Santa was getting old and tired. For many years he had been delivering toys to the good children of the world. Ever since the Baron had given him a small fortune and told him to do with it as he pleased. In the beginning, not much money was required; just enough to keep the elves and the reindeer and to buy raw materials for the toys, mostly wood. But then things began to change. Children no longer asked for the type of presents that his elves could make. So, he had decided to buy the ones that could not be manufactured in Lapland. This seemed to work fine. And when the elves got together and asked for wages as well as food and accommodation, Santa felt obliged to comply. After all, they were good workers and that’s the way the world was going. Malric had advised against paying the elves, including himself. He could see problems ahead. How right the elf had been.
For more than one hundred years, Santa has been running the operation, albeit leaving most of the day-to-day business to Malric. When he thought back to the early days, how much he enjoyed the task, especially Christmas Eve itself, he now wondered why he no longer felt that way. It had all become one big chore.
A soft knock disturbed Santa’s dispirited thoughts. Looking up from his seat by the fire he called, “Come in,” in a deep voice. The door opened and his trusted elf dashed in, accompanied by a little flurry of snow. “Malric, how are you today?” Santa asked, as the chief entered the cosy house.
“ More problems, I’m afraid,” the little elf answered as Santa lifted himself out of the armchair. The elf’s head only reached slightly higher than Santa’s elbow. Santa was a large man with a dark red suit, his trousers held up by a wide, leather belt. His face was red and he had a bushy, white beard. But he didn’t seem as jolly as he had in the past. His forehead was lined and his shoulders seemed to droop more and more with time. Malric felt the boss was in bad need of a holiday.
“ What’s the matter now?” he asked, as he stood in front of the large fireplace, with the logs spitting and hissing as the flames licked in between.
“ The warehouses are almost full. We need to build some more.”
“ So soon? We built the big one only two years ago. We should stop making toys since no one seems to want them anymore.”
“ I know. I wish we could, but you know what will happen. The elves will kick up a fuss. They’ll say you’re taking away their livelihood.”
“ But I can look after them. They never needed money in the past,” Santa said, as he paced over and back in front of the fire. “I know what you’re thinking, Malric. You wish I had never given into their demands in the first place.”
“ I suppose it wasn’t that easy. You wanted us to have all of life’s luxuries,” Malric defended the boss. “You didn’t want to have control of our lives, so you gave us our independence. But now the market for the type of toys we can make is gone and you’re protecting us by paying us to produce these things that aren’t needed.”
“ What else can I do?”
There followed a protracted silence. Eventually, Santa dropped heavily into the deep armchair and sat staring into the flames. “Tell Deben to get started on the new warehouse,” he said quietly. There was nothing else for it.

Malric closed his eyes and sighed. He had just noticed Balfort waddling, as fast as his fat, little body would allow, in his direction. “Malric,” he shouted, “I just heard you’re building another warehouse. Well you can’t have any of my elves as I need them all here to reach our quotas. We have so much to do.”
“Someone has to build it,” Malric countered. “Who do you suggest?”
“That’s your problem. I need the elves here.”
“No! Santa has given the order so I need thirty elves.” As Balfort began to argue, Malric cut him off. “That’s it Balfort. The warehouse will be built, and I expect you to have chosen thirty elves to begin working on it tomorrow. That will be all,” he said as he walked away from the furious, little elf.

