No Christmas Holiday for Santa

Yes, it's me - Darcy. Hi! With me assuming writing duties today you may be wondering what amazing knowledge I have to impart. If that's the case, calm down - you need some perspective! Seriously... I was thinking about Christmas. 

Last year I told you about a few of the seasonal traditions adopted by Mellowdene crittizens. My mate Spencer Maces has already organised the initial schedule for this year's Mouse Run as he had a family celebration - though he knows there will be last minute revisions. I also highlighted that Christmas elements were creeping into these traditions. There's nothing wrong with that - who can argue with the sentiment "peace in Sylvania, good will to all critters"? 

 

This year it continues. When the school takes the end-of-year break, more children are asking, "What are you doing for the Christmas holidays?" Even in my own family; I heard Danny and Helen asking Ralph and Saffron Walnut that exact phrase. This was a minor example, but more evidence came from another Fielding family member - my cousin Alonso.

 

Funnily enough, Jackson mentioned Alonso in the previous blog entry. As a pizza delivery driver he sees a lot. I must comment that, as a member of our family, he also shares the trait of curiosity. It so happens that something he saw on completion of a recent delivery run piqued that curiosity. Santa and an elf. He had to investigate. 

 

o 0 O 0 o

Alonso had dropped in at my workplace. With us my chief reporter and friend Harry Hawthorne was taking a break after submitting his latest article for the Mellowdene Examiner.

"I saw them at the roadworks near to the end of the canal," said Alonso. "You know, where they've been clearing and expanding the path that follows a defile into the foothills?"

I nodded.

 

Harry overheard and came over. "I was talking to Huckleberry yesterday and he said that HHG had just completed their work and just needed to clear away their equipment." (Huckleberry Hamilton is a partner in the contracting firm HHG Enterprises and the brother of Harry's wife Tillie.) "He also said that the road didn't lead to a secondary pumping station as we had been led to believe."

That wasn't entirely accurate. No one had specifically told us that a new pumping station was being built. The location of the works caused that logical but faulty assumption and nobody corrected any misapprehension - maybe because nobody knew the real reason.

Alonso was smiling faintly. "I wondered what critters were doing there in their Christmas clothing so I followed them."

I was proud. He may have abandoned the newspaper businesses followed by our fathers but he still had the familial nose for a story.

"Huckleberry did say that the roadworks had to be completed for the Christmas Holidays," said Harry.

"Well, I did follow Santa and the elf along the road, winding through to the foothills. They stopped by a structure that was built at the entrance to a cave. Work was still ongoing, and they seemed to be checking on progress. I couldn't tell if all that work would be completed by Christmas."

 

"What was being done?" I asked.
 

 

"Wellington and Wolfram Waters had packed up their stuff and they were about to leave. They had obviously done most of the work on the timber walls. Maybe that extended into the cave but I couldn't see. I did see Rolf Billabong and he was part way through tiling the roof. He's an agile little guy."

"I think I should go and check what's going on there,' said Harry, "there could be an article worth writing about it.

"I did check," said Alonso, beaming. "I went to ask Santa."

o 0 O 0 o

"The pair turned out to be Lionel Grand's brother Lennox and nephew Lawrence," Alonso began.

I was aware that they had been staying temporarily at Lionel's holiday home. Ogden and Viola Splashy are live-in housekeepers there and they wanted it known that these strangers had permission to be there.

"Did they explain what was being built?" I prompted.

"I was a little surprised. They said it was Santa's Grotto."

 

 

Harry stared at my cousin. "What?"   

"I know. I struggled to understand too. I asked Lennox why he needed one, and queried why Mellowdene was chosen for its location."

"And?"

"He laughed. He said it wasn't the only grotto in Sylvania. It's one of many used as distribution centres. He explained that one element of Christmas was the sending and receiving gifts, 'Good Will' being a big thing."

"A sort of post office?" Harry asked.

"Not quite the same, I gather. It liaises with businesses throughout Sylvania - solely for bringing together gifts. Egbert Highbranch was mentioned because of the toys he makes. I think the hill cats are involved in haulage - which probably explains the proximity to the canal."

I wondered if the speed-tunnels that Jackson revealed were involved. Most people would assume link ups with the sea cats visiting the north coast.

Alonso continued. "I asked Lennox if they'd be set up by the Christmas Holidays. From what he said he doesn’t think so - not fully anyway - but he explained that the Santa Society wanted to get things started since Mellowdene are becoming more involved in Christmas celebrations."

"The Santa Society?"

"That's what they call the people working in the network of grottos, apparently. The Santa and elf suits are a sort of uniform." 

"Will the grotto be left dormant most of the year? Wasteful if so," said Harry.

"Ah, funny you should ask that," Alonso nodded sagely, "as I asked the same thing."

"You should work here," laughed Harry, "asking reporter-like questions."

"Ah, I'd miss my trike and the free pizza," said Alonso with a wink. "But Lennox told me that the grottos are built with lots of storage. Gifts are accumulated over the year. That explains why we may see Santa suits in summer."

I remembered something my cousin had said. "You mentioned that Lennox said the grotto would be set up 'not fully'. What did he mean?"

"The grottos are also supposed to be a place for children to visit, but it won't be ready this year. By next year it should be fully operational. Lennox actually said this year is likely to be his last Christmas Holiday." 

o 0 O 0 o

After Alonso had left, Harry scribbled down what he remembered from our conversation. I knew he would follow up the story. Personally, my musings about the encroachment of Christmas traditions was overtaken by another question. Did all this mean Lennox and his family would become permanent residents? Would they continue to lodge at Lionel's home or set up their own home? Maybe Lennox wouldn't have much of a holiday this Christmas after all.

