The North Pole was ablaze with sunlight. After finishing my morning cocoa, I stepped outside to enjoy this change in weather and headed to check on the Board Games Workshop. In the distance, I saw Polar Pete lumbering towards Christmas Village and walked over to meet him.
“Hello my friend. Now that our season for 24 hours of light has arrived, I intend to enjoy it.”
Polar Pete, a very large polar bear with a heart bigger than his paws, greeted me, but his voice was serious. “Santa,” he said, brushing snowflakes off his nose, “I think Nippy the Snowman is missing.”
“Are you sure? That’s not like Nippy to get lost. Besides, his red plaid hat with ear flaps hanging down on the side of his head and his hockey stick arms make him hard to miss.”
Just then the ground shook. We turned to find Heddy the Yeti standing behind us. “I heard Nippy is lost!” the Abominable Snowman boomed, his voice echoing around the village.
“Not sure if he’s really lost, but Pete has told me that Nippy and his yellow squash nose haven’t been seen for a while … and that’s concerning.” I scratched my beard and looked at them. “I think it’s time that my two best trackers in the North Pole go looking for our friend.”
“You got it, Santa,” Heddy roared. “Come on Pete, let’s find him!”
With the sun high above, I watched the two white-furred buddies rumble across the snow. The eight foot Yeti with teeth and mouth that took up most of his conical head led the way while the huge polar bear brought up the rear. Feeling confident that Nippy would be found, I made my way to the Board Games Workshop.
“If we ‘re going to succeed,” Pete explained, “we need to think like Nippy.”
“I agree, so, let’s check out the North Pole Ice Playground? Nippy loves it,” Heddy suggested and pointed in the direction of the newest hot spot.
“Good idea! With all the slides, tunnels, and spinning ice wheels, it would be perfect for our fun-loving snowman to hide out.”
The oversized pair searched every nook and cranny of the playground, but found nothing except some of the elves enjoying the “midnight sun”.
Always one to enjoy some fun, Heddy made his way through one of the tunnels before rejoining Pete. Squeezing his way through, the Yeti soon discovered that the tunnel continued to get smaller. Forced to crawl his way out, he reached the exit, but couldn’t get through it. “Help,” he bellowed.
Trudging towards the sound of Heddy’s voice, Pete saw his friend wedged in the tunnel. Grabbing his outstretched arms, the only part visible, he pulled him out. “I assume you didn’t find Nippy in there,” Pete said trying to stay serious. When he broke into laughter, Heddy glared.
“No, I didn’t,” he said angrily, brushing snow off his long fur. “Maybe we should try the Crystal Ice Caves.”
“I’m only teasing,” Pete said and slapped his buddy on the back. “I like your idea. You know how Nippy loves to scream and listen to his echo in the caves.”
When the two arrived, Pete smiled. “Since we’re in total darkness for 179 days every year during the winter, exploring inside should be easy once our eyes adjust!”
As the duo entered, they called for their snowy friend and listened. Though the echo “NIPPY – NIPPY – NIPPY”, continued to weaken, they heard no reply from the snowman.
Having no luck, they left and pushed through the snow in search of their friend.
When Pete suddenly stopped, Heddy watched the polar bear sniff the air carefully. “I smell squash,” he said. “That must be coming from Nippy’s nose!”
Heddy leaned down to look at the snow.
“And I see little round snowman tracks!” he rumbled.
They followed the trail that took them across Aurora Viewing Ridge, known for its sights of the Northern Lights. The snowman tracks headed in the direction of the Endless Snowfall Garden, where it never stopped snowing, then veered right to the Blizzard Hill Maze.
“You don’t think he went in there do you, Pete?”
“His trail certainly leads that way.”
“But Blizzard Hill is full of swirling snow tunnels that drift and constantly change shape. It’s easy for us to get lost in there, let alone a snowman who loves to wander.”
“We have no choice but to check it out,” Pete stated as he and Heddy cautiously entered.
In the blinding snow, Pete began calling out, “Nippy! Nippy! Where are you?”
Heddy’s big snowy ears perked up. Tugging on Pete, he whispered, “Stop!”
“Helloooooo!”
“Do you hear that?”
“You bet. That’s him!”
They followed the sound until they reached a hole at the bottom of the hill.
“Well, freeze the day!” Nippy screamed. “I thought no one would find me.”
Though his hat was sideways, his nose upturned, and his hockey stick arms lop-sided, he looked relieved to see them.
Pete and Heddy roared with laughter as they slipped their arms under the snowman and lifted him in an upright position.
Grinning, Pete gently patted the snowman back into shape. “How did you ever get here?”
“I tried to find the shortcut to the cocoa hut, but every path looked the same! Thanks Heddy,” Nippy said as the Yeti straightened the snowman’s squash nose, hat, and arms with his furry fingers.
“There we go!” Heddy said proudly.
Soon the three of them were walking back to Christmas Village together, giggling all the way.
When they arrived, the elves cheered, the reindeer snorted happily, and I gave everyone a warm mug of cocoa. For my snowman friend, I handed him an Iced Cocoa.
“In the future, Nippy, always take a friend whenever you get the urge to go exploring,” I said and slipped an arm over his hockey stick shoulders. “Remember, the very best adventures are the ones you share with friends.”
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 4, 2026. 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’s friends please check out
Santa’s Newest Friends – July 8 2019
Wiggle and Waddle Meet Polar Pete – July 15, 2019
A Visit From Jack Frost – January 20, 2020
The Lost Elves – February 3, 2020
Homesick Penguins – June 8, 2020
Nippy Falls Apart – March 8, 2021
Wiggle and Waddle Go Home – May 31, 2021
Missing Friends – July 1, 2022
Polar Pete’s New Friend – April 15, 2023
A Day With Friends – March 1, 2025
Catching Up – January 17, 2026
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Another Great story, Santa!! And you are right – always take someone with you or they know where you’re going as a “just in case”!! I have a great sense of direction, but one year when we were cross country skiing (where we were not familiar with), we got lost and got really cold!!! Thank goodness someone finally came down the Trail and we followed them back (there were a lot of trails)!! Thanks again for a Great story – we Love your stories!!