THE MAGIC BAG: SANTA’S FIRST CHRISTMAS
The Magic Bag: Santa’s First Christmas
Michael Koza
Published by Michael Koza at Smashwords
Copyright 2010 Michael Koza
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
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Part I: An Angelic Birth
Chapter 1: The Birth Of An Angel
“Yes, Johann,” laughed Domicus, playfully slapping his friend, Johann Kringle, on the back while he raised his glass. “From what the women say, you have a magnificently healthy son!”
“How true, Domicus!” laughed Daeran, another of Johann’s friends. “And, after trying for the last three times, Johann,” he nodded, stepping forward to place his empty glass on the bar, gesturing to the barkeeper to refill it. “You finally have a son to carry on your family’s name!”
“And I’m glad of it,” agreed Johann, lifting his glass up to take a sip. “I was beginning to believe that my wife wasn’t a good bargain. Can you imagine? A man who has no sons?”
“No. That would be hard to believe!” laughed somebody else, coming from behind them, as he whirled around to slam the door on the howling cold wind that followed him in. “I probably would’ve killed my wife for not bearing me any sons after the second girl was born,” said Magistrate Paul Derring, walking up to stand beside them at the bar. “You’re much too gracious, Johann!”
“Maybe so, your honor,” agreed Johann, briefly looking down into his now-empty glass. “But, unlike you, the rest of us can’t afford the luxury of paying a hefty dowry for any new wives. Even now, this long, hard winter’s costing me a fortune.”
“Aye,” coughed Domicus, reaching out to grab Johann’s empty glass. “It has been much colder this year- colder than I can recall!”
“Hopefully, than,” smiled Paul, clapping his hand down on Johann’s shoulder. “You’ll find this son of yours will help make this winter far less harsh. Ah, has he a name, yet?”
“Yes,” nodded Johann, intensively staring at a distant wall. “His name’s Kris- like his great grandfather.”
“Well- hopefully- Kris,” continued Paul, briefly looking up at the others, “will be the savior to your family.”
“I hope so,” whispered Johann. “I hope so.”
Johann had every reason to be both happy and sad. Though his wife, Leanni, did bear him a son, he secretly knew there was something wrong with him- he could just see traces of worry in Leanni’s face. Though he made sure that their midwife and nursemaid, Nanna, spread the news of a healthy child- just the opposite was true; Kris was born underweight and small. All the more reason why he needed to be near his son. All the more reason to try and hopefully restore his son’s health- even if he had to do it himself- despite the fact that he didn’t know what to do.
Thankfully, much to his misgivings and the strong- but gentle- reassurances by Leanni and Nanna, Johann was assured that this was something that only women instinctively knew what to do.
So, why was he still worried?
“You need not worry, Johann Kringle,” whispered a mysterious, but unheard voice, emanating from an unseen object. “Your son is special. Not only to me, but to the entire world! I have waited for him for only a mere second in my existence. He is destined for great and noble acts, so he will not die- not now- not for a long time from now!”
Chapter 2: Kris Kringle
“So, how is he?” asked Johann quietly, asking again for the zillionth time, watching his infant son sleep peacefully in his cradle. “Will he make it? Is he going to survive the night?”
“Yes,” growled Nanna, pushing him away. “But, if you keep interfering and blocking the light from the candle, I won’t be able to save him. It’ll take time before he’s back to normal health. Just be patient and go back to bed.”
“I can’t,” grumbled Johann, angrily plopping into a nearby wooden chair. “After three months- nothing. My son’s health has failed to improve.... And you’re asking me ‘not to worry’?” he exclaimed, his voice rising.
“Shhh, quiet down!” scolded Nanna, whirling around and glaring at him. “You’ll wake him up! He needs all the sleep he can get in order to become healthy.”
“No!” glared Johann, about to stand up, but decided otherwise after looking at Nanna’s face. “No!” he whispered, shaking his head, burying his face in his hands. “I won’t stop worrying about him until he can marry and bear me grandsons.”
“That’s a long way off into the future,” chuckled Nanna, covering her mouth and turning away. “Why worry about something that’s a lifetime into our future? And, besides,” she whispered, smiling down at Kris. “He has a generous helping of a healthy constitution. He’ll live- he’s a fighter.”
Just as she finished, she turned around at the sound of gentle breathing. Johann, weary from worry and lack of sleep, had peacefully gone off to dreamland. Sighing, Nanna picked up another blanket from the floor and covered Johann.
“Sweet dreams, Johann,” she smiled, shaking her head as she left the room. “A foolish old man and his foolish old dreams,” she laughed to herself, as she made her way back to her own bed.
After she left the now-darkened room, a strange blue light appeared and surrounded the sleeping man. A voice spoke, though it was unheard by the sleeping man and his son.
“Yes, Johann,” laughed the mysterious voice, as its even more mysterious light grew brighter. “You humans and your silly traditions. There is nothing more moronic than your ideas of passing on a ‘name’. It is intangible and has nothing to do with life, itself. Yet, you carry on as if your name was the most important thing in the world. Still,” sighed the mysterious voice, pitying the sleeping Johann, “no matter what you think or say, Kris will not be the bearer of any children for you- for he is sterile. But that isn’t important, for he has a more important destiny ahead of him. And there’s nothing you can say- or do- that will change that.”
“No!” anguished Johann, flinching in his sleep, tossing himself around in his chair. “It can’t be! Where are my grandsons? No! It can’t be!”
Falling off his chair, while still in the midst of his nightmare, Johann continued to cry out in agony. Ignoring him, the mysterious object moved its light over the nearby cradle.
“Ah, yes, my dear boy,” spoke the mysterious voice in a calm soothing tone. “You are here at last. Just as I had predicted. Just as I predicted. Now, do not be afraid. I will always protect you from harm. For you are the key to my own destiny as well.”
As the blue light began to fade and disappear, the mysterious object moved closer. “Sleep well, Kris. Sleep well,” spoke the mysterious voice, trailing off as it disappeared.
“I- I don’t believe it!” cried Johann, early the following morning. “Are you absolutely sure, Nanna?”
“Yes,” nodded Nanna, shrugging off Johann’s unwelcoming bear hug. “I’m sure.”
“Hooray!” shouted Johann, blindly jumping around the room. “Hooray! It’s a miracle!” he laughed, not watching where he was going. “That’s what it is- a honest-to-goodness miracle! Oh, I-”
“Yes, husband,” answered Leanni, nearly falling over backwards as he collided into her. “A miracle,” she sighed, looking up and smiling.
