jamie loaded his plate and went out to the Globe Room where he sat cross-legged on the floor, eating and gazing up at the gigantic globe. "Sorry, I just can't stop looking at it," he said, smiling sheepishly, when North found him there.
Jack settled down beside Jamie. "So, my light was the last one was on this globe before the battle of Burgess?" Jamie asked, through a mouthful of potatoes.
Jack nodded, smiling slightly at the memory. "Yes. You should've seen Pitch's face when it refused to go out. And our faces, too. You would've thought we were all Guardians of Hope if you'd seen us then." There was a short silence before Jack continued. "By the way, as you know, it's Christmas Eve. And North would be delivering the presents tonight. You and Sophie can go along, if you can be stealthy enough and not wake the kids and adults. Think your mom would like to go?"
Jamie shrugged. "You should ask her. She would probably refuse, though. Maybe she's had enough of sleigh rides for a day. Or a lifetime."
Mrs. Bennett, however, was ecstatic. Sophie couldn't help pointing out to Jamie that their mother seemed to have gotten years younger since earlier that evening. They spent the rest of the night and part of the morning traveling through portals and all over the world, starting from the far east, where it was already near midnight, and traveling west.
"Now I can't help feeling like an intruder," said Mrs. Bennett to her son, in a low voice as they docked several gifts beneath a tree in a random house in Europe. "Do you think we can be charged with trespassing if they suddenly wake up and catch us?"
They even returned to Burgess, where the Bennetts also left their own gifts for their friends. Mrs. Bennett stuck sticky notes on her gifts with a message scrawled on it, addressed to the recipient of the gift which read 'I was here at midnight!'. She could only laugh as she imagined their faces the next morning. They even delivered presents to their own house, which they were forbidden to open and could only do so once they returned from the North Pole. Jamie had informed his friends, and he found them all staying up, waiting for him.
"Whoa! Check out the sleigh!" Claude exclaimed, looking out of the window at the sleigh above, on his roof.
"Mrs. Bennett on a sleigh! Now, that's a sight!" Caleb laughed.
"If you see Sandman, tell him I said thanks for all the unicorn dreams he's been giving me lately," Cupcake said, smirking. "And have fun! Merry Christmas!"
"Gosh, Jamie, I wish I could come with you, but as you know, my grandmother always comes over with my aunt for Christmas," Pippa said. "Maybe next year! Merry Christmas!"
"This defies all laws of physics," Monty stated, receiving a slap on the back from Jamie.
"It's Christmas, Monty! Time to dream! And don't you even think about REM..."
It was noon when they returned to the North Pole. North sent out the Northern Lights, before announcing that they were to have the other guardians over for dinner, much to the excitement of the Bennetts, especially Sophie, at the thought of seeing Bunny again. They were then free to explore the workshop, which Mrs. Bennett did, interested in the toy-making process, which the Yetis were only too pleased to tell her all about. The unfortunate thing was that she didn't speak Yeti, so North offered to explain. Sophie, who had brought along her tools, decided to occupy herself with painting the tundra, and preparing a gift for Bunny when he arrived.
Jack and Jamie walked out of the workshop, heading towards a slope. Jamie dragged along a sled. They halted at the top of the slope and Jamie got onto the sled.
"Ready?" Jack asked, smirking.
"Yeah. No vehicles, no delivery vans, no skating couches, so no teeth shall be lost this time!" Jamie grinned. "And... WHOA!"
Jamie felt his stomach lurch as the sled slid downwards. His knuckles were white from holding on tightly and his eyes were squinted against the cold. It was much colder there than in Burgess. Jack flew alongside him, and as soon as they reached the bottom, Jack pointed at a snowy hill in the distance. "I think that's the highest peak around here. Come on!"
Jamie followed the winter spirit, but was slightly apprehensive. "Do you think it's safe, Jack? I just broke my arm a couple of months back, I'm not breaking it again, or some other part of my body."
"Don't worry. I'm here, remember?"
They flew up to the top where Jamie glanced downwards and immediately felt dizzy. He settled onto the sled once more and was off.
"YAAHOOOOOO!"
Jack laughed as he flew alongside the boy, adding patches of ice on the way down, speeding up the sled. They continued sledding for another couple of hours before Jamie decided to try what he called 'slurfing'. He stood on the sled and travelled down the slope, struggling to balance himself, but continuously falling over into the thick snow, and only managing perfect balance occasionally.
"Want a bird's eye view of the tundra before sunset?" Jack asked.