In the darkness of the following morning the elves made their way to work. A bitter wind whistled through the little community, but there was no sign of the expected snow. And that meant work on the new warehouse could begin. Malric walked into the warm, yellow light of the workshop and climbed the stairs to his office. He was only settling in behind his desk, about to start another day, when Deben burst in. “That Balfort! I can’t believe the gall.”
“Please, Deben, calm down and tell me what’s the matter.”
“Balfort,” Devben continued, a little less vociferously. “He purposely sent over thirty elves who have absolutely no experience in construction. They have no idea where to start.”
Malric could see Deben was about to start shouting again, so he sent him away with instructions to order the elves back to the workshop. He went in search of Balfort, finding the foreman at the far end of the workshop. “Balfort, I’m afraid there’s a problem with the elves you chose for the warehouse construction,” he began, deciding to first try diplomacy.
“Really? In what way?”
“They don’t know anything about construction.”
“Well, I’m afraid that’s not my fault. I need all the elves I can get and you know I can’t even spare those thirty, but I did my best to pick elves that would least disrupt the making of toys. After all, this is a toy factory.”
“Balfort, I need a warehouse built,” Malric spoke very slowly. “For that to happen, I require elves who know how to build a warehouse.”
“It is not my job to ensure elves know how to build. I am responsible for the toys being made on schedule.”
Malric would love to have been able to say, we don’t need any more toys. We don’t need you. But he realised that would simply annoy Balfort to such an extent that it would be twice as hard to get what he needed from him.
“Balfort, you know the warehouse must be built. You know Santa has ordered it built. When he comes to inspect the work later today, what do you think he will say to me when he sees nothing has been done? And I will be forced to tell him you wouldn’t release experienced builders.”
Balfort threw his arms in the air. “This is ridiculous,” he cried. “Toy makers should be making toys,” he continued as he turned his back on Malric. “I’ll do what I can. You can tell Deben there’ll be a new crew over to him in a few hours,” he called over his shoulder as he walked away.

In yet another warehouse, the gifts that Malric had purchased were beginning to pile up. These were the toys that would actually be delivered and it was now time for Santa to begin placing them inside the large sack, which sat in the back of his sleigh. It was a magic sack, of course; only a magic sack could hold all the toys that would be taken by Santa all over the world on Christmas Eve. And only Santa knew how to use the sack. Malric had asked him to come to the warehouse and begin the task that would take weeks to complete. But Santa still hadn’t arrived and the chief was getting worried. He sent a messenger to see what was the matter. Eventually, an elf returned to inform Malric that Santa had taken to his bed. Malric was amazed; Santa never slept this close to Christmas. He immediately sent the messenger across the snow to the little cottage where resided Dr Neddan.
Malric arrived at Santa’s house only moments before the little doctor. Dr Neddan ordered the chief out of Santa’s bedroom. Malric was forced to wait in the livingroom. He had been shocked by the appearance of the big man in bed. Santa’s face was almost as white as his beard, and his breathing was laboured. It was unheard of for the great man to be sick.
After what seemed like hours, the doctor quietly exited Santa’s room. Malric jumped to his feet. “What’s the matter with him, Doctor?”
“He’s let himself get run down. He hasn’t been eating properly and has not been sleeping.”
“But Santa doesn’t need to sleep.”
“I have never been able to understand why he could go for so long without sleep. It’s not healthy to do so.”
“He’s magic,” Malric explained. “That’s why he can work for so long and so hard.”
The doctor shrugged. “Then all I can tell you is his magic isn’t working anymore. I see a very sick man who has exhausted himself and needs rest. Perhaps he could only do this for so long, and a hundred and fifty years is more than even he can handle. I have told him he must rest, but he is stubborn.
“So, Malric, listen carefully. Santa is not to leave this house and he must not work until I say he can.”
“We can’t run the operation without him. We don’t know how to fill the sack, and we can’t deliver the toys since we don’t know how to slow time.”
“It is my job to ensure he gets better. For that to happen, he must be allowed to rest. I don’t care if you have to cancel Christmas.”
“That’s absurd!” Malric cried.
The doctor tilted his head slightly. Once he had said it aloud, he knew it was the only option. “There will be no Christmas,” he said, quite forcibly, “because Santa is not up to it this year. I’m sorry there will be so many disappointed children, but he simply must rest. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must prepare some food for my patient.”

Malric left the house and returned to his office. Things had certainly gotten as low as could be expected. In his mind’s eye he could see the multitude of sad, bewildered and disappointed children all over the globe. This should not have been allowed to happen. In the past, only those who had misbehaved were left with nothing on Christmas morning. Would the obedient kids wonder what they had done wrong?
How had it come to this? A backup plan should have been in place. But then who would have thought Santa was anything less than invincible? Who could have seen this turn of events? “I took things for granted,” he spoke to himself.
It seemed there was nothing that could be done. The doctor was determined to keep Santa in bed and what could the great man do from there? Malric stopped dead in his tracks. From out of nowhere an idea had popped into his head and his face lit up. If he could persuade the doctor, Christmas could yet be saved.