“I’m sorry, dear,” laughed Johann, reaching out to hug her. “You did it! You did it! Now I finally have a son to carry on my family’s name!”
“Yes, you do have a son,” nodded Nanna, placing Kris back into the cradle. “But, we must still take care. While whatever sickness that ailed him before is gone, he is still too small and weak for his age. We shall see what’ll happen to him a year from now.”
“Then, that’s what we shall do, Nanna,” laughed Johann, completely torn between cries of joy and tears of relief. “That’s what we’ll do.”
Chapter 3: The Hard Life
As the years passed, Kris regained his health. But, as he grew more healthier- and was allowed to go beyond the confines set by his parents and Nanna- Kris was able to see the world he lived in through Nanna’s eyes. Every where he and Nanna went, he learned from her what it felt like to be in the suppressed minority.
“See that?” Nanna whispered to Kris, as she led him down to the marketplace on a foggy fall morning.
“See what?” asked Kris, looking around, not quite sure what she was referring to.
“See how those men push those two girls around?”
“Yes,” answered Kris, looking up at her as she ducked aside, pulling him behind her. “What about it?”
“Do you think that’s right?” asked Nanna, as she and Kris peered at the two men from around the corner of the building they were hiding behind. “I mean the way those two girls are treated?”
“I- I don’t know,” answered Kris naively. “How are they supposed to be treated?”
“Nothing like that,” answered Nanna, turning to look at Kris, shaking her head as she leaned against the wall. “It’s shameful! Such cruelty! Such ignominy! Kris,” she sighed, dropping to her knees and caressing his cheeks with both hands. “Promise me, that you will never treat people like that. Please, Kris. Promise me?”
“But, why?” asked Kris, still quite naive. “I don’t understand.”
“Simple, my dear boy,” answered Nanna, moving forward to hug him. “It is inhumane to treat others like- like garbage! How would you feel if you were on the receiving end of such treatment?”
Kris looked around the corner and watched this curious spectacle for a moment before considering his answer.
“Get up, you wretch!” cried one of the men, beating one of the little girls with a straw whip. “You’re such a clumsy oaf! See what you did to my fragile packages. Some daughter you are! I can’t believe....”
“Hey, take it easy, Aeres!” yelled the man’s friend, quickly grabbing Aeres’ raised hand. “If you beat her now, then we’ll have no one to carry our things home! And then what good will it do us then?”
“But, Zikeale!” protested Aeres, wringing his arm free. “She’s pitiful. I can’t do nothing with her. It seems like all she does it takes up valuable space, food, and....”
“I said lay off!” yelled Zikeale, nearly dropping his own packages. “What good is having a servant if they can’t work for their keep?”
“Yes!” shouted Kris, unconsciously running out from his hiding place and confronting the two men, glancing down at the two crying girls- who were about his age. “They’re your daughters- your own flesh and blood! Why are you treating them like that?!”
“W-what?!” shocked Aeres, spinning around to face him. “What’s that you say, boy?”
“Why not treat them nicer, you might-”
“Ha ha ha,” laughed Nanna nervously, shaking her head at Kris when she caught up to him. “I’m so sorry, dear sirs,” she smiled, giving a small bow to the men as she guided Kris away. “The lad’s so full of wishful thinking and...”
“But, Nanna,” cried Kris, nearly stumbling as he tried to push back. “I thought that’s what you....”
“Shhh, Kris,” she whispered, reaching up to cover his mouth, as she looked back to see if they had heard him. “Shhhh. Be quiet, Kris.”
“But, Nanna!”
“All right, Kris!” whispered Nanna, rather angrily. “Just what do you think you were doing back there?”
“I was doing what you said, Nanna. Trying to help those girls from being victimized by abusive people!” he stewed, trying to look around Nanna at those two unfortunate girls. “Isn’t that what you wanted me to do?”
“Yes, Kris,” laughed Nanna, shaking her head as she dropped to her knees. “Yes, it is. But, you have to think. It will do you no good to anybody, if they attack you because of your beliefs. Sometimes, you have to stay silent and let life’s little injustices and travesties go unpunished. There is only so much that one person could possibly do to change the world. And, only time will tell you when you can accomplish the most.”
“But, I- I don’t understand, Nanna,” protested Kris, as tears started to form in his eyes. “Please explain it to me! I don’t understand!”
“Trust me, Kris,” laughed Nanna, wiping away his tears before hugging him. “In time, you will know. Because, to tell you the truth, Kris, sometimes even I don’t know and understand.”
“But, if you ....”
“That’s enough, Kris,” responded Nanna, standing up. “We have to finish our errands. Let’s go, now!”
“Oh, all right, Nanna,” whispered Kris, barely casting a glance backwards as she pulled him around the corner of another building.
“So, why do we need to trade for things in the marketplace, Nanna?” asked Kris, looking around. “I thought we had everything we need.”
“Yes, we do, Kris,” smiled Nanna, looking down at him as she stopped next to a merchant’s cart. “But, this is for a very special occasion- the Winter Festival.”
“Winter Festival?” asked Kris, watching her pick up a shiny object from the cart. “What is it?”
“You- don’t know- what the- Winter Festival is?!” laughed the merchant. “I thought everyone would know....”
“Well, I don’t,” shouted Kris indignantly.
“You needn’t shout, Kris,” frowned Nanna, setting the object down and picking up another one. “It’s a time where all the people come out to relax, exchange gifts, and just have fun. And, to celebrate the fact that winter would be half over. Yes, sir,” nodded Nanna, proffering the object to the merchant. “I think this one would do quite nicely. What do you want for it?”
“I think- ah, three silver rhondidras should do nicely,” answered the merchant, rubbing his chin and eyeing the oil lamp carefully. “But, I have to warn you,” he said, looking up at her. “This year’s production- of that particular model- is prone to warp and leak oil if left lit for too long.”
“Fine, fine!” nodded Nanna, dropping the three rhondidras in his hand. “We’ll be careful. We only use such things for special occasions any way.”
“So, when is this Festival?” asked Kris, starting to jump around her, after looking around the marketplace and watching other people buy a lot of colorfully decorated things. “It sounds like it’s a lot of fun!”
“It is,” answered Nanna, dropping the lamp in her burrugh sack. “But, it isn’t for another forty days. Just be patient, Kris. It’ll come, it’ll come.”
