NORTH POLE

As the alarm blares at Santa’s North Pole Home, he glances at a monitor and picks up the microphone on his desk.  “Calling all elves. Attention! We have a problem.”

                                                          AT HOLLY AND IVY’S

“Imagine, Holly, we are ten. That’s double digit on our birthday this Christmas. Her identical twin, Ivy, smiles as she climbs out of her rumpled bed.

Holly yawns and stretches. “I’ll get excited when there is a ‘teen’ following our age number, like thirteen. Ten is all right, though.”

“I don’t feel any older now than I did yesterday.” The sisters rush down the stairs to the living room to look under the Christmas tree, expecting to see a new dollhouse waiting for them.

They stop, standing side by side, mouths agape.

Ivy asks, “Where is our dollhouse?” She runs around to the left of the tree while Holly runs to the right, meeting in the back of the tree. “It’s not here. I don’t see our dollhouse.” Ivy says in disbelief, looking around the large living room.

“Look!” Holly points to a shiny new bike. “There. We got one big army camouflage boy’s mountain bike for the two of us and we definitely didn't ask for that! What do you think has happened to our dollhouse?”

“It doesn’t make sense.” Ivy stares at the big ugly bike. “I want the dollhouse. There must have been some mix-up. I’ll call Carol and see if she got what was on her list.” Ivy phones their friend Carol. “Merry Christmas, Carol. Did you get what you want for Christmas?” Her face pales as she listens, then simply says, “O.K., talk later.” And hangs up.

“She got a remote control Monster Truck. Something is wrong. Santa wouldn’t make mistakes like this. For all we know, Spiteful Sam could have stolen our dollhouse or given it to somebody else. What do ya’ think?” Holly says as they hurriedly dress and prepare cereal for their breakfast.

“He could be the thief. We read about him last Christmas, how he took the Christmas trees from an entire town. He even took the big one from the town square just because he didn’t get one. By the time he wanted one the entire town was sold out. Remember?” Ivy says.

Holly stands up and heads for the door, “I sure do. Let’s ask our friends if they got what they wanted? Maybe he switched others presents. That makes sense.  Let’s check it out, Ivy.”

The two sisters leave, intending to go to each house in the neighborhood and get to the bottom of some possible major Christmas Day heist.  “There must be more toys missing. After all, the dollhouse was the only gift we asked for and Carol wanted the new Electronic “Doris Morris in the forest” game. Our neighbors could have suffered the same kind of loss. Besides, we have some boy’s bike. It doesn’t belong to us, does it?” Ivy runs out of breath.

“Nope, and we sure aren’t boys!” Holly laughs.

First they stop next door, climbing the four steps to the front door. They knock. Bobby’s mother answers.

“Hello, Mrs. Johansen, is Bobby home?” Ivy asks.

“Yes, just a minute you two. Come on in and sit down. I’ll get him.” Mrs. Johansen turns and heads down the hall.  They listen to her footsteps tap on the floor and giggle.

Holly whispers, “Her footsteps sound like a drum being hit by a dog’s tail, just like when our dog was happy and wagging his tail against our big box of ornaments.”

“Yup.” Ivy smiles at the memory.

“Hi, Ivy, Holly, how are ya’?” Bobby hurries into the room as if he were in a race. That’s his style.

“We’re fine, Bobby. We’re just wondering if you got what you really, and I mean REALLY wanted for Christmas ‘cause we think Spiteful Sam could have swapped out our dollhouse,” Ivy says in one breath.

“Well, come to think of it, I didn’t get the train set I wanted. And I really wanted it too. I just got a book on the history of horseshoes. Yuk.”

“We’re checking out the neighborhood to see who else didn’t get the present they asked for. Want to join us?”

“Sure, let me grab my jacket.” Tall skinny Bobby hurries off and returns wearing his beloved purple jacket with the big ‘G’ on the back. Nobody knows what the ‘G’ stands for and no one has ever thought to ask. He wears it all the time.

They walk toward the next house. “This is Frankie’s house. Since I know him, I should talk to him,” Bobby says.

“O.K, thanks.” Holly and Ivy wait at the bottom of Frankie’s porch stairs.

Frankie opens the door and sees Bobby. “Hey, “ he says.

“Hey.” Bobby answers.  The girls are near enough to hear their voices murmuring in a low tone.

Suddenly, Frankie slams the door behind him, runs down the steps with Bobby and joins the girls. “I’m coming with you guys. I got a talking doll. Ick!  That is just wrong!”

The little foursome stops at every house in their street, gathering evidence along the way.

After two and a half hours going door-to-door they return to Frankie’s house. Everyone is tired. They drop Frankie off.

Frankie shakes his head, “Thanks Ivy and Holly. At least we found out other toys are missing all over the neighborhood. That couldn’t just happen. Somebody did this on purpose. I have to get going. Call me if you need help, Thanks, bye.” And he runs up the stairs into his house.