Malric met Dr Needan as he came out of Santa’s bedroom. “Doctor, has he improved?”
“He’s eaten a decent meal and is now sleeping,” Needan replied, as he removed his wire-rimmed spectacles. “I am much less worried about his health now. As long as he’s allowed to rest.”
“How long before he can get back to work?”
Exacerbated, the doctor turned to face Malric. “Have you been listening to me? He must not be disturbed. I will not allow anyone to see him.”
“I need to talk to him. I need to ask him what I must do to make sure the delivery goes ahead.”
“As I’ve already told you, there will be no delivery this year.” Needan raised his voice. “It is my responsibility to ensure my patient fully recovers and I know what you’re like, Malric. You’ll do anything to ensure Christmas doesn’t suffer.” He could see Malric was about to interrupt, so he quickly continued. “That’s why you’re the boss, because you’re good at your job. Now, let me be as good at mine.”
“Can’t I see him for a couple of minutes.”
“No, Malric. I’m sorry.” And with that, he ushered the chief elf from the house. The doctor was determined not to allow anyone in to see Santa because he knew Santa was anxious about Christmas and would be encouraged to leave his bed if Malric was allowed to talk to him about unhappy children, and the toy sack, and all that. It was a struggle to keep him in bed as it was. Needan had been forced to slip some sleeping pills into Santa’s food.

Malric had hoped to talk to Santa, even if only for a few minutes. He had expected resistance from the doctor, but he hadn’t suspected he would be refused access to the boss completely. So late that night he quietly made his way to Santa’s house once more. He gently lifted the latch on the door and sneaked inside. By the light of the fire he could make out the shape of the doctor sleeping on a pallet on the livingroom floor. Needan was very determined Santa would not be disturbed.
Carefully Malric crossed the room. He was forced to make his way around the pallet, taking him closer to the dining-table than he would have liked and in the near darkness he bumped against the heavy timber. The table barely moved, but it was enough to set the salt shaker at the far end dancing. Malric froze as the shaker tilted back and forth like an inverted pendulum. For a brief moment he was sure it would topple, but slowly it regained stability and Malric started to breath again. He waited another moment to see if Needan would awake, but the doctor did not even stir in his sleep.
Malric completed the short journey to Santa’s bedroom door without any more mishaps. He slowly turned the knob and pushed the door open, grimacing at the squeaky hinges that seemed so loud in the still night. But the doctor remained asleep and Malric silently thanked the stars Needan was a sound sleeper.
He closed the door behind him and quickly crossed the tiny room and turned up the oil lamp that sat on the little bedside table. Santa was snoring lightly as Malric gently shook his shoulder. In a second his eyes popped open and he looked up at the elf. For a moment he seemed to be unsure of who Malric was, but another moment, his eyes focused and he pushed himself up slightly in the bed. “Malric,” he said, “what’s the matter?”
“Ssh,” Malric raised his index finger to his lips. “I’m sorry to wake you, Santa,” he whispered, “but this was the only way I could get to see you. Needan is determined to keep you away from work.”
Santa’s eyes opened a little wider. He hadn’t thought the doctor could have held his authority over the chief elf. Good for him, he thought. “So sleeping in my livingroom was not quiet enough,” Santa smiled. “But then it is you he’s up against and you’re even more stubborn than him. So, tell me, how are things proceeding?”
“ I’m afraid there will be no delivery this year if we don’t do something.” Malric could see this statement upset Santa. He slumped a little into the mattress and the glow from his face seemed to die. “But I have an idea that allows you to deliver the toys without leaving your bed. You could relax here, in warmth and comfort.”
Santa sat up at once. His round, red face, framed in white, was aglow once more. A chance to save Christmas was all he wanted. “What have you in mind?”