Jamie looked out over the snowy land that stretched as far as the eye could see. "Definitely," he said. He held on tight to Jack's staff as the spirit flew him over the snowy hills and plains. Not much life could be seen.
"We should definitely return," Jamie said, as the sky was darkening. "The others would probably have arrived."
They found the other guardians upon returning to the workshop, where Sophie and Bunny were immersed in conversation and Mrs. Bennett was getting to know Sandy and Tooth. She was most stunned by Tooth's appearance, having imagined her as a smaller fairy with a skimpy dress and huge butterfly wings, like those fairies from fairy tales. Tooth appeared to be telling her all about the baby teeth and how they help her collect the teeth.
"Aw, I missed mom's face when she saw the guardians," Jamie said, regretfully, yet smiling.
"Jamie!" Tooth squealed, zipping over with Baby Tooth and pulling the semi-frozen boy into a tight embrace. "It's been so long! Welcome to the Pole! How're you liking it here?"
"It's really cool," Jamie responded, smirking. "Literally." He turned to Sandy and his mother as Tooth greeted Jack. Baby Tooth was on the verge of swooning, as usual.
"Jamie, he can't speak?" Mrs. Bennett asked, indicating Sandy.
Jamie grinned at the little golden man. "Nope. He has to super quiet or he'll wake the kids. Right, Sandy?" The guardian beamed.
"So, you bring dreams to children every night?" Mrs. Bennett asked. Sandy gave a cheerful nod, helping himself to some eggnog. Jamie ambled over to Sophie and Bunny.
"Good ta see ya again, mate," Bunny said, as Jamie greeted him. The boy peered at the painting Sophie had finished, one of the tundra, and he couldn't help noticing two dark silhouettes painted atop one of the hills of two boys, one about to sled and the other with a staff.
"So you're giving a painting to Bunny a silhouette of Jack Frost in it," Jamie, who understood the rivalry between the two guardians, said to Sophie. "Awesome idea."
Sophie was about to protest, when North announced that dinner was ready. They filed into a room where a long dining table was situated. A feast had been prepared; there was turkey, salads, pies, pudding and other Christmas dishes laden on the table.
"New fact learned," Sophie said, as they took their seats. "The guardians aren't vegetarian." She eyed the sparkling wine, adding softly to herself, "And perhaps, sometimes, they get wasted, too."
Mrs. Bennett seemed a little nostalgic as she sat at the table. Jamie noticed and decided not to say anything. It had been some time since they had actually had Christmas dinner together and he was sure his mother was recalling the times when his father was still with them. However, a cheerful expression dominated her face a moment later, as she pushed all those memories to the back of her mind.
"Thanks so much for having us here, North," she said.
"Don't mention it. You should thank Jack, for he suggested this," North responded, beaming.
Jack smirked at Bunny. "Someone should be thanking me. After all, I've indirectly brought your favourite child." Sophie glared at the winter spirit.
"Not on your nelly," Bunny snapped.
They began to tuck in. "Don't eat that, it's poison," said a deep voice behind Tooth, all of a sudden, causing her to jump. She turned, slightly frightened, but there was no one there. "Did you hear that?" she asked, turning to the others. It appeared they had.
"I was just kidding." A different voice, with a slightly higher pitch. This time, it seemed to come from the centre of the table. Tooth eyed the turkey nervously. Bunny whipped out his boomerangs, scanning his surroundings. Jamie choked on his food, which gained his mother's concern, but he assured her he was fine.
"Why was I not invited to this feast?" whined another voice, this one a hoarse one.
"Can I sit here?" Tooth squealed as the high-pitched voice returned, and seemed to have come from somewhere between her and Jack. "Or here." This time between Jack and Jamie.
"What's going on?" Mrs. Bennett asked, glancing around, noticing the frowns and worried looks on the other guardians' faces.
"Are you a rabbit?" said the same high-pitched voice behind Bunny. "Crikey!" He jumped at the sound of it and turned, ready to attack, but there was no one there.
North got to his feet, and at the same time, Sophie leaped up. "It's not really necessary, North," she said. "Just wait a moment..." She caught Jamie's glance out of the corner of her eye.
There were no more voices for several minutes. They finally settled down, Bunny kept away his boomerangs, but was still alert, and they continued eating, chattering among themselves. Tooth was a little jumpy and she flew out of her chair when the deep voice sounded again, behind Jack this time.
"We're cold and hungry," it said, with a menacing edge. "Let us eat with you, or else."
Jack turned, surprised, his staff raised. Jamie began to have a coughing fit. That was when Sophie grabbed him and held him in a stranglehold.
