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The Lonely Christmas Elf
By SunRae copyright December 7, 2002
It was always busy for the elves in Santa’s workshop, but being elves they didn't mind. The happiness children's faces showed when they received one of their creations made the work fun. Now this is not to say the elves didn't all have their own very identifying personalities, because they certainly did indeed. Why Stradivarius was a very intent elf with a voice that was soft one moment then booming the next. Just like the tones on the violin he was named after. Then there is Angelica, she is the prettiest elf in her age group, but what makes her so beautiful is her angel like personality. Soft spoken with eyes of pure blue, twinkling with a magic that holds all the young boy elves spellbound. Caleb was thoroughly enchanted with Angelica. He was a young elf who was small for his age and had been named by the big jolly man himself when he was born. Santa named him Caleb because that name meant brave. Then there was twister, well he could turn on a dime and was like a tornado going from one work zone to another. I guess that’s why he got the job of delivering the toy orders. Apple was one of Mrs. Clause’s favorites because she was a great helper in the kitchen and was named because of her red cheeks that looked just like apples.
Macaulay, was an old elf that spoke with a Scottish brogue and was in charge of recycling scrap materials to be used again in other creations. Holly is a very young elf and seemed to have an omnipotent presence surrounding her. Whenever she was near you could feel the very Christmas spirit inside. She was named Holly because that name means belonging to the Lord. Xenia was the older lady elf that was the official welcoming hostess to the North Pole. She would greet newcomers with hot cocoa and cinnamon buns. Her smile was illuminating.
Each elf pitched in and did their part to make sure all the toys were ready for Christmas Eve. It was after all the most important day of the year at the North Pole. Now most of the young elves as part of their schooling had the job of writing on the toys. They would put things like engine #9 on trains, police department car #1 on police car doors, and fire department on the fire engines. Now Caleb had done very well at painting and trimming the toys. His work was perfection, but soon he would have to start printing like the other elves his age. He had done a remarkable job at keeping his little secret, but soon he would not be able to. He had tried very hard to learn like the other elves but nothing came out right when he tried to write it down. He just didn’t know what was wrong with him. When he would try to spell fire engine it would come out fur ungin or fier, he just couldn’t get it right. As the time drew nearer to his being transferred to the printing department Caleb grew more withdrawn and quiet. His parents just couldn’t understand the change, taking place. They tried to cheer him with figgy pudding and all kinds of special treats but it didn’t work. Why even old crabapple elf tried to cheer Caleb up and crabapple didn’t do that often. He was a bit of a pessimist and cheerful things didn’t come easy to him, but he liked Caleb and tried.
Well the day finally came when the head elf of the detailing department told Caleb he would be doing the writing on the toys starting the next day. Caleb slept none that night and when morning came could eat no breakfast. Caleb said to himself I, will go and try my best. If I can’t do it right at least I tried. Well Caleb climbed up on his bench, saw all the fine paints and brushes with which to write. All up and down the table were other elves writing away very busily. Caleb took a deep breath and picked up the fire engine in front of him. He started writing and the calligraphy he used was remarkable, but the lettering was fur ungin. Well ole bookworm elf that was walking up and down the row inspecting the toys just stopped all of a sudden behind Caleb and you could hear a loud, tsk tsk tsk. What in the world have you done here young elfin Caleb? Caleb said I have written fire engine. Ole bookworm held up the toy and showed it around. Now does this look like fire engine? All the other elves started laughing and picking on Caleb. Bookworm said, try again on this police car. Caleb done his very best, but the words still came out pole ker. Bookworm becoming a little annoyed told Caleb he would have to go home and think about things because he thought Caleb was just misbehaving. Caleb left with a tear in his eye, because he was a good elf and had done nothing wrong deliberately. After that day in the workshop he tried again several other times, but was just teased, so he gave up trying and they let him go back to painting. Caleb tried to get along with the other elves his age but was called a dummy and not allowed to play their games with them. They shunned him. Well Caleb’s parents tried to find out what was wrong. They even sent him to optometrist elf to have his eyes checked. His eyes were fine however. Caleb went day after day trying to make friends but was a very lonely little elf. Angelica was very nice to him though. She would always tell him it would be ok and smile at him.
Christmas eve was getting nearer and the pace at the workshop was really picking up speed. Santa was reading constantly from this huge list that never seemed to end. He would put big check marks on one side or the other all the way down. Then one day he just stopped half way down the list. What is this? I just can’t make it out. He called all of his elves around and said can you make this writing out? Well finally old bookworm elf looked at it. He scratched his head, rubbed his chin and said you know that looks like the same kind of scratches Caleb wrote on the toys. Caleb my good little elf will you look at this for Santa? Caleb walked shyly up to Santa’s desk. When the list was passed to Caleb he shook his head yes. You mean you understand what that says Caleb, Santa asked? Yes I do Santa it is from Jason Fleming in Denver, Colorado. He has a very special Christmas wish Santa. He wants his mother to come home for Christmas. Thank you Caleb, fine job.
Santa looked a little sad though and Caleb was curious as to why.
Santa said, Caleb, when you said the name I knew who you were speaking of. Jason’s mother is very ill and in a hospital. This is one wish I may not be able to grant. Caleb said that’s ok Santa there are some things I can’t do either and went back to painting his toys.
