Grandma Lu's Surprise

 Elf, Mason, Rudolph, Santa, and Grandma Lu's friends, Faun and Scott had been working what seemed like forever, to surprise Grandma Lu with a gift of a lifetime. As Santa pointed out there were others in the world that needed surprises and gifts besides Grandma Lu. Ellie, for instance, was poor, hungry, and cold this winter. She needed firewood, and food for her horse and her mother before Grandma Lu needed something. Actually, Grandma Lu didn't need anything. She just needed a little Christmas magic to make her smile and give her a memory to think about for a long time. 

Santa sat on his soft chair and looked at his list of things that were needed. He shook his head and wondered to himself if he could get it done this year. There was a shortage of volunteers for some reason. But he smiled to himself when he thought of the younger crew. They were as young as four years old. He thought about Mason and thought, "Now someday he may just be the head man of the volunteers if he keeps up the good work he's been doing this year.

Santa shook  his head and said softly, "No, Rudolf. Before we start our trip on Christmas Eve I have a special job for you to do. Ellie needs a Christmas tree. She has never had one before. Well, before you give me all kinds of excuses why you can't get her a tree just stop and listen. You have a nose so bright and her tree has a lone star to guide you. You will find it on the mountain. When you get there tell everyone that will listen about a special baby being born! Take the tree to Ellie's house then her Christmas will be complete.

Santa again looked at the list. He chuckled when he looked at some of the letters he had received. Of course, he checked his list twice and noticed that there were two little girls that believed in the magic of Christmas. Their mom had sent him a picture of them.

&&&&

As Grandma Lu, her husband, and her friends Faun and her son pulled into the Marleewood parking lot they saw that Marleewood was decorated for Christmas. The lights were all on and there were people lined up at the door. When they got out of the car they could hear the carolers singing Joy to the World.

"What in the world is going on? asked Grandma Lu. "Marleewood has been closed for quite some time. It was up for sale and then you said you bought it, Faun?"

Faun took her friend's elbow. "Come on, dear friend. Let's go in the back door to your favorite place; the kitchen where the treats are!"

Grandma Lu laughed and did just that. As she walked in the smells of Christmas were swirling in the air. There were cinnamon candy canes, cookies and freshly made hot chocolate and coffee. There were so many people! As she looked there stood the mayor. The mayor was not her favorite person. But since it was Christmas she smiled and said, "Merry Christmas."

There was Santa Claus! She immediately sat on his lap and then the memories of Marlee and Whitlee seemed real. Grandma B was there and a little boy holding a stuffed elf. There were two children decorating a Christmas tree and of course, Frosty the snowman and Rudolf the red nosed reindeer.

The room got quiet as the tinkling of a glass called everyone's attention.

Faun went to the front of the room and thanked everyone for coming. Then she looked at Grandma Lu and said, "I have a gift for you, Grandma Lu. I have been visiting with the mayor and the city council. We all have decided that the key to Marleewood should be yours for life. Marleewood's upkeep will be the city's responsibility. There will be no cost to you. You only have to keep telling stories. Grandma B will always be your partner and keep the coffee pot on. Of course, snacks for everyone that comes to visit!"

Tears of joy ran down Grandma Lu's cheeks as she accepted the key. She turned to look at her friends and the children and said, "Oh my goodness this is the best Christmas ever! Does anyone want to hear a Christmas story?"

Santa quietly left the party and motioned for Rudolf to follow him. If they didn't leave now there would be some disappointed children across the world. 

Ho Ho Ho Marry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

The Christmas Trio

 The head elf was so upset with her assistant. Why didn't you tell me that Frosty's plan for Marleewood had gone all wrong? Didn't Rudolf tell you not to have Faun and her son come to visit Grandma Lu? I just don't understand how this could have happened. One good thing you have done, however, is to furnish corn, groceries, and firewood for little Ellie and her mother. At least they will have a good Christmas. Poor Grandma Lu. She must be so disappointed. She was hoping that the mayor would change his mind and have Marleewood designated as a historical building. If that happened then the city wouldn't have to pay for all the taxes and repairs that old building needs. Why don't you just talk to Rudolf and see if he has heard anything from Santa. Maybe you will have better luck than I have. All he does is look sad and blinks his nose at me. I think he is a bit miffed at both of us. Oh I am fit to be tied. I love working for Santa and I sure don't want to disappoint him.