Just like any small child, of any time period, Kris couldn’t wait to see what this “Winter Festival” was really about. And for several days, now, Kris merely drifted around his home, pestering everybody to tell him something about the Festival. And, since it would be his first one, Kris was curious- irritatingly curious.
“Blast it, boy!” screamed Johann, swiping his hand at Kris- missing him as Kris nimbly jumped away. “Stop jumping around. You’re being quite a pest!”
“Pest!” yelled Kris, nearly falling down as he landed funny, staring at his father. “I’m not a pest.”
“Then stopping acting like one. Sometimes you act worse then you’re lazy wretched sisters! You need to....”
“What about my sisters?” asked Kris, glancing at them, watching his three sisters wince as if their father had just hit them. “What did they do?”
“Nothing, boy!” yelled Johann, as Kris imagined all the hairs on the back of his own head rise in alarm. “Stop interrupting me. As lazy as they are, I wish you acted like them right now....”
“Ha! Your daughters- lazy?!” blurted the mysterious and invisible object, placing itself between Johann and his son, becoming both amused and irritated. “Why, I’ve never seen such hard working humans before! Just watching them toil endlessly makes me feel exhausted!”
“... And just be thankful you’re a boy, Kris. Otherwise ....”
“You’d do nothing!” interrupted Nanna, unexpectedly jumping between father and son, ramming one hand on her hip while wagging the other at Johann. “Keep your temper! Don’t let your petty emotions overrun your common sense- if you have any! If you injure him now, you may never be able to carry on your family’s name!”
“My temper?!” retorted Johann, after she reprimanded him for it, speaking at the same time, thereafter. “Blast it, woman!” he yelled, nearly jumping out of his shoes as he leaned closer to her. “How dare you .... My family’s name?”
“Ha!” laughed Nanna, resolutely nodding and turning away. “Got your attention, didn’t I? Knew your foolish pride will bring you back to sanity.”
“Family pride?” repeated Johann, grabbing her and spinning her around to face him. “What are you talking about?”
“Unhand me you cur,” growled Nanna, chopping his hands off with a good swift swing. “How will Kris be able to bear you a son if you thrash him? Hmmm? I ask you, what good will that do? Didn’t you hear all the stories about the Grivens boy?”
“What? What about the Grivens boy?”
“Yes, that’s right,” glared Nanna. “You remember, don’t you?”
“That’s just a mythical story-”
“No, it isn’t. When the previous magistrate’s son tried to impregnate his wife, he couldn’t!”
“Yes, Johann,” nodded Leanni. “It’s true. After Grivens cast her away, she bore a child to that poor shepherd boy who lives along the fringes of our village. Many of us were there to help her raise her boy through infancy.”
“It can’t be true!”
“I’m afraid it’s true,” nodded Nanna. “Because of all the beatings he suffered as a child, the Grivens boy was hopelessly sterile.”
“Ashamed, he committed suicide. Not a happy ending is it?” sneered Nanna, stepping aside to allow Johann to look at his son. “Is that what you want? An end to your only chance to extend your name?”
“Well, no ...” stammered Johann, as the mysterious object disappeared, unseen and unheard. “I suppose not.”
“Then the matter’s settled,” smiled Nanna, walking to Kris’ side. “Tomorrow, I’ll promise to try and keep Kris out of your way by keeping him busy. Since I have to go to the marketplace tomorrow to get some more things for the Winter Festival, I’ll bring him with me.”
“Good,” mumbled Johann, ambling away and out of the room. “Good. Keep him out of my way. Just keep him out of my way.”
Part II: The Child
Chapter 4: A Talent- Discovered!
“Come along, Kris! Come along,” called Nanna, turning around to look back at him. “We’ve got a lot of things to get today, so let’s get going!”
“All right, Nanna!” called Kris, hesitatingly moving away from the cart that was filled with a thousand brightly shiny objects. “All-all right,” he stumbled, as she walked back to him and began to drag him onward.
“Kris Kringle!” scolded Nanna, nearly dropping everything she carried, glaring at him. “What is wrong with you? I need your help to carry all this....”
“Oh, please!” interrupted someone from behind her. “Let me help you with that,” he said, moving around her and picking up a large, heavily-wrapped package. “Did I hear right? Is this Johann Kringle’s son?”
“Oh, ah, yes,” fumbled Nanna, this time dropping everything else she didn’t drop before. “Yes, it is,” she answered, quite timidly, looking up at the face of Paul Derring, the village’s magistrate. “Ah, your honor, it- ah, I mean, he is.”
“Well, then,” laughed Paul, absentmindedly shoving all the dropped packages into Nanna’s hands before moving towards the awe-struck Kris. “So, this is Kris Kringle. From what I heard last, you were sick and seriously underweight. I was too busy to follow up on you since then.”
Continuing to laugh, Paul carefully eyed Kris as he walked around him, studying him. “Indeed! If you were sick, you sure don’t look like it! I’m beginning to believe that all those rumors about you weren’t true. You sure look positively healthy to me.”
“Well, ah,” choked Kris, watching Paul circle around him, again, for the tenth time. “I had a good provider,” he pointed, gesturing towards Nanna.
“Ah, yes, of course,” nodded Paul, as if he knew this all the time. “Of course. The midwife and nursemaid! Yes! She’s always there to help raise the young!”
“Hmmphhh!” huffed Nanna, managing to shuffle her packages around so that she could watch Paul admire Kris’ good health. “And, we never get credit for doing a good job, either!”
Completely ignoring her, Paul continued on. “Ah, yes, my boy. This is a good time to be alive. The people have been quite good this year, you know, so I have decided that this year should be the biggest and the brightest Winter Festival possible! I can’t think of- oh, say!” laughed Paul, turning to Kris. “This is your first Winter Festival that you’ll be attending, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is,” breathed Nanna, stepping closer to them. “It will be Kris’ first!”
“Then, you are in for a treat!” laughed Paul, clapping Kris heavily on the back, causing him to stumble forward. “Oh, you know what, Kris?” smiled Paul, standing up straight. “Do you think your father will allow you to come and help me set things up? I could use all the help I can.”
“That may not be possible, your- your honor,” breathed Nanna, speaking at the same time as Kris did.
“Ah, sure,” nodded Kris, after a moment had passed. “But, I would have to check with my....”
“Of course, being magistrate does have its advantages,” interrupted Paul, his eyes twinkling, pausing to think for a mere second, completely ignoring what they said. “I could order your father to let me use you. How’s about that? I wind up having your help, anyway,” he laughed, clapping Kris hard on the back again, completely unaware that he had just knocked Kris down. “Well, that’s a good idea!” he smiled, turning and looking in the direction of Kris’ home. “I think that’s what’ll I do now. See you later, Kris!” he winked, quickly taking giant leaps away.