In Denver, Jason Fleming was sitting with his father in the Angels of Mercy hospital on Christmas Eve. His mother had been there a long time and lately could not speak, hug or kiss him when he came to see her. She had something called breast cancer and it had made her lose all her hair. She cried a lot sometimes. Jason was so sad and lonely. His mom had been the only one who could understand him and his odd way of writing. He just knew Santa would understand though and give him the wish he wanted. Jason’s dad was coming toward him from his mom’s room and had tears coming down his face. He said Jason your mom has gone to heaven and he took Jason home where his grandma was waiting. Jason really didn’t understand that his wish would not be granted. He knew Santa wouldn’t let him down. He sat down and wrote a note for his dad and grandma. After he put on all his warm winter clothes, gloves, mittens, boots and hat he quietly left out the back door.
Jason knew the miracle of the Saviors birth. He had been listening to it since before he was born and every year at Christmas time his mother read it to him again. He believed in the brightest star leading him to the miracle. He believed in all the love and magic that were Christmas. When he stepped out his back door he looked up at the sky. Even though there were clouds in the sky a brilliant star would show through the breaks. Jason started following his star.
Back at the North Pole things were very, very busy. Santa’s sleigh was being loaded with all the toys and gifts and the reindeer were pawing at the ground with impatience. When at the last minute an elf came running, telegram! Emergency telegram, for Santa. Well Santa all in his Jolly red suit ready to go, picked up the telegram and started reading the elves all looking on saw a little worry wrinkle on Santa’s forehead then a tear in the corner of his eye. Bring Caleb here at once. As if by magic Caleb was there. Caleb our little Jason has lost his mother today, tonight he left this note and left home. Can you read it for me? Well Ignius elf was impatiently telling Santa “you have to leave now or you won’t finish in time”. Santa said you don’t understand if Santa can’t find and in someway grant the wish of this one little boy, who has such a pure Christmas heart, well then there can be no Christmas. A hush fell over all the elves. Caleb looked at Santa and said “Santa Jason has gone to look for his mother following the Christmas star.
Santa looked at Caleb and said my little elf get into your warmest clothes you will go with me tonight, you are perhaps the only one that can save Christmas. Well all the elves that had picked on Caleb and made fun of him hung their heads in shame. They began to see that the thing they thought was wrong with Caleb was really a very special gift. Never before, had an elf gone with Santa on Christmas Eve.
Caleb was ready in a flash and loaded into the sleigh with Santa. Santa called out to his reindeer and they were off in a flash. Santa I think I might know which way Jason went said Caleb. Ok Caleb lead the way. When they came over Colorado, they could see it had begun to snow really heavily. They could see down inside at Jason’s house where his father was sitting with his head bowed in prayer at the table. All of a sudden Caleb said look Santa over there! It was a soft illumination coming from about a mile outside of town toward the north. Good eyes Caleb. It had begun to snow very hard then and it was getting hard to see. They looked for what seemed like a very long time. Caleb asked Santa if we don’t find him soon won’t this snow be very bad for him? Yes indeed Caleb, we have to find him soon or Christmas will be lost. Well this, made Caleb look all the harder and all of a sudden he said Santa I think I saw something down there, pointing his finger. Down they went in the sleigh. There in the snow with a strange light surrounding it was written I deen hlep . There, Santa it says I need help. Santa landed his sleigh light as a feather and got out to look. Underneath a pine tree laid Jason sleeping peacefully. Santa picked him up, placed him in the sleigh and away they went again. All of a sudden Jason was standing at his back door and his dad having heard the sound of sleigh bells was already opening it.
OH! Jason his father said. Son I thought I had lost you too. Jason began telling his father of his Christmas miracle. How he had seen a special star and followed it. It, lead him to a special place a little outside of town and, there his mother was waiting for him. Oh daddy she was so beautiful, glowing in this golden light and she was smiling like she use to daddy before she got sick. She told me she had to go to heaven, but she would always be watching over me, and you. That I was to be good and that she loved us very much. Then she picked me up and put me under a pine tree and said sleep. Daddy, when she turned to go I saw wings just like the ones in the angel pictures. Then before I knew it I was at the back door. I think I can remember Santa bringing me home. So you see daddy I got my Christmas wish. Jason’s father said yes son, I think we all got a Christmas miracle.
Santa looked over at Caleb with a smile on his jolly old face. Caleb you have saved Christmas this very night. I knew when I gave you the named Caleb you would be a very special elf. Now lets get these toys delivered before dawn. Caleb got to do what no other elf has ever, done, he went with Santa on Christmas Eve to every little child’s house who had been good.
Remember that what the other elves picked on Caleb about actually turned out to be a very special gift. We should always look for the good in people, never make fun of someone who is not like you or does things a different way than you do. Because someday that person’s special gift may, save you or a loved ones life. Just the same way that Caleb saved Jason and Christmas. Merry Christmas! Never stop believing in miracles.
Dyslexia is the condition that Caleb and Jason had that made them unable to write down letters in the right order to spell out words. Many Children and adults have this. In contradiction to the beliefs of people who do not understand, these people are often exceptionally intelligent and very gifted in other areas of their lives.
Dyslexia can be overcome with a lot of hard work and love. Some very famous people had dyslexia.
Albert Einstein
Thomas Edison
Alexander Graham Bell
Leonardo da Vinci
Walt Disney
General Patton
Winston Churchill
Woodrow Wilson
Cher
Whoopi Goldberg
Greg Louganis
Bruce Jenner
The song is
"My Christmas Song For Jesus"
Composed and played by Yuko Ohigashi
click on her picture to visit her site.
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