Santa Claus

Nicholas stared at the two creatures in front of him, and something inside of him stirred.  It was the same feeling he got when he first saw them from up on the ridge, but now it was extremely intense and it was something important for sure.  It was definitely not just gas!  He felt he was meant to be there at that time.  He knew this was crucial.  He knew this was big.  He just knew that all of this was right!

“I think I know you two.  Are you…” Nicholas began.

Rudolph jumped out from underneath the snowman much relieved to be rid of his extra weight and bounded up to Nicholas.  Nicholas began to raise his hands and arms in self defense, but his instinct told him that everything was okay.  The reindeer put his front paws up onto Nick’s chest and thrust his tongue all over the young man’s face.  Nicholas thought that this was very much akin to a dog greeting its owner after he returned home from work.  In any event, this reindeer was clearly happy to see Nicholas Claus.

Frosty rose slowly to his feet and took a closer look at the young teenage Nicholas.

“No, it can’t be man, can it?” Frosty wondered.

Nicholas laughed as Rudolph continued the licking assault on his face.  “Okay, okay, I’m happy to see you too, I guess.”  Nicholas gently forced the reindeer down from his body and petted the animal’s head around his antlers.  Rudolph wagged his tail in joyous celebration.  Nicholas still didn’t recognize the reindeer, but he felt he must know it from somewhere in his forgotten life.

“Nicholas?  Nicholas Claus?  Are you Nicholas Claus?” Frosty’s questions rose with a sense of urgency as the snowman asked them while simultaneously looking back at the trolls streaking up towards them.

Nicholas was stunned.

“Yes – how do you know who I am?” Nicholas responded with very little sense of urgency at the situation.

 “No time for that now, dude!” Frosty hollered.  “We’ve got big trouble here.  We need to run for it!”

Nicholas looked at the snowman and then at the reindeer which still joyfully jumped up and down in the snow next to him as if waiting for a nice game of fetch the stick.  Nicholas looked up to the trolls who were just about upon them all.  He tried to process this situation and figure out just what was going on, but it was all a bit overwhelming and much too confusing for him to get it straight in his mind.

No matter, there was no more time to think as the trolls had just arrived!

“Get up snowman!” the lead troll barked at Frosty.  “Get up on your feet and give us what you stole!”

Frosty gingerly got to his snowy feet but then slid over to the side and slightly behind Nicholas who remained very still with his eyes scanning the trolls – five regular size ones and one massive one – thinking about what he was going to do.  

“Hey man, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Frosty squeaked back and stepped further behind Nicholas.  “My pet reindeer and I were just out for some fun in the forest when you dudes started chasing us.”  It didn’t sound very convincing at all.  

Rudolph snorted at the pet comment and lowered his antlers as he stood at Nick’s side.

“Is there a problem here?” Nicholas jumped into the conversation but asked his question in a rather threatening manner.

“No one’s talking to you, boy,” the lead troll dismissed Nicholas.  “Go on your way now and you won’t get hurt much.  We’re taking these two creatures with us.”  The other trolls laughed and grinned with delight.

Nicholas looked at the reindeer at his side and felt the rather plump presence of the snowman desperately trying to cower behind him.  His Sugar Plum pals were right there as well, and the Supreme Sugar Plum Premier was floating not far off.  Nicholas thought he would press the situation.

“I don’t think so, boy!” Nicholas challenged the leader.  “These two creatures, as you call them, belong to me, and they’ll be going with me.  So why don’t you and your cute little friends scurry on your way and you won’t get hurt much.”

“You don’t need to stir the pot, Nicky baby,” Nutra-sweet whispered from behind.