“C-can he do that?” asked Kris, when he managed to regain his voice again. “Can he really order us to obey?”
“Yes, Kris,” glared Nanna, watching Paul disappear around the corner. “He can. And does!”
“But, do I have to?” complained Kris, looking up at Nanna. “What if I find that it’s the same kind of treatment those girls got- and- and I don’t like it?”
“Don’t worry, Kris,” smiled Nanna, trying to reassure herself more than him. “I’m sure that he’ll go easy on you- since your father and he, are friends.”
“Well, I hope so,” sighed Kris. “I don’t like the idea of doing any hard work- at least, not without being gratefully acknowledged for the work I did.”
“Oh, yes, Winney. Yes. That’s him!” whispered a little girl, pointing him out to her friend. “I recognize his face! After what he tried to do for us....”
“So true, Nenny,” agreed Winney, watching Kris and Nanna from around the corner of a building, sheltered in the darkness of their little private alley. “But, how are we going to repay him for his bravery and kindness? We don’t have anything we can give him, do we?”
“We do, Winney!” whispered Nenny, quickly covering Winney’s mouth with one hand as she showed her what she had in the other. “I picked this up. Remember in all that confusion on that morning when he tried to stop our fathers? My father dropped several of these coins. It may not be enough to buy this Kringle boy anything significantly close to what he did for us. But, we should, at least, give him something to show him that we’re grateful!”
“B-but,” mumbled Winney, trying to talk despite Nenny’s hand covering her mouth.
“Shhh!” whispered Nenny, returning the coin to her pocket. “Keep quiet. We don’t want anyone know what we plan to do. It could be risky!”
“We’ll be severely punished!”
“That’s a chance I’m willing to take. I think it would be worth it, Winney. And, if someone like him could get us better treatment- especially when we grow older- I’m willing to take that chance!”
“But, how are we going to get him anything, Nenny?”
“Simple,” answered Nenny, watching Kris and Nanna walk away and disappear around another building. “All the vendors will still be selling on the morning of the Winter Festival, right? All we have to do is wait for the right moment and buy something. No one will know the difference.”
“But, what’ll one gold coin buy?”
“Well, I saw my father buy a lot of things with it. So it must be worth a lot- and I got six!” whispered Nenny, dragging Winney back into the shadows of the alley.
“... I still don’t understand what could have happened to that oil lamp I bought several days ago,” muttered Nanna, shaking her head for the zillionth time. “I know I purchased one.”
“Ah, my dear lady,” bowed the oil lamp seller, when they had reached his cart. “Planning to buy another lamp for the Winter Festival?”
“No,” answered Nanna, unaware that Kris had strolled off into the heart of the marketplace alone. “I only need one.”
“One?” perplexed the lamp seller, looking at her funny. “But, I don’t understand. You had already purchased one from me, just- just five days ago- I believe,” he said, looking bewildered as he absent-mindedly scratched his head.
“Well, that’s just it,” responded Nanna, picking up an identical lamp to the one she bought before. “In some mysterious way, it vanished. And, so I must waste time and money to purchase another.”
“Really?” frowned the lamp seller, dropping one hand on her shoulder and the other on her hands. “Perhaps it’s some sort of omen. Considering the importance and the symbolic nature these lamps play in our Festival, I say something bad will happen to you.”
“Well, you may believe in such nonsense, but, I do not!” cried Nanna, backstepping out of his friendly contact with her. “The only thing that happened was that I had to come out to the marketplace and buy something that I had already purchased! Not to mention the waste of my time, nor, waste....”
“Waste?” laughed the mysterious object, unheard and unseen, amused at how peeved Nanna had become. “Hardly. I made that oil lamp disappear. But, it was to lure you back to the marketplace, for there are people here, today, that will play an important part in awakening Kris’ gift within.”
“Hey! Hey!” cried a merchant, lifting his wares above his head, shouting, trying to be heard over the voices of the other merchants in the marketplace. “Authentically carved Absynthian branches from last year’s early Spring. A perfect symbol of hope for a good new Spring! Hurry! Hurry! Only got a few good pieces left! Hurry! Hurry!”
“This way, people! This way,” cried another merchant, waving his staff high in the air. “Fabulous painted boxes- in gloriously Springtime colors- painted by the master craftsman, Jihil. First shipment in today! Hurry! Hurry! Buy them while we still have them. Supplies are limited! Hurry! Hurry! We only got twenty. So get them while we still got them!”
“Sheer madness. All this to celebrate that this- coldness is half over?” frowned Kris, just as someone rudely pushed him out of the way.
“Hey!” screamed somebody, falling over Kris’ outstretched legs. “Watch it, boy!”
“Huh?” puzzled Kris, turning around. “I didn’t do it on purpose. Someone .... You!”
“Boy!” yelled the man, starting to pick up his packages, speaking at the same time as Kris. Getting a good look at Kris as both of them stood up, the man dropped his packages again. “It’s- it’s you!”
Before Kris had a chance to say or do any thing else, the man leaped forward and pushed Kris back down on the ground.
“Blast it, boy!” screamed the man, helplessly looking down at his now ruined packages. “Look at all this! Everything’s ruined! Boy, are you going to get a thrashing for ruining- uh- hey! Where did you go?!”
“Where did who go, Aeres?” asked another man, just arriving at his friend’s location.
Turning around, Aeres continued to yell at his innocent friend.
“That blasted boy, Zikeale! That blasted boy!” Aeres cried, clenching his fists so tight that the whiteness of his knuckles glowed whiter than the recently fallen snow. “And, when I find out who he is....”
“What are you ranting about, Aeres?” asked Zikeale, looking around. “I don’t see any boy around here.”
“That’s because he ran off. You remember when he tried to berate us on the treatment of our daughters a few days ago? Ooo, how I could....”
“Forget it, man,” interrupted Zikeale, bending over to pick up the fallen packages. “Maybe there’s something left to salvage in these packages. Try to calm down, Aeres,” he said, stopping to look up at him. “Let’s try to forget that unruly, undisciplined brat. Let’s try to enjoy this year’s Winter Festival.”
“Grrrr,” snapped Aeres, grinding his teeth, still looking around. “All right, Zikeale. But, the first thing I’m going to do afterwards is to beat that brat senseless! I’ll teach him a few things about manners and respect for his betters....”
