Hail to the Dinosaurs!
Merry Christmas to everyone -- and best wishes
for the coming year!
Here's the fourth and final installment of the
2014 Dinosaur Christmas Story -- I hope you
enjoy it!
THE SMALLEST ELF AT THE NORTH POLE (PT. 4)
When he entered the workroom, Santa found the
elves in tears as they surveyed the ruined toys.
Not a single toy had survived the terrifying
electro-magnetic storm.
"It's alright," he told them. "You did your best. It
was my fault for ordering nothing but electric toys.
I should have known something like this might
happen."
"Oh, Santa!" cried Ellen Elf. "Isn't there anything
we can do to save Christmas?"
Santa sighed and shook his head.
"I'm sorry," he said. "It's too late and we don't
have enough time. I'm afraid that -- that there --
just won't be -- won't be -- a Christmas this
year."
Santa must have had a cold, because his voice
sounded funny -- and as soon as he finished he
whipped out a big handkerchief and blew his nose
three times -- and then took off his spectacles,
pulled out another handkerchief and dabbed
his eyes.
The elves must have had colds, as well, because
it seemed as if everyone had a handkerchief out.
But suddenly, the door opened with a crash --
and an elf wearing a funny looking shirt that
said "York Barbell Club" pushed a heavily-loaded
sled into the room. It was piled high with box
after box of presents.
The elves stared in surprise -- looking first at the
presents, and then at the elf who had brought
them.
He looked strangely familiar -- but unlike any elf
they had ever seen before. He had muscles on
muscles, and they looked like they would burst
through his t-shirt at any moment.
"It's Meek!" cried Ellen.
And, of course, she was right.
"What happened to you?" they asked.
And Meek told them the whole story -- of how he
had found the old York Barbell set, and the old
instruction book -- and copies of Strength and
Health magazine -- and how he had started to
use the barbell set -- and how he had suddenly
started to grow bigger and stronger by the day.
And Meek reminded the elves that they had a
whole room full of perfectly good old-line toys --
all ready to be wrapped and delivered to good
little children around the world.
"What are we waiting for?" shouted the elves.
"Let's get wrapping!"
And wrap they did, in a whirlwind frenzy, working
by candlelight while Santa, Ellen Elf and the Boss
Elf made the delivery list.
"This is just like the good old days!" chuckled
Santa.
It all worked fine until the very end. They needed
one more present for a little boy named Johnny.
"What did he ask for in his Christmas list?" asked
Ellen.
"Let me see," said Santa.
He pulled out the little boy's letter, and read it
rapidly -- then paused, pursed his lips, and read
it again.
"What is it?" asked Ellen. "What does he want?"
"He's sick all the time," said Santa. "He has asthma.
All he wants for Christmas is to get better."
He turned and looked at the others.
"I don't know what to give him," he said. "I'm an
Elf -- not a doctor!"
"I know what he needs!" said Meek.
He turned, ran out of the room, and raced down the
hall to the old-lines room.
He was back a minute later, carrying a large box
on his shoulder.
It was a York Barbell and Dumbbell Set.
"We had two of them," he said. "I only need one."
"That's perfect!" said Santa. "Load up my sleigh
now -- and put that barbell set where I can find it
when I get to Johnny's house!"
And that's the true story of how Meek the Elf saved
Christmas -- and how a little boy named Johnny got
the best present that Santa ever delivered.
Yours in strength,
Brooks Kubik
P.S. Meek changed his name to Mike, but everyone
always called him "Muscles."
Mike and Ellen were married and lived happily ever
after.
The Boss Elf retired, and Santa appointed Mike to
take over for him. At Mike's urging, the elves began
making nothing but old-school toys -- including many
barbell and dumbbell sets and other pieces of exercise
equipment. And everyone around the world began to
get more exercise -- and to grow stronger, healthier
and happier. That made it the very best Christmas
of all.
********************************************