"Ow, Sophie!" Jamie exclaimed. "Let go of me!"
"Not until you stop it," Sophie said, attracting stares from the others. "Seriously, Jamie!"
The 19- year old couldn't help smirking. "Those voices were from you?" Tooth asked, shocked, noticing the boy's smirk. The other guardians exchanged glances before turning back to the scene before them.
"Of course it's him. Who else?" Sophie said.
"Can you let go of me right now?" His sister's grip tightened. "Okay, okay! I get it! End of the fun!" Sophie released him and he sat back up straight, rubbing his neck. "Geez, Sophie, you need to stop being so aggressive."
"What happened?" North inquired, bewildered.
Jamie grinned. "Looks like I'm a natural!" he said. "But I was already good at it; tried it out on Halloween."
"What is it, Jamie?" Jack asked. This time, Jamie had left him out of it.
"Ventriloquism," Jamie explained. "I borrowed a book on it from Caleb and have been working on it since the end of summer. I thought I just wanted to surprise you!" There was a short pause before he added, "Sorry."
"Surprise us?" Tooth said. "You scared us! And here I was, thinking Pitch had returned!"
Jamie was delighted. "Did I really sound like Pitch?"
"Jamie, what on earth have you been dabbling in?" Mrs. Bennett questioned.
"And you left me out of it?" Jack said.
"I've got a good mind to throw a boomerang at you, mate," said Bunny.
North guffawed. "Ventriloquism!" he exclaimed. "Yes, yes, I've heard of it. The Yetis make many dummies each year for kids all over the world who were trying it out." He laughed again. "Well, now we know what it was..." He returned to his food, and everyone else followed.
"You have to show me how you do it," Tooth said. "Speaking without moving your lips? And making it sound like it's coming from somewhere else? Who knows, a skill like that might come in handy someday. You never know. Though I would probably scare the baby teeth." She smiled at Baby Tooth.
A band of elves was invited in by North and serenaded the company with Christmas songs. Mrs. Bennett was impressed though she had heard that elves could be musical. She had plenty of questions which she fired away at every guardian at the table, the answers to most of which Jamie and Sophie already knew, though there were some that were new. Jamie was pleased to see his mother acting like her old self; she used to be that cheerful when he was younger. As she laughed at a joke Bunny made, he exchanged glances with Sophie and could tell she was thinking the same thing.
"I hope it lasts," Sophie said, in a low voice, before turning back to her pudding.
With all the chatter, questions and music, it was long before the feast was over. Sophie did a quick check of the guardians and concluded that none of them was drunk. They walked the Bennetts back to the sleigh, into which they were rather reluctant to climb.
"Well, we can't stay here any longer or people will be suspicious," Mrs. Bennett said. "Usually we don't leave without telling some people."
Sophie and Bunny shared a hug. "Perhaps you could come to the Warren for Easter," he said. "This ankle-biter was there once, and we had a lot of fun, didn't we?"
Mrs. Bennett beamed. "Thanks, Bunny, but unfortunately, you'll have to show us the way. I've only been to Australia once and that was a long time ago," she laughed. Jamie could see a different emotion in her eyes; Australia had been one of her honeymoon destinations.
Farewells were said and invitations to the homes of the other guardians were extended, including Sandy's. Jack escorted the Bennetts back to the sleigh. "See ya! Merry Christmas!" Jamie called, waving wildly, as the sleigh left its parked spot.
"Christmas was yesterday!" Sophie remarked.
"Must you always be so straightforward?" Mrs. Bennett laughed. "Thanks a lot!" she yelled at the guardians before the sleigh plummeted into the icy tunnels and out of the palace. As it soared through the cold night air, Jack waiting for the right moment to open up the portal, Jamie slumped forwards in his seat, looking up at the dark sky above. Mrs. Bennett leaned back and thanked Jack. "There are no words to describe this experience," she said.
"I have three," Jamie said, holding up three fingers. With each word, he lowered one finger. "Best. Christmas. Ever."
And with this chapter I'm officially the most disgraced writer of the past, present and future. Below are a few things I have to apologize for.
Okay, number one. I know this chapter is pretty long. Sorry about that.
Number two, I'm sorry if I wasn't too descriptive about the sledding thing; as I've never gone sledding in my life (I've never even touched snow).
Number three, sorry if I wasn't descriptive about the Christmas dinner thing. I've never had a Christmas dinner. Never tried turkey either; is it good?
Number four, some characters may seem out-of-character. A thousand apologies.
But thanks for reading and all the continuous support!