“Betters?” choked the mysterious object, watching in laughter at the cruel humor of this pagan dog. “It is not you who should do the teaching, Aeres. You’re the one who has the ‘discipline’ problem. You should say that YOU will do the learning from Kris Kringle. For, despite his youth, Kris truly has the wisdom of age.”
“Whew!” breathed Kris, sliding to a stop in a nearby alley, completely exhausted. “That was close! If I hadn’t run when I did....”
Startled, Kris nearly jumped out of his clothes when a strange blue light appeared behind him, lighting up the strangely dark alley. Shielding his eyes from the brightness, Kris fell backwards as he tried to back away from this strange light.
“Do not be afraid, Kris Kringle,” whispered a strange and soothing voice, as the blue light condensed into a small, dancing orb. “You will find a safe haven beyond this alley. Follow me, and I will take you there!”
Nodding rather stupidly, Kris stood up and hypnotically followed the orb around the twists and turns of this strange alley. “Yes,” he droned on, his arms hanging loosely by his side. “I will follow you to safety. I will follow you to safety.”
Finally, the blue orb arrived at a small open area, nestled secretly among the small back alleys of the vast marketplace. Kris, no longer under the hypnotic trance of the evanescence orb, carefully looked around.
Nobody was in sight. In fact, it was completely deserted. Though only lit by a few hanging lanterns, Kris ventured further into this strangely darkened open area- overwhelmed by insatiable curiosity.
“Where am I?” he asked the darkness, spinning around and around, trying to see the shapes of the buildings that surrounded him. “Is anybody here?”
“What?” asked a male voice, as a light appeared in a previously darkened doorway behind Kris. “Is someone out there?” he asked again, stepping out into the open.
“Who’s out there?” asked a female voice, sounding from deeper inside that same building.
As Kris spun around to face the person standing in the now lighted doorway, an old man who held his lantern up high to see Kris’ face- nearly dropped it in surprise.
“Why, Lexi, my dear,” he said, turning around to speak to the old woman who walked up to his side. “It’s a little boy!”
“He looks lost- and cold!” frowned Lexi, turning to look at her husband, Stephen.
“And probably hungry, too!” he added, noting the small size and stature of Kris.
“I’ll get something for him to eat, Stephen, my dear. You try and convince him to come in.”
“All right, my love,” nodded Stephen, turning to Kris. “Come on,” smiled Stephen, reaching out to Kris with his palm facing up. “Come on, boy. You don’t have to be afraid of me. I will not harm you.”
Kris, somewhat bewildered at the sight of this very friendly old man’s appearance, didn’t know what to do. Frightened- yet comforted- at the sight of him, Kris hesitantly took a step forward.
“That’s it,” nodded Stephen, falling to one knee, still beckoning Kris onward with his free hand. “That’s it, my boy,” he continued on, placing the lantern down. “Come on. Come on. You have nothing to fear from me.”
Kris, not sure why he should trust this old man, finally leapt forward into the old man’s waiting arms.
“Ah, yes, my boy!” laughed Stephen, as the force of Kris’ jump caused them to tumble towards the foot of the old man’s doorway. “That’s it! That’s it! So good of you to come on in.”
“Yes,” laughed Lexi, re-appearing in the doorway with a warm biscuit in her hand. “Now, would you like something to eat?”
Kris nodded wildly as he silently, and gratefully, accepted the old woman’s offering.
“Whoa! Slow down, my boy!” laughed Stephen, as he gently guided Kris into their home. “Slow down! You’ll choke on it.”
“T-thank y-you,” stammered Kris, looking at the old woman’s face for a moment before looking at another biscuit the old woman shoved into his hands.
“Now then,” smiled Lexi, kneeling by Kris’ side. “What is your name, my dear? It sounds so rude to keep calling you ‘boy’.”
“M-my name’s Kris Kringle,” Kris answered, now talking erratically, due to the cold, rather than from nervousness.
“Happy to meet you, Kris Kringle!” beamed Lexi, reaching forward to hug him. But, she soon fell back, screaming. “My god!” she cried out, making Kris jump in surprise while she looked up at Stephen. “His clothes are all wet! We must get him into something warm and dry before he gets sick!”
“By the gods! I- I didn’t notice that before!” proclaimed Stephen, reaching out to touch Kris again. “I- uh- you strip him of those wet clothes and dry him off, Lexi, my love! I’ll get him something warm to wear.”
In no time at all, Kris was now wearing some of Stephen’s clothes. Though it clearly didn’t fit him, the old woman tied the loose ends of Stephen’s clothes snugly around Kris’ body. When that was done, the old couple offered Kris temporary lodging.
“I- I- really ought to be going now,” frowned Kris, hesitantly backing away. “T-thanks for your offer.”
“Don’t be silly, Kris,” laughed Lexi, pointing to his clothes drying by the fireplace. “You have to at least wait until your clothes are dry. You can’t possibly go out like that, it’s ridiculous!”
“Agreed,” nodded Stephen, smiling at Kris. “It’s been a long time since we had children here. And I forgot how much pleasure they brought to us,” he sniffed, falling to one knee. “Please, tell me, you’ll stay,” he begged, briefly hugging Kris. “Even if it’s for a little while.”
Seeing his sad face, Kris diverted his gaze towards Lexi. No luck. Her face was the same as his.
“Oh, all right!” nodded Kris, looking down. “But only until my clothes are dry. I must get back home- my father will kill me for causing him so much trouble!”
“Thank you, Kris. Thank you,” piped Lexi, pointing towards a small table in the corner of the room. “And since you’re staying for a while- how about having some dinner with us?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” answered Kris, looking at what this old couple was planning to eat for dinner. “It doesn’t seem like a lot of food- only enough for two....” he thought, turning to guiltily smile at them. “You know,” continued Kris, suddenly getting an idea. “I’m not all that hungry. Those biscuits were quite filling- and besides- I have my own dinner waiting for me at home.”
“You’re sure?” asked Stephen, asking nearly the same question as Lexi, at the same time.
“You’re sure you’re not hungry?” asked Lexi.
“I’m-” started Kris, suddenly betrayed by a loud growl in his stomach. “Sure,” he finished, glancing angrily down at his stomach, hoping that that sound wasn’t heard by the old couple.
“We heard that!” they shouted together.
“It’s settled then,” laughed Lexi, guiding Kris to the table. “You’ll have dinner with us. We are more than happy to share our table with such an adorable child like you!”
