Walking along the edge of a frozen river, Joe had time to think. This doesn’t make sense. There are always possibilities. How can something exist without possibilities? Why would someone believe possibilities are something to stop?

“Because they bring a false hope,” said a voice that seemed to come from all directions at once.

Joe stopped dead in his tracks, spinning around trying to find the source of the voice.

“Who are you?” Joe said, still turning but seeing nothing. “Where are you?”

“I am everywhere and nowhere. I am the one you seek. But you are wasting your time.”

“Seek? Everywhere and nowhere?” Joe said. “Why does everyone think they have to sound like some fantasy movie?”

“It’s not working?” said the voice, a bit more softly.

“No, it never does,” Joe said. “Show yourself.”

“Where would the challenge in that be?” the voice said.

“Are you afraid to let me see you?” Joe said,

The silence seemed to last forever.

“Did you really think that would work?” the voice said.

Joe shrugged, “it was worth a try.”

“I see you have a bit of an attitude about you. I find that interesting. Perhaps I will let you find me…or not. Let’s see how clever you are.”

Joe heard the sound of a hammer hitting a nail. He looked through the snow and saw a shadowy figure nailing a paper to a tree. As he started toward the creature, it disappeared into the storm.

Fighting against the wind, Joe made his way to the tree and yanked off the paper. Pulling up the collar of his jacket to offer some protection from the wind, he read the words.

He’s as blind as he can be
Just sees what he wants to see
Nowhere man, can you see me at all?

What the heck does that mean? Joe thought.

“As the childrens’ saying goes,” said the voice, “that’s for me to know and you to find out. Come find me, Joe, but remember the words. I am not far, and I am not near. You are closer than you think, and farther away than you know.”

“What is it with riddles?” Joe said to the wind.

“I think it’s assumed to be part of these stories,” the voice said. “Who am I to question such expectations?”

The sound of the storm chased away the last of the voice and Joe was alone again.

Shielding his eyes from the wind-driven snow, he tried to see something, anything that looked like a destination. For a moment, the wind relented and Joe caught a glimpse of light on the horizon.

He started in that direction, but the light soon disappeared into the blizzard. Well, Joe thought, heading somewhere is better than nowhere I suppose. What do I have to lose?

Trudging on for what seemed like miles, Joe would catch brief moments when the light would appear. While it didn’t seem closer, it did seem brighter. Putting his head down, he forced himself onward.

A few moments later, he walked right into a solid wall of ice. “Ouch,” he said, rubbing his head.

“Well, I’ll be,” the voice said. “You managed to find your way.”

“Didn’t think I would?” Joe said, still massaging his head.

“No, I didn’t. I never do.” The voice answered. “I suppose you want to come inside.”

“Is it warmer in there?” Joe said. “I’m freezing out here.”

“It is.”

“And?” Joe said, growing tired of these mind games.

“Alright, come on in,” the voice said.

The wall in front of Joe faded away and light came from within.  As soon as Joe walked in the warmth enveloped him.

Following the curvy path, he made his way deep into the cave. After a short distance he came into an enormous chamber. At the end of the chamber was a giant chair on top of a flat rock.

Sitting there was a wrinkled old man, dwarfed by the size of the chair. Joe walked to stand in front of him.

“You’re the nowhere man?” Joe said.

 The man glanced left and right, up and down, then turned back to face Joe. “Figured that out all by yourself, did you?”

Joe just shook his head. “Yeah, I did.”

“Well, then I can see why Santa sent you on this fool’s errand. You are either deceptively brilliant or expendable. I’m leaning toward expendable.”

Joe just stared at the old man.

“What is that your grandfather always says about things aren’t always what they appear to be?” As the echo of his words died down, the man morphed into a giant dragon, then a lion, then an elf, then back to the wrinkled old man.

Joe staggered back a few steps.

“Surprised?” the man said.

“You might say that.” Joe said. “But I’m missing the point.”

The man stood then took a few shaky steps down to stand in front of Joe.

“I know why you’re here. I know what you came here for. I just wanted you to understand what it is you’re facing.”

“If you’re trying to scare me, it won’t work.” Joe said, trying to convince himself as much as anyone else.

“Bravado does not suit you, young man,” the man said. “But I am always ready for a challenge. You want to bring the gift of possibilities back to Santa, right?”

“Not only do I want to do that, but I am also going to do that,” Joe said, hoping the man couldn’t hear his heart racing in his chest.

“Excellent, I love to rob someone of their confidence,” the man said. “Here’s how we shall play this little game. I will give you two challenges. Complete them and I will hand over the gift of possibilities.”

The man turned back, walking up the stairs to his chair. Taking a seat, he stared at Joe for a long moment.

“But if you fail, not only will Santa never get the gift of possibilities back, but he will never deliver gifts again.”

“You can’t do that!” Joe said. “That’s not possible.”

“And this from the mouth of someone who cares so much for possibilities,” the man said. “Let me refresh your memory of where you are. I do not believe in possibilities. I do not believe in imagination. I believe in the realities of this world. I see what I want to see.

“Not only can I do these things but, as soon as you fail as I know you will, I will do these things and be done with Christmas once and for all.”

“What are these tasks?” Joe said, with a determination that even surprised himself.

“The first is simple. Find the Cave of Lost Hope and bring the young girl named Hope back here.”

“And who is she?” Joe asked.

“Someone who has something that belongs to me.”

