Merry Christmas....

Every year instead of Christmas cards I write a Christmas Story...I find cards so impersonal.  This year's story is kind of unique so I thought I'd share it with everyone.

In case you are wondering after you read it, I really do have a teddy bear named Mikey and a tiger named Willoughby that I have had since I was 5 and 3... somehow I actually have a picture of Willoughby...

Across the Fascination Street and Into the Trees to the North Pole

The snow was cold and falling down heavy on the winding street. A little white bear named Mikey was determined to make it to his destination; the North Pole.
“I can do this” Mikey said to himself out loud, his words getting lost in the wind. “But the wind is blowing like it’s the end of the world” he said, words lost upon the snow drifts.
Mikey the bear stopped for a moment and looked around. It was dark and hard to see very far in front of him. He looked up to the sky and just saw the snow falling all around him. No stars, no moon, no Jupiter crash, there was nothing for him to look at. Was he even heading north?
“I can do this” Mikey said to himself again and started walking a little bit more when he looked up and saw smoke coming from a chimney in the distance.
“That looks like a good place to warm up” he said into the cold night and hurried along.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The door opened and a fearsome tiger was standing in a charming sweater on the other side.
“Hello” the tiger said cautiously to the little white bear at his door.
“I was walking such a long way and noticed your cottage, if you don’t mind sir, could I stop in for a few minutes to warm up? I won’t make a sound.”
“No one should be out on a night like this. Please come in and get out of the snow.”
“Oh thank you. I wish I stayed asleep today.”
“It is a good time to be hibernating” the tiger said to the bear. “My name is Willoughby. I have lived in this cottage for many years but have never seen anyone come by at this time. What are you doing out there anyway?”
“Thank you so much for letting me stay for a few minutes. My name is Mikey and usually I am hibernating but I just couldn’t let myself fall asleep this time. I am on my way to the North Pole to see Santa!”
Willoughby couldn’t believe his ears. Did Mikey just say he was on his way to see Santa? “That’s out of this world, you have to go all the way past Fascination Street, so if you don’t have a fear of ghosts, that is a long way from here, and very scary.”
“I have never heard of Fascination Street.”
“Oh, it is very scary. It is underneath the stars and you think you are lost, but you are not. It is like you are walking in a void until you finally get to the other side, which is the North Pole. If you are brave enough to go, you can go see Santa.”
“I am brave enough. How far is it to Fascination Street?”
“Miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles away.” Willoughby said sadly knowing his new friend would never make it.
“Oh.”
“But!” Willoughby just remembered something. “If you wait until three there is a magic mint car that will take you right to Fascination Street, you just have to cross the street.”
“What is a mint car?”
“It shows up at 3am right under that tree out there, even in the snow. I will go with you if you like.”

It was decided, Mikey and Willoughby were going to wait for the Mint Car to take them to Fascination Street. While they waited Willoughby brought out a deck of cards and they played games, ate popcorn and drank cups of cocoa. For Willoughby, who usually spends the winters alone in his cottage, he was very happy to have a friend to share the evening with.
“Well, it is nearly three, are you ready?” Willoughby asked his friend.
“As ready as I will ever be to meet Santa.”
Willoughby opened the door to his cottage and they both walked off into the winter storm. It was still blowing strong and cold. Luckily the tree wasn’t too far away and they just had to wait for the mint car to show up. At a minute to three they saw the mint car magically appear in front of them. There wasn’t a road to drive on, there wasn’t a path. It just showed up all of a sudden.
“Let’s go!” Willoughby said to Mikey but Mikey looked a little apprehensive. “Come on, we just need to get across the street and then you can meet Santa.” Mikey followed Willoughby into the mint car. It was already full of other passengers. They met a hungry ghost, a girl named Wendy (who was having the time of her life), and the Queen of Siam.
“Wow” Mikey gasped as he took a seat looking at everyone else wide-eyed.
“Remember, the mint car stops at Fascination Street, so you have to walk across the street still.”
“I understand” Mikey looked at Willoughby. How hard could it be, he thought.
As if reading his mind, Willoughby said to his friend “If you can make it past Club America, then you will be fine.”
“What happens at Club America?”
“Club America is the price we pay for happiness.”
“I don’t understand” Mikey was starting to get nervous. What price did he have to pay for his happiness? What would he have to give up?
“The rule is nothing comes for free. Club America is where the hungry ghost hangs out.”
The rest of the ride Mikey sat in silence watching all of the other characters in the Mint Car. He knew as long as he got across Fascination Street he would be fine and could meet Santa. The Mint Car stopped. It was time to get out and take the walk across Fascination Street and into the trees to the North Pole.
“This way” Willoughby led Mikey to the edge of the street. “Hold onto my tail, keep your eyes down and we will not have a problem.”
Mikey did as Willoughby asked and took hold of his tale. He wanted ever so badly to look up. There was no storm, they were definitely underneath the stars. But Mikey wanted to see the other faces and all the other voices. Mikey wanted to see the bright lights and listen to the music. Oh, the music was unbelievable. It was like he was at the edge of the earth, the edge of the deep, green sea. Mikey was on Fascination Street. Mikey dared not look up though, he wanted to meet Santa. He needed to meet Santa.
Slow and steady Willoughby walked hoping beyond hope that Mikey wouldn’t look up. He knew the second he did, he would be lost forever. Then Willoughby stepped onto the curb and they entered a forest. Right beyond the trees was the North Pole and Santa.
Mikey could hardly contain himself. This was it, he made it. He was about to meet Santa. He hoped and dreamed for this day for such a long time.
Santa’s house grand. It was made of ginger and had frosting on the roof. There was a candy cane bridge and a gumdrop for the doorknob. This was all too surreal for Mikey. It was just like a dream.
“Go on, knock” Willoughby nudged Mikey towards the door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.
The gumdrop doorknob turned and there was Santa in all of his glory.
“Helloooo ho ho ho!”
“Uh, h…hi Santa?” Mikey stammered.
“Yes little Mikey, I see you made it. Please, you and Willoughby come in.”
“You know my name?” Mikey was shocked. How did he know?
“I know everyone’s name just as I knew you were coming. Please come into the white room with the Christmas lights.”
Mikey and Willoughby walked in and it was the most colorful sights that they had seen. The lights shown across the entire walls, it was definitely magical.
Santa offered hot cocoa and cookies which Mikey and Willoughby politely nibbled on. Mikey was star-struck. He was able to get out a few words but Santa knew what it is Mikey really wanted to say.
“I am glad that you made the journey Mikey.” Santa said to him. “I know you stayed up a long time to be able to come see me and I want you to know that I am very appreciative. My reindeer and I make it out more often than you think. We slip through the streets while everyone sleeps. We know who is naughty and we know who is nice.”
Mikey grinned at Santa who continued to speak.
“Willoughby, because of you Mikey was able to make his dream come true. You are a great friend.”
Santa was kind. He brought out a gift for both Mikey and Willoughby to remember their adventure. Mikey received a book on the magic of Christmas and Willoughby received a new sweater, but it wasn’t the gifts that really mattered to them. Mikey and Willoughby each made a new friend. Mikey achieved his dream and Willoughby was able to help someone else out. All that really mattered was their new friendship to last a lifetime that started the night before Christmas Eve all the way across the Fascination Street and into the trees.