Marine, the twins and Santa Claus

 

 

In the spirit of Christmas, J. B. Hahn tried to write an english version of the Crhistmas tale that she wrote in her mother-language: portuguese. So, for anything that can look wrong: appologies. Enjoy Marine, the twins and Santa Claus.

December had arrived. More specifically, Christmas Eve. In Passo Fundo the Christmas mood had spread rapidly since the beginning of that month. It was present in every shop window, in every street, in every tree, and in the facades of the houses ... The streets, of course, were crowded with people who bothered to do their Christmas shopping. After all, this is the most wonderful time of the year, as long as you get gifts ...

Marine, on the other hand, could not get caught up in this Christmas spirit. She didn't believe in the Christmas spirit since she was eleven years old. If someone asked her why she did not like Christmas, she would not have an answer. The fact is that she felt a little depressed during the holiday season.

In Earth days, five years had passed since Marine had first visited the magic land of Havenoon. Some things were different in her life. Starting with the fact that she was acting as nanny to her best friend Amanda's twins. She had understood that changes were not always bad, for she herself had changed a lot... Well, as I wrote earlier, it was Christmas Eve and Marine had taken the twins to the mall to see Santa. She was well aware that he was nothing but a costumed guy, but she understood better than anyone how good it was to keep the fantasy alive, especially in children. What mattered was that the kids did not suspect that the Good Old Man at the mall was any ordinary man.

There was a considerable line of children who wanted to take a picture sitting on Santa's lap. Marine was getting impatient. After all, patience had never really been her strong point. Of course she was going to put up with the situation for the kids. It would be very bad if their Christmas was traumatized in any way. Marine knew very well how traumas on holiday could be intense and long-lasting.

There were still five children waiting in line, to sit on Santa's lap before the twins Lucas and Lydia when Santa's beard was ripped off by a pre-teenager who ran off toward the exit of the mall. The reason why the did that, no one coul tell. But fake Santa stood still not knowing what to do. The children began to complain and to cry, for this was not really Good Old Man. The twins also complained. In fact, Marine could see that something had died inside them. Maybe it was faith in that whole fantasy. However, she still tried to ease the situation by saying that Santa had sent one of his helpers to the mall in his place so he could stay in his workshop preparing the toys to give to the well behaved children later that night. But when Lydia threw her Christmas hat on the floor, Marine knew the damage had been intense. The magic of Christmas had been lost to those two brothers.

Young Bastian from five years ago would not care about what a couple of kids could think about anything. But the current Marine cared. She revealed a legitimate concern to keep the magic alive in the lives of such young children. But despite her goodwill, there was nothing to be done. Then, after an ice cream, she returned the twins to their mother and went home.

At that day's dusk, while Mary, her mother, was preparing the Christmas wreath, Marine was still thinking about the children with their dreams shattered. The stone of the heart was in a necklace around her neck. She wished she could give the faith back to the twins somehow. It was then that a loud noise on the roof of the house penetrated her ears.

- Mom, did you hear that noise? - She asked curiously.

- What noise?

- Something on the roof, did not you hear?

Mary, without paying much attention to the girl, denied it. Still, Marine was certain that something had hit the roof of the house and decided to go out and find out.

Outside, looking up, a big surprise: a sleigh and a row of reindeer. What is this? She thought. It was then that a retractable ladder opened toward her. Obviously she went up. Curiosity had always spoken loudly to her ears. She just went up the steps without worrying if the neighbors could see and startle the girl on the roof of the house. When she reached the shiny red sled, she noticed that there was an inner compartment on the floor. The door was open as an invitation. Came in. To her surprise, the interior of that sleigh was quite large. She soon recalled an iconic phrase: "It's bigger on the inside." And it really was. Standing on the bottom step of the stairs, Marine found a cozy 1950s-style office. There were even windows, wallpaper, and everything else. Some maps covered part of the walls. The fire crackled in a fireplace full of Christmas decorations. Closed doors could be seen. In one of them there was a sign saying "kitchen." In another: "toy factory"... Noises of working machines filled the atmosphere, as well as the delicious aroma of hot chocolate.

Contrary to what could be expected in a hot climate like that of Passo Fundo at that time of year, Marine felt neither heat nor cold. She felt cozy, but she had many doubts. There was a desk in front of one of the windows, certainly virtual, and in the chair was seated a fat old man with grizzly beard and hair, wearing white clothes. He looked at the girl, smiled, and stood up saying:

- Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas Marine.

Young Bastian shook her head as if with that gesture she could get the whole situation out of her head.

- Am I dreaming by chance? Is this a trick? - She asked.

- No. This is not some kind of dream.

- And you are ... him? Santa?

- Ha ha ha, I have many names, but you can call me that if you prefer.

- Putz! Marine began to walk nervously around the room, trying to digest that information. - How is that possible?

- Why are you asking? It was you who called me here.

- No ... No ... I'm sure I did not call anyone, especially you. I did not even think you could be real.

