The movie, Beetlejuice, had just ended, and the elves were gathering in the recreational room to play games and enjoy some snacks.
“How cool would it be to just say someone’s name 3 times and they would appear,” Olaf said and pulled out a chair.
“You mean the way the ghost couple got Beetlejuice to show up so he could scare the people living in their house and make them leave?” Syrup asked.
“Yes!” Olaf laughed. “But when I call, I want a real person to appear.”
“Things like that can’t happen. It’s just something to make the movie more fun to watch,” Syrup explained.
“Wait a minute. Why can’t it be real?” Tinsel asked. “Let’s try. Who do we want to come join us?”
“Santa,” yelled Skippy. “He can play some games. Is everyone ready? On three, we’ll all say ‘Santa’ three times. One, two, three . . .”
“Santa – Santa – Santa!”
The elves looked around the room, but no one was there.
Syrup shrugged. “See. I told you. That’s just fun movie stuff.”
“Wait a minute.” Olaf held up his hand. “In the movie they have to say his whole name, Beetlejuice. Maybe we need to repeat Santa Claus three times.”
“If we do this and Santa doesn’t show up,” grumbled Syrup, “can we stop talking about it and play some games?”
When all the elves around the table nodded, Skippy started the count down. “One, two, three . . .”
“Santa Claus – Santa Claus – Santa Claus,” the elves yelled in unison.
Suddenly I found myself standing by a table of elves. “What? How did I get here?”
All the elves sat with their mouths wide open. None of them could believe their eyes.
“Were you hiding so you could trick us?” Tinsel demanded.
“I was just in my office reading some letters. Then all of a sudden, I found myself here. I don’t know what you did, but you better not be playing with the Green Fairy Dust we use to tele-transport toys from the North Pole to my bag on Christmas!”
I grabbed a cookie from the plate on the table and headed back to my office. As I walked through the courtyard, I thought to myself, “I know my elves have many talents, but I didn’t know they could do magic tricks like that. I wonder how . . . “
Before I could finish my thought, I found myself in the kitchen with Hanna and the other baking elves.
“Wait a minute! How did I get here? I was just walking in the courtyard.”
“We heard what the elves in the rec room did and thought we’d try it,” Hanna said.
“We called your name three times, and here you are,” Doheny added.
I shook my head. “Then you really don’t need me, right?”
The elves hung their heads, ashamed to admit the truth.
Doheny quickly grabbed a platter of cookies that were still warm. “Would you at least like to take some cookies with you?”
“I never turn down cookies, but please do not call me back again. I need to catch up on the children’s letters.”
“So, they just say my name, Santa Claus, three times and I appear? How did they figure that out?” I mumbled. “Hope they don’t go telling everyone about this. I’ll never get anything done.”
When I arrived back in my office, I settled into my easy chair and began reading a letter.
Before I knew it, I found myself standing in front of dozens of children. All of them were screaming “Santa! You came!!” Suddenly, all the boys and girls ran in my direction.
Even though I was much bigger, there were so many that I stumbled, flinging my arms wildly. As I tried to steady myself, I began shouting.
Before I hit the ground, I found myself lying back in my chair with Ms. Claus leaning over me. “Are you okay Santa?”
I sat up quickly. “Did you call me? Please tell me you didn’t call me.”
“I’m not sure what you mean. I came over to bring you some hot cocoa and found you sound asleep, squirming and screaming. I think you were having a bad dream.”
“Hope so. All anyone had to do was say ‘Santa Claus’ three times, and I would appear. I couldn’t finish anything! I was being pulled from place to place. The last time dozens of little children ran to hug me, and I lost my balance. I love children, but it was crazy.”
“I think you may have taken this letter too seriously,” Anya responded, looking at the one I had been reading. “This little boy wished he could just say your name, and you would come to see him.”
“Could be. Glad it was only a dream.”
“You know Santa, you cannot make everyone happy all the time.”
“You’re right, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try.”
Notes From Santa
I hope you enjoyed today’s story. Stories are posted on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month, except December. Santa’s next story will be posted on Saturday April, 20, 2024. If you have any comments or if there is something you would like me to tell you about, please feel free to leave me a comment. Until the next time . . .
To read more about Santa please check out
With a Little Help from My Friends – July 1, 2019
Santa’s Improved Sleigh – March 16, 2020
Pie Day – March 15, 2021
Is Santa Retiring – April 26, 2021
Sad Santa – January 15, 2022
Goofing Off – April 1, 2022
Where’s Santa – November 1, 2022
Fooling Santa – April 1, 2023
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Illustration created with Art Space AI