            Bobby adds, “I’ve got to go home too because we have a lot of people coming for dinner and I have to help my mom. This was some giant burglary. See ya,”

NORTH POLE

Santa walks over to his large map using a long pointer to show the elves where the great switch of toys happened. He begins. “Spiteful Sam went to every house in this area,” he says pointing. “And he took toys from each house, replacing them with the wrong toys. He repeated this dastardly act over and over.”

Santa paces the floor and keeps talking, “Charlie got a bug farm when he hates bugs; Mary Sue got a fishing pole and gear but wanted a guitar; Hank got a pair of skis instead of the rare collection of stamps he asked for. There is more here than I realized. Spiteful Sam must be stopped.” Santa turns to face all the elves, “We have to figure out a solution to this situation. We delivered the right toys to every kid early this morning. Follow these girls and see if they are right.” Santa turns back to the screen now live streaming the twins as they busily scurry about. He says, “These two seem to know who took all the toys. Meanwhile, I must go through my files to verify their discovery.” Santa heads for his office.

“How did the girls connect Spiteful Sam with the missing toys as the culprit?” Santa wonders. “They certainly are smart little spies.”

Santa digs through drawer after drawer and lifts his head, exclaiming loudly,

“Well, if this doesn’t beat all, those girls are right. “

He calls out, “O.K., elves, who wants to solve this mystery?” Santa stands up and walks around the desk to face them. “We need to return the gifts to the proper children. ”

All their hands went up and Santa laughed his ever so loved laugh.

“No, no, I mean, to do this right and stop Spiteful Sam, we need spies.”

Bo-Go elf says above the murmur of the other elves, “How about Ivy and Holly? We can help the sisters solve this, too.”

“That’s a great idea. It will teach them responsibility and they love puzzling situations, secrets and solving who-done-its. Clever, Bo-Go.” Santa reaches over and pats him on the back.

IVY AND HOLLY
 

            After lunch, Ivy and Holly are ready to go back to gather more evidence when they are abruptly whisked away, to find themselves in front of Santa himself sitting on a red covered sofa. Startled, Ivy pops up as Holly jumps to her feet saying at the same time,  “What just happened?”

“Hi, girls. I need to talk to you so I brought you here the fastest way I know. I want to congratulate you on being alert to Spiteful Sam’s switching toys around this morning. Would you like to solve the mystery of why the toys were mixed up?”

“Yes, oh, my, yes,” they answer in tandem.

“Figure out what help you need, and ask.” Santa replies.

“We need to go to Spiteful Sam’s house.” Holly says.

“He may get angry. Do you think that’s wise?” Santa asks.

“If we are to find the truth, we need to be where the crime began.” Holly and Ivy bob their heads up and down making their blonde curls bounce.

…………

             AT GROTTY SWAMP

“Oh, my, this is a big bog, Ivy, I’m cold and it’s all mucky, and it stinks.”

“I’m glad we wore our old boots, and our winter jackets.

They are standing next to tall stilts where a little blue house is perched high on a platform atop the rickety ladder. “Look.” Holly points to the tiny house above them. “This ladder is the only way up to the house, but I don’t think these rungs are sturdy enough to hold us.”

 Ivy frowns at the shabby sticks holding up the small house. “It looks like it could fall over if we push it. I think Spiteful Sam lives here. What do you think?”

Holly wiggles her nose. “It’s dark here. Look around, there are mud huts and small wooden shacks scattered here and there, none too close together. This must be Spiteful Sam’s house.”

Upon carefully climbing the tall wobbly ladder, they come to a door covered with dirty handprints. Holly knocks.

“GO AWAY. AWAY AWAY… GO AWAY TODAY… DON’T STOP DON’T STAY.. LEAVE I SAY… “ But the front door slowly squeaks open and two dark eyes look right at them.  SCAT, SCAT, RUN AWAY, NOW OBEY…. DON’T DELAY.” Before he could shut the door Holly whispers timidly, “Hello, Are you Spiteful Sam? We have always wanted to meet you.” “MEET ME? REALLY?”

He opens the door, all his bravado gone. Unsure of their motive, he asks,

”WHAT FOR?

YOU’RE AT MY FRONT DOOR.

YOU TWO, I SHOULD IGNORE. ”

“We want to wish you a Merry Christmas, because you have worked so hard on being nice.  We’d like to ask if you got what you want for Christmas?”

“WHAT? I WANT A FLASHLIGHT

TO SEE IN THE NIGHT.

AND IT WASN’T THERE

THAT’S BAD AND UNFAIR.

I PRACTICED MY SMILE,

DID GOOD DEEDS WORTHWHILE.”  

The girls notice Spiteful Sam was crossing his fingers and asked,

“O.K., then, what did you do about not getting your flashlight?”

