Holiday Advent Story 16

The town of West Homestead had fallen on tough times. Most folks were unemployed since the plant closed. There was a rough economy that was striking down the hopes of better days. With the plant closing it caused several local business’ to falter and some to shut their doors.  West Homestead was on the verge of the worst year since the rabbit plague of ‘63.

Little Nigel Walker had hoped for better days. Not for himself, but for his family. Like many children Nigel was acutely aware of Christmas. He was also aware of the complete lack of lights, decorations, and a general feeling of joy.

One night, on the Christmas Star, Nigel Walker mad a wish. It was a simple wish. He only asked for one thing. “Please, let my town know joy this Christmas. They need happiness so much. They deserve to smile, at least for a little while.”

Nigel’s wish was heard. It is important to note that sometimes the universe sends you exactly what you asked for. Occasionally it sends you what you need. On very very rare occasions, it sends Doctor Gildor MacSmokinghole the Mad Elf of Christmas.

He arrived at the cusp of dawn, tapping loudly on Nigel’s bedroom window. When Nigel finally woke and opened the window to find Gildor standing on the sill in his bright red, soot stained, slightly burnt red holiday outfit. Gildor was roughly a foot tall and tended to bounce in place when talking or listening. Those who knew him well found this disconcerting based on the alarming frequency that Gildor carried nitroglycerin.

“Are you Nigel?” asked Gildor. He didn’t wait for a response. “Excellent.”

Gildor grabbed Nigel by the wrist and led him through the window to a large wagon out back. The wagon was burnt in places and smoking slightly. It was pulled by a lazy looking polar bear. “That’s Jim,” said Gildor indicating the bear. “Jim, this is Nigel.”

Jim the bear snorted. Nigel thought it might have been a greeting.

Gildor climbed into the wagon and reached out to help Nigel join him. Nigel stared up at the strange little man. He’d been warned about getting into a strangers car or van. He was unclear if he’d ever been told about a strangers bear pulled wagon.

“Quickly boy,” said Gildor. “We have precious little time.”

Nigel climbed into the wagon.

“I’ve set up on the outskirts of town,” said Gildor. “I figured you’d want to see the show.”

“What show?” asked Nigel.

“We got your request. It came in a bit late and I had to do a rush job, but we got everything you need for joy at Christmas.” Gildor cackled. “Sorry about that. It happens.”

“My request?”

“Yeah you asked for joy for the town.”

“My prayer?” asked Nigel.

“Keep up kid,” said Gildor. “Of course, your prayer. We don’t show up unless asked for.”

They crested the ridge at the edge of town. Set along the hillside were several wagons similar to the one they rode in. They were all brightly colored, slightly burnt, and covered in tarps.

“How are you going to give the town joy?” asked Nigel.

“We got everything you need for a spectacular Christmas,” said Gildor. “Ain’t that right Jingles?”

Another elf jogged up. They carried a clip board, and one of their eyes kept blinking. “Yes sir,” said Jingles giving a slight salute with the broken clipboard they was holding. “We’re just waiting on your orders.”

“Excellent,” said Gildor. He jumped out of the wagon and jogged up the hill to a small booth behind thick glass windows. “Come on Nigel, safety first.”

Nigel followed Gildor up to the booth. The control booth was small and cramped. A control board filled with dials, switches, and read out screens. In the center of it all was a six inch round button. It read, “Seriously, Do NOT push unless you really mean it.”

Gildor sat in a small swivel chair built for his size and pointed to a larger stool that Nigel could sit on. Gildor checked the dials and read outs. He flipped a switch and tapped some sliders. Finally he gently twisted a dial while watching the gauge above it.

When he was finished he leaned back while rubbing his hands and giggling. “Perfect. We just need one last thing. JINGLES, coco.”

Jingles hurried into the booth carrying a small tray with two steaming cups of coco. Each cup was topped with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles. Gildor took one and Jingles handed the other to Nigel. He sipped the coco. It was warm and delicious.

Gildor set down his cup, a mustache of whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles clinging to his upper lip. He turned his chair to Nigel. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” said Nigel.

Gildor and Jingles yelled in unison, “PUSH THE BUTTON!!!”

Nigel stared at them.

Gildor pointed at the red button. “Kid.”

“It says do not push and not is all in big letters.”

Gildor leaned forward. “That’s true. However, it does add unless you mean it. When you made your wish, did you mean it?”

“Yes.”

Gildor nodded towards the button. “Then push it.”

Nigel smiled and reached out his hand.

Gildor and Jingles threw their hands in the air. “PUSH THE BUTTON!!!”

Nigel pushed down on the large, shiny, candy-like, red button.

Gildor rub his hands together and giggled.

The tarps sprung from the wagons flipping like window shades. They revealed huge cannons, brightly colored, and studded with silver bells.

Gildor began to laugh.

Loud music began to play. A booming orchestral piece filled the air. At the crescendo of the music, the first cannon fired.

The cannons launched huge bundles into the air. Each bundle slammed into the town. On impact they exploded hurling bundles of colorful streamers over the houses. Candy canes launched into the air, fell to earth on small festive parachutes, and hung themselves from gutters, fences, and any other surface with an edge.

A row of cannons on the east side fired full sized, Christmas trees strung with lights that slammed into the ground in a straight line up the middle of the town’s main street. The rattle of Gatling guns as they pelted each tree with ornaments.

A series of small catapults began launching packages, presents, and parcels at the city. Some landed on the lawns of various homes. Others fell through the chimneys. A few dropped to the ground near the trees.

Finally, the cannons silenced as the music began to wind down.

A loud warning claxon sounded.

Gildor cackled; his arms waving above his head.

Off in the distance, a missile rose on the back of a large truck. Its point aiming higher and higher into the sky. Then the music stopped and the missile fired straight up. Red and white colored smoke trailed behind the rocket. As the rocket flew higher a section broke off and the thrusters fired again. The rocket flew up into the sky becoming no more than a speck in the sky. Then it turned around. The rocket started to fall towards the town. A whistling noise began to grow louder and louder.

“Don’t worry,” said Jingles. “We’re quite safe in the bunker. The glass is detonation proof.”

“What about the people in the town?” asked Nigel.

“Eh,” said Jingles shrugging her shoulders.

The whistling grew louder and louder. Jingles gathered up a stack of colored papers. They divided the stack and handed half to Nigel. “They’re for throwing. When the mission is successful you throw the papers in the air. That’s how you know it was a good mission.”

The end of the rocket was just a hundred yards above the town. There was a deafening whomp noise as the rocket detonated. Hundreds of feet of tinsel in silvers, gold, green, red, and blue rained down on the town. It covered every surface and glittered in the rising sun.

Jingles tossed her papers in the air while giving off a cry of joy. Nigel looked at the papers in his hands and threw them up in the air too.

Gildor slowly stopped laughing. First falling back to a laugh and then a giggle. Finally he let out a satisfied sigh and took a drink from his coco.

Jingles walked to Nigel with a clipboard. “Is that what you’re looking for in the wish?”

Nigel stared out the window at the town. It was covered from one end to the other in decorations, lights, trees, and presents. There were even a couple of house with decorations for Hanukkah and Kwanza. “Yeah…I think so.”

“Great.” Jingles offered the clipboard and a pen to Nigel. “I’ll need you to sign here, here, and here. Then initial here and here.”

Nigel did as he was told.

Gildor jumped off his chair. “Excellent. Let me get you home.”

Later that morning everyone exited their house to find the decorations left behind from the night before. While it may not have been the happiest the town has ever been. There was a great amount of joy for all.

end
Christmas Canon
I already know, but this was to good an idea.