“And if she refuses?” Joe said.

“Then find a way to make her return,” the nowhere man said, then faded from view.

Tomorrow: The First Challenge

One moment the sleigh was slipping silently over a dark, treeless landscape, then the next it seemed they were plummeting from the sky.

“Hold on, Joe!” his grandfather said.

“Really?” Joe said, grasping the edge of the sleigh as tight as he could. “That never occurred to me. Hold on, brilliant. My mother is gonna be mad if you get us killed.”

Just as the sleigh seemed ready to crash, the reindeer pulled up and landed. Levi David turned to face the rear. “Thank you for flying Santa airways, please remember to take all carryon items with you.” Then let out a laugh.

“The whole world is full of wise guys,” Joe said, jumping from the sleigh. His grandfather climbed down after him.

“Did I miss anything good,” he asked. “I slept most of the way.”

“Slept?”

“Yeah, I’m a big fan of naps,” his grandfather said, stretching.

Joe shook his head. “Where are we?”

“Exactly where you asked to be,” Wyatt James said. “Welcome to Nowhere. Now what?”

“Now we go looking for the nowhere man,” Joe said, turning around, trying to get oriented. When he turned back, his heart skipped a beat. The look in his eyes gave his shock at the sight away.

“What’s the matter, Joe? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” his grandfather said.

Joe was unable to speak for a moment, then said. “Your ears, grandfather, they’re…ah… they’re…”

“Pointed?” his grandfather said, smiling.

“Yeah, pointed. And you have a beard! What’s that all about?”

“Yeah, I probably should have warned you,” his grandfather said. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to them.”

“I guess, it’s just, well why?” Joe said.

“Part of our heritage, my boy. You’ll find the ears quite comfortable and a great improvement in your sensitivity to sounds.”

“Why would I…” then Joe reached up to his ears. “Points! My ears have points! What’s happening?”

“You didn’t tell him, did you,” Levi David said, walking over. “Did you think he wouldn’t notice?”

“No, well, I just forgot,” Joe’s grandfather said. “I’m used to them.”

“Now you are,” Wyatt James said. “But I seem to recall you trying to yank them off when this first happened to you during that time when the toy supplies were taken.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that too.”

“Joe,” Levi David said, “what your clueless grandfather here should have done was tell you about your heritage. You are what we elves like to call a blend. You are a human boy with elfin blood. There aren’t many of you, but you play an important role protecting Christmas.

“Whenever you are involved in something for Santa, and everything involving Santa has elves, your hidden elf comes to the surface. I know this is a bit of a shock, but you will come to accept it.”

Joe kept rubbing his ears. “Yeah, but what if somebody sees me?”

Levi reached over and pulled Joe’s hands away from his ears. “Here’s a little advice from experience, don’t keep rubbing your ears, they’ll get red and irritated and it is not a pleasant feeling.

“And don’t worry about others finding out, at least the non-magical. Almost no one will know about you. But remember this: all magical creatures recognize one another, and they are not all friendly.”

Joe started to reach for his ears again, then pulled his hand back. “Ah, anything else I should know, grandfather?”

The two elves and Joe stared at the now embarrassed old man. “Nope, that’s it. The occasional pointy ears. Sorry, pal, I should’ve told you.”

“Okay,” Joe said, “you’re forgiven. Now let’s go find the nowhere man.”

Making their way through the snow, without the slightest hint of any trail or signs of other creatures, the troop trudged along.

“Any idea where we are going?” Joe’s grandfather asked.

“Not really,” Joe answered, “I just remember reading something about letting the terrain lead you. I hope I remembered that right.”

They marched on for what seemed like hours before Joe stopped them.

“Listen,” he said.

The group stood in silence, straining to hear.

“Hear it?” Joe said.

Joe’s grandfather leaned toward him. “Told you those ears would be useful.”

“Shh,” Joe said. “Listen!”

Faint at first, then becoming more distinct, they could hear someone, or something, humming.

“Where’s it coming from?” Levi David asked.

“Over that ridge,” Joe said, pointing. “Let’s go but be quiet.”

Making their way to the top of the ridge, they stayed low to the ground trying to spot the source of the sound. A sudden wind swirled snow all around masking their view. But occasionally, they could make out movement.

“There,” Joe pointed. “It’s right there and it’s moving this way. We better…” But before he finished his sentence, he was blinded by sudden flash of light and painfully loud noise. 

Then nothing by silence.

Joe felt around, pushing himself to sit, trying to clear his mind. Light and shadows danced in his eyes. He felt the heat of a fire and the flame soon came into focus. Finding himself in an overstuffed chair in front of a huge stone fireplace, he tried to make sense of the confusing scene.

“Comfortable?” a voice said, raspy, almost grating on the ears, coming from his left.

“Where am I?” Joe said.

“Exactly where you wanted to be, nowhere,” the voice said.

“Where is everyone else?” Joe said, looking around, trying to see the shadowy figure in the next chair.

“They’re fine, back in Christmas town by now. Of course, by now the memory is gone.”

“They left me?” Joe said. “I don’t believe that.” He tried to rise but couldn’t move off the chair. He saw nothing holding him but still couldn’t stand. “And what do you mean, the memory is gone?”

“If you agree to behave, I will release the bonds that hold you,” the creature said. “And explain.”

“Okay, fine. But you better not have harmed them,” Joe said.

“I’ve never harmed anyone in my entire life.”

Tomorrow: The Test