The following morning Dr Needan was not pleased. Partly he was annoyed with Malric for sneaking behind his back, but more so he was worried about Santa’s health. However, Santa had insisted so strenuously that he had been forced to agree. He had argued and strenuously, but when Santa laid down the law, no one disobeyed. But the doctor had managed to ensure he would be present throughout the operation and would be allowed to call a halt if he felt Santa required rest.
Malric was pleased Santa had agreed to the unorthodox method of delivering the presents but he had not yet informed the rest of the community. Many of the elves were beginning to wonder why the magic sack was not being filled and why Santa had not been seen for a number of days. Therefore, Malric decided it was time to hold a conference, so he waited at the top of the stairs as all the elves filed in for work below. He wondered what the reaction would be.

A few hours after the announcement a young elf ran up the steps to Malric’s office and burst through the door as the chief was about to start into his lunch. “Blitzen wants to see you,” she called. “He’s not happy.”
Malric wanted to reproach the youngster for entering his office without knocking but he just didn’t have the energy. Everyone had been surprised and shocked to hear of Santa’s illness and even more surprised to hear the plan that had been put in place to ensure the children would not be disappointed. But Malric had hoped they all would cooperate. Balfort didn’t care because production would not be effected. It didn’t make any difference to Deben either. But he now guessed what the leading reindeer wished to talk to him about and it made him angry and disappointed.
Malric walked out onto the snow to face the large, grey reindeer. Blitzen was the oldest of Santa’s reindeer and boasted the most impressive set of antlers ever to have been seen in Lapland. He took a couple of steps towards the elf, his smooth, black nose glistening in the sunshine. “Malric,” he spoke in a deep voice. “What’s this I hear about you cancelling the Flight?”
Malric sighed. “Firstly, I didn’t cancel anything. And secondly, the delivery will go ahead, only by different means.”
“Meaning we’re out of a job.”
“Only for this year, Blitzen. Santa is not well and this is the only way he can deliver the toys. You must understand. It makes perfect sense: instead of using magic to fill the sack, this year he’ll use magic to make the presents appear beneath the children’s Christmas trees.”
“We will not accept this. If you do it once, you’ll do it every year and what will we do then? How are we to look after our young? The Flight is our way of life and always has been. You can’t take that away from us.”
“It’s not up to me. I’m doing what Santa wishes. He can’t go on the Flight this year and anyway, the doctor won’t allow him to leave his room.”
“We’ll see about that!” Blitzen almost shouted. He turned and galloped away.

There was very little sunshine in Lapland during the winter months. Therefore, when the reindeer grouped together outside Santa’s house only a couple of hours after Blitzen had confronted Malric it was already dark. Needan, wondering what all the commotion was about, looked out of the livingroom window. From the light of the candle in the window he could see a dozen or so reindeer tramping about in the snow, Blitzen to the front. “Dr Needan,” he called. “Come out at once.”
Needan didn’t like his tone, but he went to the door just the same. On opening it he was met by a chorus of angry voices. “What are you doing here?” he shouted to be heard. “You’ll disturb Santa.”
Blitzen shushed his cohorts and answered, “we want you to allow Santa to return to work. It’s not right, you keeping him here.”
“This is not for discussion. I am responsible for his health and I will decide when he is allowed to leave this house.”
Blitzen approached the door. “We demand to see him now,” he shouted. “It is our right.”
“Come back tomorrow,” the doctor pleaded. “He is sleeping at last and I want him to remain so.”
“We demand to see him now!” Blitzen reiterated and was encouraged by those at the rear. So much noise did they make that, presently, Santa appeared at the door. He looked tired and worn out. “Santa,” Blitzen called as he took the last few steps to the door. “We are upset and angry to hear you have cancelled the Flight. You are taking away our livelihoods.” These sentiments were echoed by the rest of the herd.
“Anything I present to you I may also reclaim,” Santa replied sternly. A hush fell over the herd. They could sense something different about the man tonight. Something they had not experienced before. His eyes were no longer twinkling. “I have looked after you all for so long, you and the elves. But no more. There will be no delivery this year.” With that, he walked back into the warmth of his bedroom and quietly closed the door.
This unexpected turn of events completely knocked the wind out of Blitzen’s sails. Even Dr Needan was surprised at Santa’s words. Blitzen slowly turned from the house and, head down, walked heavily across the snow towards the stables. Bewildered, the rest of the herd followed suit. They could hear the latch click as Needan closed the door behind them.

