Writing for Fun
December 2019
Conviction - Bob Wendelkin
Scarlett was in the kitchen talking to her mum about what they should have for Sunday’s dinner. Scarlett wanted her favourite and some ice cream for afters. Her mum said that if she wanted ice cream they would have to go to the Supermarket to buy some. As her Mum wanted to buy some other shopping they decided to go out. As it was such a nice day they decided that they would walk to the shops and not take the car.
On the way to the shop her Mum thought they would call into their friends for a chat and perhaps if they were lucky a cup of coffee. Their friend was very pleased to see them as she was getting over a cold but she was certain that she was no longer infectious so it was safe for them to come in. Scarlett’s friend from school was there and they decided to go into the garden to play and feed the birds.
While they were in the garden suddenly a winged horse circled down to where they were playing in the garden. Going up to where Scarlett was standing the horse showed that he had a message pinned to his saddle. It was addressed to Scarlett.
Scarlet took hold of the note and began to read it out loud to her friend 'Dear Scarlett, I’m in terrible trouble and the children of the world may not get their toys as my sleigh has been broken. An Elf came to my home a few days ago saying that he was there to look at the sleigh to make sure that it was in good order and ready to make its journey round to world delivering the Christmas Boxes to the children. But instead of making sure it was in good order he began to break it up. Now I don’t know how to manage my delivery programme. Could you come and help me?’
As soon as Scarlett read the message she immediately decided she would go to see Santa Claus. Telling her friend not to say anything Scarlett pulled her coat around her as she knew that the flight to the North Pole could be quite cold. Scarlett climbed onto the saddle and the horse took off and started to fly north to where Father Christmas lived.
The horse was quickly flying over the sea and in no time at all they started to circle down to Father Christmas’s grotto. At the door to greet them stood Father Christmas and Mother Christmas. Scarlett could see that they were very upset. Scarlett got off the horse and went over to Mother Christmas and put her arms around her to give her a cuddle to comfort her.
Father Christmas explained to her that the sleigh was badly damaged and he might not be able to get it repaired.
Scarlett and the group went into the stable where the reindeer and the sleigh were kept. Scarlett spoke to Dancer and Prancer to reindeer that pull the sleigh. They told her that unless the sleigh was repaired the Children of the World wouldn’t get their Christmas Boxes which is what the Elf intended and told them so while he was wreaking the sleigh.
Scarlett looked at the sleigh and saw that the damage was quite severe but she knew that her Daddy could fix it. Turning to Father Christmas Scarlett said, ‘I’ll have to go back home to collect my Dad and his tools. I might also bring my Grand-dad as he used to be a Policeman and he might be able to find the Elf who did this and perhaps get him sent to prison.
Going outside to where the flying horse was eating grass, as horses do, Scarlett called the horse over and told him they were going back home to collect Scarlett’s dad and granddad. Scarlett climbed back onto the horse’s back and off they set to go back to her home.
It just so happened that as it was a Saturday Scarlett’s dad wasn’t at work and Granddad and Jan had come round for a cup of coffee. Scarlett came in from the garden and explained what had happened and that Father Christmas need some help if the Children of the World were to get their Christmas Boxes.
Straight away both her Granddad and dad said they would go with her to Father Christmas’s Grotto and do their best to solve the problems so that Father Christmas could do his important job.
All three climbed onto the horse’s back, although there was now three of them the horse’s back seemed to grow so that they all felt comfortable and safe. The horse took off with Scarlett’s mum and Jan waving to them and hoping they could save the situation. Soon they once more over Father Christmas’s Grotto. Straight away they made their way inside to the stable where the broken sleigh was laying.
Scarlett’s dad said that he should soon fix the damage but he need a few hours to complete the job. With that he took off his outdoor clothes and started his repair work. Scarlett’s grand-dad said that they should go outside and look for the naughty Elf.
Granddad, Scarlett and Father Christmas went outside, just as Mother Christmas brought a nice cup of Tea up to the stable for Scarlett’s dad.
Outside there had been a fall of snow and Scarlett’s Granddad could see that there was a trail of foot prints leading into the woods. Being a good detective Granddad checked that the foot prints didn’t belong to any of the good people but must belong to the naughty Elf.
The group followed the foot prints into the woods and found that they didn’t go to far into the woods but rather circled back towards Father Christmas’s Grotto. Creeping up to where they could see the Elf sitting by a small fire, from which hardly any smoke was rising. The Elf was laughing to himself.
‘All the nasty children who throw things at me will be disappointed they won’t get their Christmas Boxes, Ha, Ha, Ha I’m so pleased with myself for what I have done to Father Christmas’s sleigh.’
‘You all heard what he said that he broke Santa’s Sleigh, with that we should easily get a conviction and he will be punished for what he has done. I hope the Court will sentence him to help Father Christmas make the toys for the Children.’ said Scarlett’s Granddad.
With that the group sprang out of the bushes and before the Elf could move he was arrested and they marched him off back to Father Christmas’s grotto. The Elf was so surprised with what had happened that he didn’t put up any resistance to being arrested by Scarlett’s Granddad.
Scarlett’s Granddad turned the Elf over to Father Christmas’s care.
Scarlett’s Daddy had been very busy and had completely repaired the damage to the sleigh and it was in first class condition to do its job, in fact it was in better condition as nothing had been done to it since last Christmas.
Father Christmas took the family group into his grotto to give them all a present for what they had done. Scarlett told Father Christmas to keep his presents and give them to the children of the world who have nothing. Father Christmas gave Scarlett a gentle hug but said as she was so very special he would deliver to her a very special Christmas present in the early hours of Christmas morning.
‘Come on let’s all go home and see what the ladies have been up to while we were away saving Christmas for the Children of the World.’