“Indeed,” bubbled Stephen, bringing out another plate. “Always a pleasure to have a child in this house. Always!”
“B-but,” protested Kris, trying to get a word in. “B-but you don’t.... T-that’s not necessary!....”
But, it was no use. The old couple, eager to please- themselves, mostly- ignored Kris’ protestations and continued to prepare their dinner table for three.
Surprisingly, Kris found that the food the old couple had was uniquely delicious and eminently satisfying- unlike the gruelish concoction he would have had at home.
“Hey!” laughed Kris, nearly jumping out of his chair and nearly upsetting the dishes and food on the table. “This is delicious!” he grinned at them, starting to greedily reach out for more. “I- I had never tasted any thing so heavenly before. I want more! I want more!”
“And it should be, Kris,” laughed Lexi, reaching down to pass over another plate full of steaming food to him. “That is my special dish- it is well known and favored in this village and across the countryside. But, because many of the ingredients are hard to find- and usually expensive- I don’t make it often.”
Crestfallen, Kris fell back down in his chair. “You- you mean this isn’t what you usually eat?”
“No,” answered Stephen, shaking his head. “We don’t.”
“No,” confirmed Lexi, shaking her head. “But, for some unknown reason, we both decided that- for tonight- we’d make it.”
“Even more so, we felt a strange sensation that we should prepare a place for a third person....”
“Like me!” interrupted Kris.
“Perhaps so,” nodded Stephen, speaking after a brief second had passed. “And we were just putting away the dishes for that third person, when I heard you calling outside our door.”
“Strange,” frowned Kris. “Do you think that some how I was lured here by some unknown- unknown some thing?”
“Could be,” answered Lexi, looking up. “But, whatever the Fates decide for us, I hope they will allow you to spend more time with us. We are so lonely for more people to talk to.”
“Yes,” smiled Stephen, gently patting Lexi on the shoulder as he looked at Kris. “We are so people-oriented, and crave the companionship. So, you can see why we are so happy that you are here with us today.”
“And,” cried Lexi, removing a handkerchief from a pocket and blowing her nose. “And why- why we’ll miss you terribly- when it’s time for you to- for you to leave!”
Feeling a little bit guilty, Kris looked down, shaking his head, feeling more than just a little sorry for these two nice old people. While the old man and woman also bowed their heads, feeling a sense of imminent depression, Kris suddenly got a strange thought in his mind.
Leaping out of his chair, Kris rushed over to the fireplace to check the condition of his clothes. Feeling the considerable moisture still in his clothes, Kris whooped with delight.
“Hey! Hey!” he called out, gesturing to his wet clothes, just as the old couple looked up, wondering why Kris was sounding so happy. “You’ve got to feel this,” continued Kris, watching the old couple stand up and walk over to his side. “My clothes! They’re still wet! There’s no way I can go now! I have no choice but to stay until they’re sufficiently dried!”
“By the Gods!” cried Stephen, looking up at Lexi, still holding the corner of Kris’ coat in his hands. “It- it isn’t drying out! In fact- unless I’m mistaken- it- it seems to be even more wetter than before!”
“W-what?!” startled Lexi, reaching out to grab the corner that Stephen held. “T-that can’t be possible. How can it get even more wetter? You must be-”
“See?” laughed Stephen, turning to wink at Kris, who merely laughed silently. “It’s still wet!”
“Impossible!” wondered Lexi, her eyes bulging. “This can’t be possible!”
“Yes, it is,” laughed the mysterious voice, watching them debate the possibilities of Kris’ clothes becoming even more wetter. “It is possible, because I want Kris to learn your ancient craft, my dear old man. Didn’t you know that your craft would be a key link to Kris’ destiny?”
“So, then, it’s settled,” finished Stephen, reaching out to draw both Kris and his wife closer to him. “It is quite clear to me that some mysterious power wants all of us to stay together, for some indeterminable amount of time, for some unknown reason. Let us voluntarily agree to those terms- since it is pleasurable to all of us.”
“Agreed,” laughed Kris and Lexi at the same time.
“Agreed,” repeated Kris, leading the way back to the table. “Let us enjoy the rest of our dinner....”
“And marvel at the Fates for allowing us to have some company,” finished Lexi, sitting down in her chair at the table.
“Yes,” agreed Stephen, who seemed to have a permanent smile on his face all throughout the remaining meal. “A most wonderful brightness in our lives at the darkest time of year. I hope we can be with each other, tomorrow.”
“Perhaps we could- including the rest of the winter, too,” added Kris.
“That would be wonderful,” hoped Lexi, setting her plate aside and reaching across the table to grab and caress Kris’ hands. “Do you think you can really come over to visit us tomorrow?”
“I don’t know,” answered Kris, frowning slightly, before a hopeful, but devious, smile lit up his face. “But, I’m sure I could find a way to see you, tomorrow. I don’t believe that would be a problem.”
“That would be heavenly,” laughed Stephen, a tear welling up in his eyes. “If you could do that, we’d be most grateful.”
“Then, it’s settled,” nodded Kris. “I’ll try to come back, tomorrow, and as often as I possibly could.”
“Thank you, Kris,” sniffed Lexi.
“Thank you,” nodded Stephen, repeating his wife’s sentiments.
“Pity,” mourned the mysterious voice, its voice dripping with sadness. “But, after tonight, neither of you will see Kris again for a long, long time. He just will not have time to come back to you- and, he’ll be leaving Belville before the start of the Winter Festival.”
“... No, no,” laughed Lexi, putting away the dishes she held in her hands before pushing Kris away. “Go and relax. Today, you’re our guest.”
“Are you sure?” asked Kris, trying to avoid being pushed away by Lexi. “You sure that I can’t help you?”
“No, no,” laughed Lexi, setting down another armful of dishes before guiding Kris back to the warmth of the fireplace. “You sure are a helpful and considerate little boy. You have been raised by kind and decent people- I sure would like to meet them.”
“Well,” answered Kris truthfully, looking up at Lexi. “Only Nanna has been raising me. Since I was born, Nanna had been....”
“Kris?” asked Stephen, looking up. “Something wrong?”
“Nanna!” yelled Kris, looking at his clothes hanging over the fireplace. “I’ve completely forgotten all about her. She’ll be so worried! I- I’ve got to go and find her and- and....”
“But, your clothes-” pointed Stephen, feeling them again.
“That can’t be helped,” frowned Kris, starting to pull Stephen’s clothes off his body. “I must go!”