The door to Malric’s office opened and Deben slowly appeared from behind it. “Have you heard?” he asked the chief.
“What?” Malric asked from behind his desk.
“Santa has cancelled Christmas. He has decided not to deliver the presents.”
“Needan. He was against it from the start.”
“It wasn’t him. I just heard Santa came out of his house this afternoon to confront the reindeer. He said something like he was tired of looking after us all and that he wouldn’t do so any longer.”
Malric sat back heavily in his chair. “It’s no more than we deserve,” he spoke quietly. “We have abused his kindness for too long.” The silence that followed was eventually broken by a knock on the door. Deben opened it and a young elf stepped inside.
“Santa wishes to see you, Malric,” he announced.

A little time later Malric returned to the workshop with the news that Santa had ordered the production of toys to cease. Balfort was amazed and began to argue. Malric informed him he would no longer be ordering raw materials, nor would he process any time sheets. And if Balfort refused to take the bad news to his subordinates, then Malric would do so himself. Balfort grunted, walked out of the workshop and headed home.
Therefore, from his office door, Malric called for silence. Once the sounds of hammers and saws and happy conversations had died Malric began. “I’m afraid I have some bad news for you all. Santa has ordered me to terminate the operation. Production of toys and all other activities relating to the Christmas Flight will cease immediately and indefinitely. I have posted a notice from Santa at the exit.” He then turned from the multitude of upturned, wide-eyed faces to quietly enter his office and quietly close the door. As he sat behind his desk again he felt strangely relieved. It could not go on forever. Not this way. So much superfluous activity. Finally Santa had had enough. But there was still a part of Malric that felt bad for the children. They had done nothing wrong and it simply was not fair on them. But there was nothing he could do now.
After some time of sitting alone in his office, muffled sounds of the arguments from below reaching his ear but not registering in his brain, Malric finally decided what he would do. He put pen to paper and began to write.

Dear parents/guardians,
due to unforeseen circumstances, Santa will be unable to deliver presents to your children this year. This is not a reflection on your children’s behaviour. We are very sorry for the disappointment and inconvenience we may have caused you and we hope to be able to return to normal operations as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to enable Santa to perform his usual work this Christmas. We hope you understand that Santa has worked extremely hard for quite a long time and that he is very upset at this, the first time he has had to cancel his trip around the world on Christmas Eve.
We also hope you do not take it as an affront if we make a suggestion to you. In order to ensure the children are not disappointed and confused we would ask you to purchase some presents for your children and pretend they were delivered by Santa. We understand you would not ordinarily wish to deceive your children in such a fashion, but we feel this may be the best way of making sure your children are not confused and spend Christmas wondering what it is they did wrong to be ignored by Santa. You may also feel this is an easy way for us to get off the hook, so to speak. All we can say is that we are doing everything in our power to ensure service is returned to normal as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,
Malric
Chief Elf

Malric read over the short letter for some time before he was satisfied. He felt it was only fair to inform the parents of the world of this unexpected turn of events. This would help to ensure at least the adults would not be caught by surprise on Christmas morning. Perhaps not all would follow his suggestion, but he felt sure most would not wish to have their children facing a barren Christmas tree on the most exciting morning of the year.
Now the problem was getting the letter copied and posted. For this he needed Santa. Only he could magically multiply the letter and send the copies on their way. But would Santa agree? Malric had a feeling he would be outraged and upset, especially at Malric’s encouragement of dishonesty.