 

 

o 0 O 0 o

Give Pizza a Chance

“Pizz-a 

please sir, 

mine with 

cheese sir…”

“They sing it like that – the two-tone thing?”

“Yes - sounding like the fire truck from the Safety Department. It’s funny.”

Tara Lapine-Frost was telling me about the girls at the Snow-Warren home. I had to smile and the reason was clear to me.

Tara’s time spent recuperating there had had an effect upon her. There was Nigel, of course, attending to her every whim. His daughter Lisa has really taken to her, and the warm surroundings provided by Chris, Charity and their children had shown her what a loving family life can offer. Even Bernard – Chris and Nigel’s dad – has entertained Tara with his periodic visits from the cottage at the end of their garden.

Her anecdote about the three girls was simply an example of the subtle change in her attitude. I had no doubts that the independent, efficient, clever, slightly scary bunny was underneath, but the Snow-Warren family had worked their magic upon her. And it was likely to continue.

She had recovered from her leg injury in the snow fields of the Atlantdian mountains and I’m happy to report that she no longer needs to use a cane. Although she has supposedly moved back to her house at the north of Mellowdene County she doesn’t spend all week there - at least two days a week she spends still living in the Snow-Warren household. She’s also continued the visits to our house for chats with Cecile and me. Today, Cecile was visiting Emma Furbanks so it was just the two of us chatting.

Which brings me back to the pizza conversation.

 

 

“I’ll tell you what else is funny,” said Tara. “The sudden discovery of pizza by Lisa and her cousins. As you know, I’ve been to various places around Sylvania and I’m used to pizza being an established food item. I find myself smiling at the girls’ enthusiasm.”

I sort of understood. We’d only had a dedicated purveyor in Mellowdene for two years. Prior to that, if one wanted to buy pizza bases, one had to visit Christopher Appleblossom’s waterwheel bakery. It wasn’t a usual product they supplied, but Eloise Pickleweed worked there and would provide them upon request. With increasing demand I suppose it was to be expected that Eloise and her husband would open up their own premises.

 

Pickleweed’s Pizza Emporium was an instant success. A good location at the edge of the village shopping area meant it was ideal for the peckish customer to visit and purchase a custom pizza. 

 

 

A year on, and word of mouth meant that visitors to the village from elsewhere in Mellowdene County could share in the experience. Their only disappointment was that an impulsive desire to munch on a pizza slice would mean a long trek from their home to the village. When Hector Pickleweed proposed a delivery option it was welcomed immediately.

 

Now they have three motorised delivery tricycles. 

 

The first addition to their delivery workforce was Darcy Fielding’s cousin Alonso. He has some mechanical skills which was a bonus when keeping the trikes in good condition. Last thing I heard was that they were looking for a third driver.

Tara was watching me. “What are you thinking about?”

“Oh, not much,” I replied. “I was just thinking how Pickleweed’s has grown since it started up.”

“Are you one of their customers?”

“We sometimes pop in on our way back from shopping.  Brendan and Beverley consider it a treat. They like to choose the toppings and Eloise spoils them.”

“She does make a good pizza. I’m particularly partial to the variety of cheeses she uses. It’s probably my fault that I’ve made Lisa such a pizza fanatic. “

“Do you get deliveries to your cottage?”

“Of course,” she laughed. “I’m good customer. Always piping hot when it arrives, and Hector is a friendly chap.”

“Yes, he is. It does surprise me how they manage to keep the food so hot, even when it is taken to the other end of the county. You know we're related to the Cornflowers? Well, Wester Cornflower is an enormous cheese fan and he has remarked on that point.”

“It’s no big mystery, Jackson. There are shallow tanks built into the trikes and these contain crushed minerals from used coolsalt blocks. Small discharge units allow the trapped heat to be released.”

“We are lucky to have the Polaris family and all their hot and cold expertise.”

“True. I’ve had some interesting discussions with them about their work with minerals.”

Of course she had. Tara’s knowledge went beyond unusual plants. That was another reason that Nigel enjoyed her company – intellectual discussions on minerals and plants as part of his role as pharmacist played an essential part in their initial association.

“And what about Nigel?” I asked, following my thoughts, “Does he like pizza?” If the apparent change in subject puzzled Tara she didn’t show it.

“Oddly, he’d never eaten it, but I said he should give it a chance. Now he loves it.”

“That’s nice.”

“And you?”

“Oh, I like it well enough. Sometimes after shopping…”

“Yes, you said. You never have it delivered for an evening meal?”

“Not yet.”

o 0 O 0 o

The conversation came to mind later that day, and I suggested the idea to Cecile. It was well received. A telephone call to Pickleweed’s and Hector answered the call.

After taking the order, he told me the expected delivery time and then ended the call with a chuckle, saying “It’ll give you a chance to meet our new delivery driver.”

He wouldn’t elucidate further, but all became clear when the driver arrived. When Beverley showed them through, it was someone we knew very well.

“Rowan! It’s you,” exclaimed Cecile.

“I’ve always been me, Sis,” he said, winking at me. “I’m filling in as a favour. I was giving Alonso a hand identifying a fault with his trike’s engine."

 

"He knew that I’d spent years maintaining the camper van and he caught sight of me when I was picking up a pizza."

 

 

"He asked me to have a look at the trike as he thought he was missing something obvious. He was, but whilst he was fixing it they would be short one driver. And Hector had already had an idea about asking me.”

“So how long will you be filling in?” said Cecile.

“Who knows?” he shrugged. “Anyway, I’ve got to go. I’ve got another delivery. Eat up whilst the pizza’s still hot.”

With that he was gone. 

 

“He’s got a point,“ Cecile laughed. “Let’s eat.”

o 0 O 0 o

 

 

o 0 O 0 o