Yeti Doesn't Know

The four big Yetis pushed and punched and tumbled about at the edge of the North Pole. The ground shook as they picked up boulders and trees and tossed them at each other.

Nearby, Santa and the Elves watched them quietly. "Are they mad at each other?" asked Holly Elf. She said it in a voice so low that it was almost a whisper. In fact, she could have shouted it, and the four creatures wouldn't have noticed.

"Ho, ho, no!" said Santa, as a big Yeti picked up a bigger Yeti, and used him to knock over the two biggest Yeti. "This is how they play!"

The three biggest Yeti climbed off of each other, and dove onto the fourth. Over the sound of trees snapping and rocks cracking, it was possible to hear another sound--one that was coming from the Abominable Snowmen themselves.

"Hur-hur! Hur-hur hurrr!" went the Yeti. "That sounds like laughter," said Adamup Elf.

"That's because it is laughter," said Santa. "They're really enjoying themselves." He clapped Waldo on the shoulder. "Well, Waldo? Are you ready to go talk to them?"

Waldo was one of the smallest Elves at the North Pole. He was so small, that these four Yeti had been playing catch with him. And by that, I don't mean they were throwing a ball to him--they were using Waldo as the ball!

Waldo looked at the small hill of white-furred creatures in front of him. "I've changed my mind," he said. "I think I'll go find a tree somewhere and start making cookies. Goodbye." and he turned to leave. Smitty Elf stood in front of him.

"Waldo," said Smitty, "you can't run away from your problem. It's just like Santa said--you need to tell them that it's not OK to treat you like that. Tell them to stop. If they don't then we'll help you. But you have to at least tell them yourself."

Waldo looked at his friends, and nodded. He turned and walked over to the four Yeti. "Um, hey, fellas," he said. "It's me--Waldo." One of the Yeti reached out with a big paw to pick him up. "Stop!" said Waldo, firmly. The Yeti stopped, surprised. "I don't like it when you pick on me like that. It's not fun for me. I want you to stop it," he said, and then a little more uncertainly, "if that's okay with you."

The four Yeti looked at each other, then back down at Waldo. The biggest of the four leaned over until his face was level with the little Elf's.

"Well," he said, "if that's the way you feel about it, old chap, we will honour your request, shan't we boys?"

"Indeed," said another Yeti. "Far be it from us to cause you discomfort!"

"We shall cease forthwith," said the third.

"And our most sincere apologies for inconveniencing you, my good man!" said the fourth.

Waldo looked at the four huge faces around him. "Uh...does that mean you'll stop?"

The four creatures chuckled. "It most certainly does, indeed!" said the largest. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we need to finish our little game. I do believe I was about to thrash my brothers with this sapling," and the Yeti picked up a giant fir tree, and used it to bat the other three Yeti into the next valley. "Tally Ho!" cried the Yeti, who bounded after them.

Waldo watched them go, then turned to look at Santa. "That wasn't as hard as I thought it would be!" he said.

"We're all proud of you, Waldo," said Santa. "Remember--if you ever get bullied again, first tell the bullies that it's not okay to do what they're doing, and tell them to stop. If they don't stop, then tell a grown up and teachers, and anyone else who will listen." Santa looked up and sniffed the air. "Does anyone else smell chocolate chip cookies?"

"I'll race ya to Mrs. Claus' kitchen!" shouted Waldo happily!

Keep reading The North Pole Times as we get closer to Christmas!