“Did you really think I would send this?” Santa asked as he shook the piece of paper at Malric. “Making excuses and asking parents to lie to their children. It’s disgraceful.
“ However,” he continued more softly, “you are right. I should send out a letter to explain the situation.” He sat at the table and, pulling a fresh sheet of paper towards him, he began to write. “I’m very disappointed it has come to this,” he sighed, “but I will not continue in this way.”
Malric, sitting beside the fire, could think of nothing to say. For a short time the only sound in the cosy room was the spark and hiss of the fire over the scratching of fountain pen on paper. Presently, Santa turned to Malric and handed him the sheaf for his perusal. “I’ve written much the same as you, except I’ve left out the bit about deceiving the children. I’m afraid they simply must learn the truth.”
Malric handed the letter back to his boss, his heart feeling heavy. He had hoped to rescue the situation, but it was beyond repair.
Santa placed the letter on the table and stood back. He waved his right hand in the air and clicked his fingers. Immediately, the single sheet became two, the two became four, the four became eight, and so on. Very quickly the stack of paper was reaching the ceiling and Santa was just about to click his fingers once more to whirl the sheaves across the room, into the wide chimney stack, up and out of the top of the chimney and off on their long journeys across the globe. But he didn’t get the chance because just then there sounded a knock on the door and beyond the window could be heard the muffled noises of a large crowd gathering.
Marlic was abruptly snatched from a kind of lazy trance. He always enjoyed observing Santa the magician. But what could be transpiring now, he wondered. Were the elves and the reindeer about to revolt? Nothing would surprise him anymore.
Santa reached the door before the elf and opened it on a large crowd of elves and reindeer. It seemed the whole community had turned up with Balfort, Deben and Blitzen to the fore. Balfort received a shove in the back to leave him standing only a few yards from Santa’s door. “Santa,” he stammered. “We have spent the evening in the workshop holding a meeting. We, ourselves and the reindeer, have been discussing the current situation and we have decided something must be done.” Prompted by some coughs from behind, he added, “some things need to be changed.”
“Oh for goodness sake, Balfort,” Blitzen cried and stepped forward to face Santa while pushing the fat, little elf to one side. “What we’re trying to say, Santa, is we’re sorry. It’s taken hours of discussions and arguments for our eyes to be opened and for us to see the fact that you have given us everything and we have been very ungrateful.” This statement was met with hearty approval from the crowd.
“Most of the work we do is useless and unnecessary,” Deben added. “Making toys that are not needed and building warehouses to store them. All this when we should be helping you and Malric with the real work of acquiring and delivering the toys to the good children of the world. We forgot what the whole operation is supposed to be about. But we’re ready now to do whatever you and Malric say needs to be done. No more complaints.”
Just then Dr Needan arrived. “Please,” he cried, “you must not bother Santa. He must be allowed to rest.”
But Santa smiled and Malric was amazed at how quickly the colour had returned to his cheeks and his face no longer looked so haggard. “Don’t worry, doctor, all is well, including me. I haven’t felt this young since I was young. Come, my elves and reindeer,” he shouted as he jumped from the doorway and strode through the crowd in the direction of the warehouses. “There are presents to be wrapped and the sack needs filling. We are very much behind schedule so everyone will need to work hard.”
Suddenly Malric felt an enormous push at his back and he fell into the snow. Looking back at the house his eyes widened and he called out in alarm. “Santa! Quickly.”
Puzzled, Santa ran back to his home. And then he was roaring with laughter. With all the excitement he had completely forgotten about the letters and now the house was almost full of paper. Creaks and groans emanated from the house as just then the quantity doubled once more. Malric had called not a moment too soon because had the spell gone unchecked for another cycle Santa’s dwelling would have been destroyed. However, with a wave of his hand and another click of his fingers, Santa put the spell in reverse and instantly the amount of paper began to diminish. Before long, only the original letter remained. A couple of young elves were asked to tidy the house and soon all was right as rain.

Everything was better than Malric had ever dared hope. Some elves were helping him match the toys from the outside world with the children’s letters and these were then passed to Balfort’s team who arranged to have them delivered to the warehouse to Deben’s team who in turn presented them to Santa for placement in the mighty, magic sack. The reindeer were exercising hard in preparation for the Flight, running many miles a day and eating all the right foods. It was a long time since such a healthy, industrious and satisfying feeling coursed through the community. And Santa was back to his jolly, old self.
There was still a lot to be done, but everyone was gladly working overtime. And Santa had decided there would be a huge party in the workshop once the magic sack was completely filled. There would be food and drink and music and dancing. Malric found himself very much looking forward to it.