Nana smiled at Holly and Nicholas, excited to let them in on a story she had been patiently waiting for sixty-something years to have grandchildren to share. Now they were finally old enough to be entrusted with her secret. It had not been shared with anyone else, not even her own children.
While Nana, Holly and Nicholas busied themselves baking and decorating Christmas cookies to give as gifts to everyone on their very large friends and family list, she began to tell the story of “Santa's Magical Key.”
“Many, many years ago, fireplaces were the only way people had to keep warm. In most homes, they were also the only way families had for preparing meals, which meant there was always a fire burning in the fireplace. That also meant that Santa had to be very creative in finding ways to get into the houses as quickly and quietly as possible. He had to take care not to waken the children while he was delivering all the toys the elves had worked so hard on all year long. He placed them under the trees so all the good little boys and girls would awaken early Christmas morning to a tree surrounded by presents.”
Nicholas and Holly put their special touches on the cookies while Nana carefully placed the previously decorated ones in the oven.
“Now how do you suppose Santa is able to get into houses without using the chimney?” Nana asked.
She and the children sat down at the kitchen table where Nana had placed frosting and sprinkles for them to use on the cookies.
“Through a window?” Nicholas asked.
“Maybe one of the doors?” Holly added.
“Both are good suggestions,” Nana agreed, “but how Santa does it is his big secret. So how do you think he gets in?”
Both children thought and thought then shrugged their shoulders.
“We give up, Nana. How does he get in if he can't come in through the windows or doors?” they asked in unison.
Nana removed the golden brown cookies from the oven and sat them on the counter to cool. Nicholas and Holly were anxious to start decorating but Nana was already to recite the story of “Santa's Magical Key.”
“Well,” Nana whispered, “One day many eons ago, I think it was about a week before Christmas . . .”
Santa was pacing back and forth in the toy workshop, muttering to himself.
“What's the matter, Santa?” Ailfrid*, the head elf of North Pole Village, inquired.
“We are in big trouble, Ailfrid,” Santa said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. “When I was but a wee lad, learning the business on my father's knee, everyone was so innocent and trusting. My father told me getting the toys under the tree for the children to open first thing Christmas morning was not a problem. Now everyone locks their windows and doors and I can't use the chimney. I might get burned. How am I going to get into all the homes this year?”
This is definitely not a problem his father had ever encountered Santa thought as he commenced his pacing, nearly wearing all the polish off the wood floor of the workshop.
After much thought, Ailfrid spoke up. “I have an idea! Let's go see Elric, the wise old elf who lives on the far edge of town. He was your father's chief elf ruler before you were even born. He has been here longer than any elf in North Pole Village. He will know just what to do.”
Bright and early the next morning, before anyone else in the small village were up, Santa and Ailfrid quietly hitched up two of Santa's newest reindeer-in-training, Mistletoe and Blizzard, to the sleigh Santa always uses for short trips around the North Pole. Since they were still learning how to take off and land, they were only allowed to fly Santa near North Pole Village. Santa and Ailfrid settled into the comfortable sleigh, covered their laps with a large wool blanket, and set off for Elric's cottage. It was located on the far edge of the village. The cottage sat near the edge of a large pond, nestled amongst a stand of hardy evergreens.
They arrived in the blink of an eye. Santa was pleased with the reindeer's progress. “Mistletoe and Blizzard are getting very good at flying,” Santa said. “By next Christmas Eve, they may have their landing and takeoffs down well enough to join the other reindeer.”
Santa and Ailfrid climbed down out of the sleigh, tied the reindeer to the nearest evergreen, making sure Mistletoe and Blizzard had plenty of water, and headed for the Elric's front door.
Ailfrid rapped on the door.
“Who's there?” Elric called out.
“It's me, Ailfrid,” the head elf replied, “and I brought Santa with me.”
“Come in,” Elric said. “My door is always open.”
To be continued...