“Well, if you must go,” frowned Stephen, starting to help Kris remove his clothes from Kris’ body. “Then, you must....”
“What?” startled Lexi, almost falling down in surprise. “Who could be knocking on our door...? Yes?” answered Lexi, opening the door. “May I help you?”
“Yes,” panted the woman at the door, nearly falling forward in exhaustion. “I’m- I’m looking for....”
But, just at that second, she spotted Kris. “Kris!” she called out, this time actually stumbling forward, not in exhaustion, but from surprise. “Kris Kringle! There you are! I’ve been wondering where you had wandered off to. Where have you been all this time?”
“Here Nanna,” answered Kris, rather timidly. “I- I ran into those two men again.”
“Two- two men?” frowned Nanna, dropping to one knee. “What on Earth are you talking about, Kris?”
“Remember those two men that were beating up their daughters several days ago? The ones you had pulled me away from? I found myself facing one of them again, and he didn’t look too happy that I had accidentally tripped him- actually some one pushed me down and he fell over me. I had to run.”
“Whoa,” called Nanna, dropping her hands on his shoulders. “Slow down, Kris. Slow down. Ah- what did you mean by ‘someone pushed you down’?”
“That’s just it,” answered Kris. “As I was walking down the marketplace- marveling at all the sights and sounds- someone pushed their way past me and I fell down. That’s when that man fell over me.”
“I see,” nodded Lexi, also kneeling by Kris’ side. “That’s when you ran away and found yourself by our doorway.”
“Yes, something like that,” nodded Kris.
“Well, then,” echoed Nanna, authoritatively standing up. “It’s time to go now, Kris. After I’ve had a chance to rest for a moment- and you to change into your own clothes- we’ll leave.”
“But, Nanna,” protested Kris, pointing at his clothes that still hung near the fireplace. “My clothes! They’re not dry yet!”
“It isn’t?” frowned Nanna, walking over to the fireplace to feel them herself. “It isn’t. It’s a wonder you’re not suffering from the cold now- considering that you’ve barely recovered from your last illness. Nevertheless, we’ll have to stay here- that is, if it’s all right with you people- until your clothes are sufficiently dry.”
“Oh, that’s not a problem at all!” laughed Stephen, waving his hands around. “We’d enjoy your company- even if you had to stay with us until the Winter Festival!”
“I assure you, that will not be necessary,” responded Nanna, turning back to look at Stephen. “As soon as Kris’ clothes are dry- and there’s enough light to find our way home- we’ll be leaving.”
“Then, it looks like you’ll have to wait until morning,” smiled Stephen, triumphantly. “Didn’t you notice just how dark outside had gotten? Even though we’re near the longest night of the year, it seems that darkness has taken hold of our village before the late afternoon hour.”
“Perhaps another sign of our own fortunate omen!” laughed Lexi.
“Omen!” cried Nanna, tossing her arms above her head, feeling disgusted at the very idea. “Why do you people insist of embracing those old silly superstitions? There’s no such thing!”
“Then, how do you explain everything that has happened today?” retorted Stephen, jumping between Lexi and Nanna. “How do you account for the fact that- that the outside is so unusually dark? There is no rational explanation for that. In fact, it should be impossible.”
“I- I agree,” pondered Nanna, absent-mindedly scratching her chin. “It is impossible. But, still, it has happened. There has to be some explanation for it- but, I don’t have the answers.”
“Ha,” blurted Stephen, walking back to his chair by the fireplace. “That’s because the Gods have ordained it to be so. And, who am I to question the wisdom of the Gods?”
“Rubbish,” cried Nanna, moving closer to the fireplace to warm herself. “You could believe in what you want to believe in, and I’ll believe in what I want to believe in.”
“That’s fine with me,” huffed Stephen, resuming his usual after-dinner routine. “That’s fine with me.”
“Now, now, dear,” scolded Lexi gently, patting his shoulder. “Let’s try to keep things civil.”
“Yes, dear,” answered Stephen, looking up to smile at her. “I’ll try to be civil, if she tries to be civil as well.”
“Yes, Nanna, please,” chirped Kris. “They’ve been very kind to me. And I don’t want to endanger our new-found friendship.”
“Oh, very well, Kris,” smiled Nanna, when she looked down at him, growling softly when she looked up at Stephen. “For your sake, I will.”
“That’s good,” sighed Kris, turning to look at Lexi. “Because, I- I’m not sure why. But, I feel safe and loved in their happy home,” he laughed and cried, as he jumped into Lexi’s arms. “I have to say that I’m beginning to love you- a lot.”
“And, I love you, too, Kris,” smiled Lexi, returning the hug. “And I’m glad that we’ve had the chance to meet each other.”
“Me, too,” laughed Kris, turning to look at Stephen, as his hug with Lexi ended. “Me too! And, I love you- ah, say,” wondered Kris, moving to Stephen’s side. “What’s that you’re doing?”
“This?” asked Stephen, stopping and proffering Kris the nearly finished carved wood he held in his hands. “This is an old form of artistry called woodcarving,” he continued on, as Kris stopped nodding. “It takes the skill of a master craftsman to create a finely detailed work.”
“So, are you one?”
“N-no,” laughed Stephen, shaking his head as Kris handed it back to him. “I wish I could say that I am, but I’m not. I can try, but I’ll never be as good as the master craftsman, Jihil, who lives in the next village yonder.”
“That’s quite interesting,” observed Kris, pointing at the piece in the old man’s hands. “May I ask what you’re making?”
“Yes,” answered Stephen. “You’re certainly welcome to ask. Have you ever seen our village from the hills that lie to the north?”
“No.”
“Oh? Well, that’s what I’m carving now. The image of our village as seen from those hills.”
“That’s quite impressive,” nodded Nanna, finally moving over to look- now that she felt sufficiently warmed up. “That must have taken a lot of time to make.”
“Indeed it has,” answered Stephen, looking up at Nanna. “And fortunately, I’m nearly done.”
“That looks so real that I could almost imagine that I’m really looking at our village from those hills,” smiled Kris, getting a mysterious gleam in his eyes. “I wish that I could try some thing like that!”
“Well, why not?” smiled Stephen, setting his carving aside and picking up a small piece of wood from behind his chair. “Let’s see what you can do with this.”
“All right,” nodded Kris, accepting Stephen’s knife. “Let’s see what I can do,” he mused, tossing the wood from hand to hand, momentarily studying the piece of wood in his hands.
