SANTA SWAP A SUCCESS!

Santa Claus and Waldo Elf stood in front of Gizmo Elf. Behind Gizmo, nearly every Elf at the North Pole crowded around to watch. Gizmo's latest device--the Presentator--had accidentally swapped Santa and Waldo into each other's bodies. Now, the day before Christmas, Gizmo is going to try to swap them back.

"Is everyone ready?" Gizmo asked.

"Umm...ready for what?" said Waldo, but the voice came out of Santa.

"Ho ho ho! On with the show!" said Santa, although it looked like Waldo was saying it.

"All right then!" said Gizmo, and he flipped the switch.

"BLURP!!" went the Presentator

Suddenly Santa and Waldo started glowing! The two looked at each other, and then started speaking--the exact same words at the exact same time!

"Hey! Wow! Ho ho ho! I think it's working!" they said. Suddenly, sparks shot out of the Presentator!

"Yowtch! Hot!" yelped Gizmo, and he dropped the machine, which fizzled, popped, and then, was still.

"I think it's broken!" said Gizmo. He picked it up and turned it over. "Yup! The bleedle junction is frazazzled. I can't fix that!"

"But did it work before it broke?" asked Mrs. Claus. Everyone looked at Santa and Waldo, who had stopped glowing.

Bernard took a step towards the man in the red suit. "Santa?" he asked.

"Ho ho ho! It worked!" said Santa, and everyone cheered! "Now we've got a lot of work to do!" he said. "Let's get my bag packed, the sleigh loaded, and the reindeer hitched!" and all the elves ran out to get ready for Christmas Eve!

Mrs. Claus gave her husband a big hug. "I'm so glad you're back!" she said.

"Me too!" said Santa. "I've got to get to work, but before I do, could you bring me some cookies and milk? I've got to get the taste of strawberries and mustard out of my mouth!"

It looks like Christmas will happen after all--and you read about it here first at The North Pole Times! Merry Christmas everybody!