Little did the elves know but the problem had been passed on to Gabe. He was Frosty's best friend. Gabe knew of a little boy that loved elves and would be willing to help if his mom would help him carry out the plan.

Mason grinned when he got in the car. There were some elves waiting for him. His big elf whose name was Elf was in the house working on Frosty's problem with Marleewood. He and Rudolf were working with Santa to see if they couldn't get the problem solved before Christmas.  That Rudolf was magic. All he did was flash his bright nose and Elf seemed to know everything he wanted him to do. Maybe when he got older he could work at the North Pole and help the elves and Santa. That would be so cool.

As he and his mom pulled into the Marleewood parking lot Mason saw Grandma Lu and her friends walk up to the door. "I sure hope I'm not too late to fix this mess," he thought. 

"Ok, Elf, here we go. Come on, Mom. We need to hurry!"

Granmda Lu Is In For A Huge Surprise

 Grandma Lu and her husband found a table that had six chairs. All of the booths were full of folks already eating their breakfast. Grandma Lu said, "Well, you could have suggested coming into town a little earlier. Now we have to sit all by ourselves with no one to talk to. We look a little silly sitting here at this big table."

Her husband  looked at her; shook his head and said, "I swear you'd complain if your ice cream was cold. Now let's go get our food before the buffet closes. I want some pancakes this morning for sure."

As they went through the buffet table someone bumped into Grandma Lu's arm and said, "So what do you think looks good this morning?"

Grandma Lu looked into a face that she had only seen in pictures. It was her good friend, Faun and her son. They lived in Oklahoma. "Well, everything looks good now! What in the world are you two doing in our little town? I never in the world thought I would ever get to see you in person. Oh my goodness where is Penny? You know she is the cutest little dog ever! How long can you stay? I love your Santa down the chimney hat! Oh my goodness I do go on and on. Get some food and come sit with us. Oh and this is my husband, Fran. Oh hurry. We have so much catching up to do!"

The two couples did in fact hurry through the steam tables getting their food. The chatter was constant without taking a breath it seemed at least on Grandma Lu's part. She was so very happy to see her friend. She forgot about old Frosty out in the truck across the street.

   &&&&&

Frosty grinned to himself as he watched the two couples through the window visiting . Everything was going according to his plan. He had quite a time getting these two ladies together, but now that it was done he felt that the rest was up to them. He could retire and smiled remembering all of the fun little miracles he and Santa's elves had helped come true for folks throughout the years.

All of a sudden there was a screeching and yelling and laughing as Grandma Lu and her friend came running over to the truck. What was going on?

Grandma Lu hugged her friend and said, "Oh I can't believe it. You are the new owners of Marleewood? Nobody has said a word to me. Grandma B knows about it too? She has not said one little hint of this to me. You are the people that bought Frosty too? Oh those neighbors of mine. They knew this whole time didn't they? They are something, those two are. Well, what now? What's going to happen to my Marleewood? What are you going to do with it? Oh come come. Let's go over there. It's probably dirty and oh I can't even think. Just follow us. Oh I can't believe this.

Well neither could Frosty when he heard the news. Oh my. "Gabe I need you! Things are not going well! Gabe, come as quick as you can. Make sure Ellie and her mama have enough groceries and wood for the fire for Christmas, but then you have to come to Marleewood and make sure you bring me my magic hat and maybe some more elves. We have trouble brewing! And most importantly let Santa know what's happening in this little town. I'm afraid he is not going to be happy. I see my retirement flying out the window...

Gabe and Frosty Devise A Plan

 Gabe bounced into the back of the truck and started grumbling at Frosty. "What do you think you are doing, old man? You are not supposed be in here yet. She isn't even at the mill yet. How do you get yourself into these predicaments? It seems like every year lately at Christmas time you get goofy. Now we have to figure a way out of this before it's too late! Oh how much did those neighbors of Grandma Lu get for you this year?"

"First of all they only got twenty-five dollars for me. I guess I am getting old, but my hat flew in the right direction. It should be alright. You just have to make sure little Ellie finds it."