Glancing sideways at his own carving, Stephen gave Kris one last piece of advice, just as Kris was finishing going through some “practice” motions of carving the wood. “Just don’t be too disappointed that whatever you come up with- when you’re finished- doesn’t turn out to be what you had in mind. Remember, woodcarving takes a long time to master, and even I haven’t yet mastered it.”
“Of course,” nodded Kris, barely looking up as he quickly made deft cuts here and there, working fastidiously. “Of course. I understand.”
There was nothing that could have been said, thereafter, for Kris’ obvious skill and speed had completely mesmerized them.
“I’m done!” announced Kris, holding up the small, long, and hollowed object. “Finished!”
“W-what is it?” asked Nanna, taking the object from Kris’ hands. “I don’t think I have ever seen anything like this before. What’s it supposed to be?”
“Incredible,” jumped Stephen, nearly dropping Kris’ handiwork. “It’s- it’s a whistle!”
“A whistle?” asked Nanna. “So what’s so special about that? I’ve seen a lot of ‘whistles’ in the marketplace.”
“Yes,” nodded Stephen, smiling at Kris, feeling a sense of pride and a little bit of jealousy. “But, didn’t you notice that those whistles are made of metal?”
“Well- uh, you know,” stammered Nanna, relinquishing herself to that bit of truth. “I admit that mostly everything I’ve seen in the marketplace is usually made from metal.”
“Yes, they are,” nodded Stephen, raising the whistle to his lips. “And, if I’m guessing correctly,” he trailed off, beginning to play the whistle.
“That was a lovely tune you just played, my dear,” nodded Lexi, wrapping her arms loosely around his shoulders when he was finished. “I don’t think I know that one. Did you just made it up?”
“Oh, yes, I have- in honor of Kris’ skills,” smiled Stephen, carefully- with extreme exaggeration- return the whistle to Kris’ hands. “That’s an incredible skill you have there, Kris. I had seen Jihil make a whistle. But, it had taken him nearly a whole year just to finish one. And, with perfect tonality, I still can’t believe you finished yours in less than a hour! Extraordinary!”
Chapter 5: A Master Wood Carver
“You truly are a master,” humbled Stephen, falling to his knees and kissing Kris’ hand. “I am truly honored that I have awakened this gift within you.”
“T-thanks,” blushed Kris, feeling as warm inside as he did on the outside. “It was nothing, really. It felt like I knew what I was doing- even before I started to do anything at all.”
“It’s still the gift of a master,” nodded Stephen, reaching back and picking up his knife from the table that stood by his chair by the fireplace. “And, I,” he continued on, when he turned back to Kris, “some how know that you don’t have any money to buy a knife for yourself. So, I would be honored if you accepted mine- as a gift!”
“Ahhh,” breathed Lexi, dropping to her knees, interposing herself between Kris and Stephen. “Are you sure you want to do that? You had that beat-up, broken-down knife for years! I know it’s your favorite- and your most prized possession! Are you sure about this?”
Without looking at her, Stephen stared at Kris behind her. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“But, then, you won’t have a knife to use, ever! And we can’t afford to buy another.”
“Of course, my dear,” smiled Stephen, gently pushing Lexi to the side. “I’m absolutely sure. As sure as the day when I received that very same knife from Jihil, himself, when I was his apprentice. And now, I want Kris to have it, so he could continue on with his woodcarving.”
“Wow!” grinned Kris, not quite sure what to say. “Ah, thank you. Thank you. I won’t let you down, Stephen. I’ll try to think of something to make- especially for you- something to show you how I feel. Ah, thank you very much!”
“Yes,” concurred Nanna, stepping behind Kris. “That was the most impressive act of kindness and generosity I had ever seen. I guess I had judged you all wrong,” she began to confess. “You- you-” she stammered, her eyes starting to bulge.
“Huh? What is it Nanna?” asked Kris, looking up at Nanna, clearly unable to see what was occurring behind Stephen and Lexi. “Is something wrong?” he asked, panic starting to creep into his voice.
“T-the fire- the fireplace!” she squeaked, managing to get enough courage to raise her hand to point at it.
“The fireplace?” asked Stephen, as he and Lexi turned to look. “What about the-”
The mysterious and faint blue glow that had attracted Nanna’s attention gleamed brighter. It was clearly something that even Nanna couldn’t explain.
“By the Gods!” cried Stephen, stepping forward, somehow sensing that he had nothing to fear from the strange blue light. “There is something going on here!” he cried out, turning to the others. “Don’t you see? Some mysterious power is influencing what we do here. Perhaps it drew Kris here so I could give him my knife....”
“And help Kris discover his hidden talent in woodcarving,” finished Nanna, now thoroughly convinced. “But, what are we supposed to do now?”
“I don’t know,” answered Stephen, still looking at the others. “I....”
“Look!” cried Lexi, pointing at the fireplace. “Something else is happening!”
Turning to look, they watched as Kris’ clothes began to float up off the metal grill and start to dancingly drift towards them. Before anyone had a chance to react, the clothes suddenly stopped several feet in front of them, before disappearing completely.
“Hey,” whispered Kris, looking down at himself. “Something’s happening to me!”
“Extraordinary!” whispered Stephen, watching Kris float up into the air.
“Incredible!” agreed Lexi, as Kris started to slowly spin in the air.
“What’s happening to me?” cried Kris, continuously, continuing to stare down at himself and the others. “What’s happening to me?”
“Unbelievable, but true,” concurred Nanna, watching Stephen’s clothes, on Kris, dissolve away into Kris’ own clothes. “Unbelievable.”
“No one would ever believe this,” responded Stephen, moving to Nanna’s side. “Who would? I’m seeing all this as you are- and I’m still finding it all hard to believe!”
“Then, it would be best if we don’t tell anybody what had just happened,” frowned Nanna, watching Kris float back down to the ground, landing on Stephen’s clothes that appeared suddenly.
“Agreed!” nodded Lexi.
“But, why not?” asked Kris, shakily standing up, after being set back down in a prostrated position. “It has happened. And, we all witnessed it,” he said, looking at the others, still tugging at his own clothing just to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. “So, why can’t we tell anyone?”
“Because, people will say that we’re insane and kill us because of it. It would be best if we just keep all this as our ‘special little secret’,” answered Nanna, gently hugging him. “Remember, Kris. We mustn’t tell anyone. Not even your mother or father. No one! Not ever. Do you understand, Kris?”
“Ah, yes,” stammered Kris. “I think I do. It’s still a shame we can’t ever tell anyone, though. But, I won’t tell anyone, ever. I promise!”