Waldo to the Rescue!

Santa had gone to a number of 'Santa's Helper' conventions earlier in the week, to help teach the Santa's the children see during the holiday season to be as much like Santa as possible. The Helpers all got a little too much Christmas Magic, and came back to the North Pole, each thinking they were the real Santa!

Now, some of the Helpers have realized they're not the real Santa. "How did this happen," asked Bernard Elf, "and can we get all the Helpers to wake up?"

The Elves all rushed into the other room, where a large number of Helpers who were obviously not the real Santa (too tall, too young, and so on), were standing around talking. When they saw the Elves come in, a few went up to them. "I'm sorry to bother you, old chap," said one Santa, "but I do need to hustle back to London. I don't want to miss tea time!"

"Si, said another, with a Mexican accent, I promised los niños in Veracruz I would tell them a story! If I'm not there soon it will be a tragedy! ¡Que lastima!"

"We'll make sure to get you all back right away," said Toby Elf, "but could you please tell us what happened?"

"Danged if I know," said a Santa in a red cowboy hat. "Last thing I remember, I was havin' a palaver with Santa, and then that little feller over yonder was talkin' to me!" and he pointed over to a corner where a little Elf whose glasses were too big was handing out bowls of a strange-looking concoction to the Santas.

"Waldo?" cried Jiller Elf, "What are you doing?"

"Well, I thought Santa might be hungry, so I brought him home of my strawberry-and-mustard pudding! Then I saw all of these Santas and I realized I needed more pudding!"

"Ha! That makes sense!" said Louis Elf. "One bite of Waldo's pudding will bring anyone to their senses!"

"I think we've solved our problem." said Bernard, and he took Waldo and his pudding into the Great Hall, where 41 nearly identical Santas were waiting.

"Excuse, me, Santa," called Bernard Elf, "I'm sure you're very hungry, so we brought you a snack. Come on over here and we'll serve it to you."

40 Santas got up and walked over. One Santa stayed where he was. "Aren't you going to have a snack?" Toby Elf asked him.

"I've had Waldo's pudding before," said the Santa. "I'd rather stay hungry."

"I think we've found our real Santa," said Toby.

Soon all the Helpers were back to normal, and back to their homes, spreading Christmas cheer (after they had an antacid, of course. Waldo's pudding can upset your tummy!), and Santa and the Elves went back to work, getting ready for the big day!

Keep reading The North Pole Times for more adventures!