"Why do I have to always help you out? Huh? Tell me that? I think I will retire after I fix this for you. Once again. How many years does this make? Oh never mind. I have to be on my way. Now this is what I'm going to do. You have to make sure that Grandma Lu sees you when she and her husband come out of the diner."

"You help me because you love children, Gabe. Now you be on your way. I'll get Grandma Lu's attention somehow. I need her to get me to Marleewood. It's been a long time since I've been there. Her husband is a problem though. Well, we will just have to make this work. That's all there is to it.

"Well, Mr. Snowman, how are you going to get the grumpy old man and his wife to Marleewood? Most of all, how are you going to get them to donate that twenty-five dollars to a family that desperately needs groceries?"

                                                        &&&&&

Ellie had taken her horse, Toby, out to the field behind the old mill looking for some ears of corn that the farmers had missed so that she and her mother could make some corn pudding for Christmas. It would be so good. Her horse needed some corn too. It was going to be hard to choose how much she would give her mother and how much to save for her horse. 

The snow flakes were starting to fall. They were getting so thick that she could hardly see. It was getting colder and colder. She looked at her hands and they were getting red and starting to hurt. "Oh how I wish I had some mittens. Oh well, first things first. Let me see what this thing is here in the ditch. Toby, what is this thing? It looks like some kind of a hat. I so wish you were a hat that would keep me warm instead of a useless piece of trash. I guess I could use it to carry corn in."

As she touched the top hat she started to feel warm. Her hands didn't hurt anymore. She was wearing the warmest pair of mittens she had ever had. Then she heard Toby whinny and watched him toss his head. Ellie saw her horse prancing with a beautiful blanket on his back and saddle bags that were full of corn. Oh what a wonderful Christmas this was going to be. She couldn't wait to get back to her mama to tell her all about her wonderful Christmas surprise.

Frosty The Snowman Leaves The Neighborhood

 It was a cold, but beautiful morning. Grandma Lu decided that she would heat her sun porch and enjoy the day. She had been busy wrapping Christmas gifts and visiting folks in the nursing home. Yesterday she had made some candy and some banana bread getting ready for an early Christmas with her daughter. She grinned to herself as she remembered some of the early holidays. It was such fun. "Ah yes, we watched Christmas movies with Rudolf and Frosty the Snowman. They were so little, but they could sing all of those old songs word for word. And the Sears Christmas catalogue was their favorite thing to look at and circle every year. Those were such wonderful days.

The sun was warm on her face and made her a little sleepy. She grinned as she thought, "I just might take a nap out here." That thought was only a thought as she heard something from the next door neighbor's  yard. "Well, what in the world is going on? Someone is stealing Frosty right under their noses!" Frosty had been a part of the grumpy old man's yard for as long as she could remember. Frosty and Rudolf  were the only decorations that she had ever seen over there. I don't think they even have a Christmas tree. She frowned when she saw that her neighbor man  waved and said, "Thank you" and went back in the house.

She went back into the living room and told her husband what she had just seen. He shook his head and said, "It's none of our business. If he wants to sell his stuff he has every right to do so. Now go get ready. Let's go uptown for breakfast today."

Grandma Lu grumbled, but got her hat and coat to go out for breakfast. It sounded like a really good idea. She loved to go out to eat. It was always fun to visit with folks they knew at the diner. As they passed by their neighbor's house she could have sworn the name Grinch was on the mail box. "Serves him right if somebody painted that on there," she grinned to herself. She would miss Frosty. At least Rudolf was still there. His twinkling lights came on every night. 

As they pulled into a parking place at the cafe she immediately saw a truck parked across the street. There was Frosty laying on it's side. Oh what a sad sight. It's beautiful black top hat is missing. "I wonder what is going on?" She mentioned it to her husband and he shook his head and said, "Come on. Quit your fussing. Let's go get some breakfast."

"Well, I just don't like the idea of the old grump getting rid of Frosty. If I had known he was going to get rid of it I would have taken the poor little snow man. He has made me smile for years. Frosty has been part of our neighborhood for as long as I can remember. At least he didn't sell Rudolf."

"Glad something has, now get yourself inside. It's cold out here!"