“I, AHEM, I, WELL,

I GOT EVEN…

YES, YES YES…

EVEN STEVEN…

EVEN.”

Spiteful Sam seems proud of himself. His chest puffs out and his head moves up and down as though saying yes over and over, like a bobble-head.

“What happened, Mr. Spiteful Sam?” They ask in gentle tones.

“ I MIXED UP CHRISTMAS GIFTS.

AND REARRANGED WISH LISTS.

I TOOK A BLUE SWEATER FROM SALLY AND GAVE IT TO MEG, WHO HATES BLUE.

I TOOK MEG’S DOLL AND GAVE IT TO PAUL, WHO NEVER LIKED DOLLS, WHO KNEW?

I GAVE PAUL’S VIDEO GAME TO GREGORY WHO LIKES TO FIND STUFF UNEXPLORED.

I TOOK HIS NEW SCIENCE SET AND GAVE IT TO HENRY WHO LOVES BOOGIE BOARDS.

I TOOK YOUR DOLLHOUSE AND GAVE IT TO…

HEY, THE DOLLHOUSE BELONGS TO YOU !!!!!!

SO WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

                            FIND IT AND GIVE IT BACK TO YOU?

            Holly whispers into Ivy’s ear. “Let’s talk his language. We’ll rhyme and see if he can realize what trouble he has caused.”

            “O.K.  Let’s give it a try.” Ivy agrees. They begin, going back and forth, in rhyme.

                        “THAT WOULD BE RIGHT

                        AND MOST POLITE

                        YOU SURE WERE SORE

                        WE KNOW THE SCORE

                        YOUR ANGER GREW

                         THROUGH AND THROUGH

YOU HAD NO GIFT

                        AND YOU WERE MIFFED

                        FELT NEGLECTED

                        SCORNED, REJECTED

                        TO GET EVEN

                        YOU WERE DRIVEN

YOU MADE KIDS SAD

                        YOU ACTED BAD

                        THEY’VE CRIED ALL DAY

                        FROM YOUR FOUL PLAY

                        YOU WERE CRUEL

                        ACTED UNCOOL

                        THINK WHAT YOU DID

                        TO EVERY KID.

                        MAKE IT RIGHT

                        FIX IT TONIGHT

                        WE WILL HELP YOU.

                        WHAT SHOULD WE DO?”

            The girls look intently at Mr. Sam and wait for his answer.

            Sam searches their faces, looks to the floor, and says emotionally.

‘OK, OK, RIGHT AWAY,

WITHOUT DELAY,

WE’LL GET UNDERWAY

WHILE IT’S THE HOLIDAY.”

He reaches out and takes both girls’ hands, BAM! They are in a neighbor’s family room. Spiteful Sam replaces a baseball bat and mitt with a movie and an action character.  The three go house after house with Spiteful Sam returning the  correct Christmas toys.

“I’m tired.” Ivy says as they enter yet another house.

“Oh my, look over there. Why it must be our dollhouse.” Holly says and moves closer to Ivy, giving her a hug. “It is the only pink item in the entire bunch of hiking boots, and camping stuff scattered across the large living room.

With another BAM, Spiteful Sam takes both girls back to their own home, looks at each one and says in a serious tone,

“I WAS MAD AS I COULD BE.

THOUGHT I’D SHARE MY MISERY.

IT WAS A BAD THING TO DO.

DEEP INSIDE I KNEW IT, TOO.

I’VE BEEN TAUGHT TO BE POLITE!

NOT TO BE MEAN, CHEAT OR FIGHT.

I’LL BEHAVE AS NICE AS I CAN.

THAT IS MY FINAL AND TOTAL NEW PLAN.

IT’S WHAT I’LL DO.

I NOW THANK YOU.”

And with a tear in his eye, and a smile across his face, he was gone.

The girls call Spiteful Sam a couple of hours later. “Hello, Spiteful, we want to thank you for getting the toys back to their proper owners today.”

“YOU ARE WELCOME, AND I’M SO GLAD.

YOU HELPED REMOVE MY AWFUL MAD.

I GOT MY WISH, A BIG FLASHLIGHT,

IT’S FANCY, BIG AND OH, SO BRIGHT.

IT’S EXACTLY WHAT I WISHED FOR

I WON’T ACT BADLY ANYMORE

YOU’RE MY LIFETIME FRIENDS, SWEET AND TRUE

YOU FORGAVE ME, AND I THANK YOU.”

“You’re welcome. We will keep in touch every year, OK?” the girls said.

“ALRIGHT SO THEN.

 WE’LL TALK AGAIN!

NEXT CHRISTMAS DAY

SOUNDS GOOD, OKAY.

GOODBYE, YOU TWO,

I BID ADIEU”

and Sam hangs up.

Ivy and Holly laugh together as they talk about their experience with Spiteful Sam and wonder how he learned to talk in rhymes. But that is a mystery for another day.