The man did not even change his kindly smiling expression. Just added:

- I do not expect adults to believe me. I only need the faith of the children, who are innocent. It is because of them that I am alive and have certain powers. The faith of children make feel strong. But when they stop believing in the Christmas magic, they stop sending energy to me and I weaken.

- Okay ... This is crazy, but supposing I believe this story, why did you say that I called you?

- Marine, you wanted to give the faith back to two children, did not you?

- Yes, but - She knew the stone of the heart had no powers in her world. - Again… How?

- Ho ho ho, let's leave the formalities aside my young, it's Christmas Eve and we need to light up the Christmas of two little ones and then the whole world.

- Wait a minute ... you're on the roof of my house!

- Only you can see me, my dear. Just because I allow it. Otherwise, only those who believe in me are able to see me and of course my Christmas things.

- If you say so, it must be true. But what about the red clothes, where are them?

- Who said I only wear red clothes?

- Everyone ... But fine. Clothes do not really matter...

The old man smiled and started to climb out of the sled.

- Let's go to the little ones' house. - He said smiling. - We have faith to revive.

- Wait a second. People do not see you, but what about me?

- Do not worry about it. You will not come around flying in the air if that's your fear.

Marine took a deep breath.

- OK then. - And she sat down in the seat next to the one where the old man was. He took reins in his hands and in the sequence uttered the name of each of the reindeers: - Go ... Comet, Star, Leopold, Emerald, Manor, Temente, Ignea, Alcaçus and Lazule. They began to move and then pulled the sled through the air, leaving a trail of bright dust. Young Bastian felt a chill in her belly as the magical vehicle made aerial maneuvers. Feel the wind in her hair made she returns to the moments when she swayed in the swings of the little square in front of her grandmother's house.

- It's good, is not it? - Santa asked, watching her joy.

- Very good! I have not felt light in this way for a long time. - Marine was smiling like a child.

In less than two minutes the sleigh was parked on the roof of Amanda's house.

- What do we do now? - The young Bastian wanted to know.

- Simple. The best way to show someone that magic is real is by doing magic. Get the twins.

- Hey... what am I going to tell their parents? They will not let the kids leave at this time. It's dark already!

- I know you'll think of something. Now go Marine. The time is running out and Christmas night will soon begin.

Young Bastian nodded. She left the sled and called her friend at the door of the house. She told Amanda that she would like to take the twins to see the Christmas lights and the choir in the city's Cathedral. Although she was not sure that Amanda would buy that story, but there was even a bit of gratitude on Amanda's part, apparently she wanted to "get rid" of the little ones for a few moments because of the number of tasks pending for dinner that night. Then Marine took the twins by the hands and walked away from the house a few steps. She waited for Amanda to go inside the house and talked to the little ones:

- Do you really want to meet Santa?

- We do not want to see any white-bearded faces. - Lucas replied in a very nervous tone to his five-year-old.

- The one at the mall was not the real Santa Claus, but he does exist and he is right on the roof of your house.

- There's nothing there. - Lydia spoke with her eyes fixed on the top of the house.

At this point, the sledding staircase appeared to Marine and she asked the two children to close their eyes and only open when she said it. Everyone went inside the sleigh and Santa, now traditionally dressed in his red and white clothes, began:

- Ho ho ho, welcome little ones.

- Open your eyes children. - Marine spoke and watched their faces to see the reaction.

Lydia was the first to open her eyes. She saw the figure already so familiar in front of her. Lucas wasted no time and said:

- You do not wear a mask like the man at the mall.

- Ha ha ha, I do not need any mask that imitates my face young man.

At that moment, the kitchen door opened and a rather nice green-skinned goblin wearing a striped overalls came up to them with three cups of hot chocolate.

- Drink it. It's good. - He said.

Marine had never drunk a hot chocolate like that one. Apparently the twins did not either, for they were delighting themselves indiscreetly, licking up their mouths and getting chocolate mustaches.

Old Santa knelt down to keep up with the children and said:

- Everything you believe in is real. It does not matter if ordinary people try to imitate. So try to remember that your faith should never be broken. She is your magical power. - The twins had bright eyes. The good old man got up. - Now... who wants to help Santa deliver some presents?

The disappointment of hours before disappeared completely. The children were radiant as they took sits on the sleigh. They marveled at the reindeer. Marine felt good, happy to see that the trauma of the two brothers had been overcome. Their faith at Christmas was alive again.

Santa Claus called his reindeers and the sled gained altitude and speed. The twins screamed in ecstasy and two funny goblins in green and red striped clothes tossed the presents that were into a bag that seemed to have the same technology as the sleigh: small on the outside, big on the inside.

Marine and the children were totally enveloped by the Christmas magic as they traveled on Santa's sleigh through the sky of the city of Passo Fundo. Young Bastian understood that faith was what made the magic happen and that anything could be possible with it. She herself started to believe in the spirit of Christmas again, as did the twins who had been frustrated with the fake Santa Claus at mall.

- Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas! - Santa intoned as he drove through the starry night. How many people would be able to hear it? Marine would not know, but at least she and those children would never let the magic of Christmas die again.

* Just to remeber: the reindeers' names are no the ones of the original tale.