(Link to the beginning) 

PLEASE SHARE! Make the Story Travel Around the world!

Jebidiah stared at the scene before him. A collection of the apparitions he’d gathered over the years hovered around Mrs. Claus as she told stories of the glories of Christmases long, long ago…

Oh great, he thought, now I’ve got that song stuck in my head. He watched for a few more minutes, and then one of his apparitions turned back into an elf. Then another, then another. Time to put a stop to this.

“Enough with your stories!” he said. “None of this matters anymore.”

“Oh, but it does, dear. Even more than ever. Your friends here all have forgotten what Christmas is all about. They let their disappointments over getting things they didn’t want to hide the true spirit of giving. I’m just reminding them.

“Oh, it’s nice when we get the things we desire: toy trucks, bicycles, and all the other things a child might want. But over time, those gifts will no longer be with us, yet the memories of sharing those moments with those we love will.

“It is not the gift, but the act of giving that is the true spirit of Christmas.”

Mrs. Claus stood up and walked to face Jebidiah. “You’ve forgotten that as well. So let me remind you of the true spirit of Christmas.” She waved her hands, and scenes from around the world flashed on the walls. The news about the Heart of Darkness stealing all the Christmas presents was on everyone’s mind, but it didn’t matter.

Carolers were singing, people were replacing decorations, and family and friends were gathering, all as if nothing had changed.

Jebidiah stared in disbelief. “What are they celebrating? They’ll have no presents on Christmas.”

Mrs. Claus smiled. “And that’s where you’re wrong. Christmas will come, and families and friends will make the most of it.”

“But how can they? I have all the things they want.”

“You have all the things but you don’t have the spirit that makes it all worthwhile. Remember, whatever happens this year, Christmas will always be with us because of this one truth. Something that we all must remember.

“Those who celebrate Christmas best are those who celebrate it in the simplest ways. Gathering with friends and family to share the memories of those no longer with us and those yet to come. It is all about hope, love, and thankfulness for the people in our lives. Everything else is just decorations.”

For a moment, Jane and Levi thought they saw a tear fall from Jebidiah’s eye, but it was quickly replaced by a face full of rage.

“So none of this matters? No one cares about all these presents sitting right there? We’ll see about that.” He spun on his heels to face the remaining apparitions. “Take them back to the dungeon and take all those traitors with them. If they want to return to being elves, let them pay the price for their disloyalty.”

Mrs. Claus stood defiant against the force of the apparitions. “What are you going to do, Jebidiah?”

The grin that came across his face, one amplifying his anger and rage, was something they would never forget.

“I’m gonna take all these presents, drag them to the top of this hill, and have the biggest bonfire the world has ever seen. Then we’ll see how much the Spirit of Christmas matters to the world, won’t we?”

“No,” Jane yelled, breaking away and charging at Jebidiah. Levi took the cue and charged right along with her. Their sudden attack caught him off-guard, but he recovered quickly. Trapping them with his magic, he tossed them into the sleigh with all the presents.

“Fine, you want a front seat to the show? You got it. You’ll be so close you’ll feel the burn. Bring her too,” he pointed at Mrs. Claus. “We’ll have a family roast to celebrate the end of Christmas.”

And with that, they all disappeared.

Tomorrow: A Moment of Truth