Chapter 1 The elf and the toy maker Contents Chapter 1 The elf and the toymaker 3 Chapter 2 The fake Santa 19 Chapter 3 Santa’s day off 34 December is always a busy time of year at the North Pole. This is the home of Santa’s toy factory.One year, it was especially busy. Santa was touring the factory, making sure on: were going to plan. As usual, his team of tiny P ~ elves was hard at work. Each elf had a different job. 4 Dennis opened NG the letters sent | S 4 by boys S A and girls. o > Babs checked 24 Z 5 whether they’d Mare read r what the good y children wanted <—**s for Christmas. And Beth wrote lists of all thePaddy and Pip were busy The toymaker operating the toymaker. Paddy built it... read out the name of a toy. { ae | i = One robot for John.Alfie was sweeping the store “Go home,” he ordered, “and room. He had the most boring don’t come back tomorrow job in the factory. It was so unless you’re wide awake.” boring, he often... fell... aslee... (Rexacza | ‘ 7 “Wake up, Alfie!” conc 7 NY ae le Santa. “It’s time to go home.” Alfie Sedged eer, ire. “Already?” yawned Alfie. deserted factory. “If I was in “You're always asleep on the charge of the toymaker, I’d z job,” complained Santa. - never be bored,” he sighed. Pry 8 Dae ‘a 9 if i ae ia P Py ; ae : pteAlfie had often wanted a closer look at the magical machine. Now was his chance. Climbing on top, he peeked down the main tube. te But he lost up to Santa. Some of them ; mm were sally in their night clothes 4 # Santa was totally confused. “What are they talking about?” whispered Rudolph. “T’ve no idea,” said Santa. Ca i : el ——ee ~Saddenly a eannibell Hunde “How dare you upset my ~ ey > from the crowd and hit Santa children!” yelled a woman. 4 2 tight on the nose. “You ought to be locked a EL, “Ouch!” he cried. “What up!” shrieked another. 4 , wasthatfor?”? . > ( - ee oe es 24 _.“Get him!” bellowed a man. All at once, snowball after snowball pelted Santa. _ Hejumped into his sleigh. ; “Something strange is going on here,” said Dancer. “Hey, look down there,” al _ Rudolph called excitedly. a _ “Asleigh just like o fe ‘ ee ef urs.” ual is Let's get out F dy 4 —, of here! ’ —~— Santa’s reindeer carried him Santa peered over the side of away to safety. “Ican’t his sleigh. A similar one was parked outside a house below. “Let’s take a look,” he said. understand it,” he sniffed. “People usually like me.” 26 27Close up, Santa saw that the sleigh was old and tattered. The ‘reindeer’ tied to it was really a horse with antlers strapped on. Santa + followed a = Jog footprints inside. There in the living room stood... another Santa! Two small children sat tearfully by a Christmas tree. 28 “T made a mistake, kids,” growled the other Santa. “You’ve been naughty, so I’m taking back all your presents.” Drop that sack, you thief! “Rats!” snensped cher man, seeing the real Santa. Grabbing his sack, the fake Santa rushed out. 29The crook leapt into his sleigh full of stolen presents and raced away. Santa ran up to Rudolph. “Follow that sleigh!” he roared. They stormed through the snow and soon caught up. The thief jumped off his sleigh and ran down a narrow alley. 30 At the end of the alley was a wall. The tall crook sprang over the top, but it was too high for Santa. jee yy _* c bo Santa ran back to his sleigh. He flew up over the wall and hovered above the crook. “Hey, you!” he cried. 3]As the crook looked up, Santa emptied the contents of his sack. The fake Santa was ¢ squashed by a shower of falling presents. * Santa took the thief back to the houses he’d robbed. At each one, the fake Santa gave back the stolen presents. Hooray for the real Santa! / A aw i) aap {at ies hh # 4} | - 4 4 3 ft r te ae A ool oe ; a ae _= Then Sanita made his last delivery in Firtown — to the local police.After one very tiring Christmas, * —_ ; Santa was looking forward .. to his day of rest. Chapter 3 Santa’s day off é He snuggled into his softest Of all the days of the year, armchair, with a mug of hot Santa likes December 26th chocolate and a slice of sticky best. It’s his day off. Christmas cake. 34 35As Santa settled down with a big book, two elves burst in. Come quickly, We need your help. “We can’t get into our - house,” wailed Paddy. “There’s a huge polar bear blocking the way,” added Pip. 36 Santa sighed and followed the elves to their home. A fierce polar bear was pacing up and down outside. “If I had some meat, I could lure her away,” said Santa. “There are some sausages in our kitchen,” suggested Pip. “If only we could get to them.” 37Santa had an idea. He crept around the back of the house. Then he climbed up to the chimney and squeezed inside. Seconds later, he emerged carrying a furry white bundle. “A polar bear cub!” cried Pip. “He must have climbed in through an open window.” 38 “That’s why the mother bear wouldn’t let you in,” said Santa. “She was protecting him.” The two animals happily plodded off across the snow. Now! can get back to my Santa had j just settled backs in his armchair, when another worried elf rushed in. 39“Calm down, Marco,” Santa As Santa carried the bike to soothed. “What’s the matter?” the back door, he heard voices. “We accidentally left someone “Perhaps you'll get your red off this year’s list,” cried the elf. bike next year, son,” said a man. (5) elt delivery note = - } Sirie | Nome: jason \e ‘ “Get a bike from the store room,” said Santa, wearily. “T'll get my sleigh ready.” bike. It was blue. He took a An hour later, Santa landed deep breath and returned to at Jason’s house. his sleigh. 40 4]P One trip to the North Pole A farmer was standing by a later, Santa was back — with a frozen lake. red bike. Jason was overjoyed. “My sheep have wandered Santa headed north again. onto the ice, Santa,” he said. : 4 “And it’s starting to crack.” J Please don't let them drown. He was almost home, when : or he heard a cry from below. Santa flew his sleigh just “Help! Someone help me!” above the sheep. “Hover here, Santa went to investigate. boys!” he cried to his reindeer. 42 43Santa gently eased himself over the edge of his sleigh. © Reaching down, he grabbed a ee macep and lifted it to safety. Bo ety ~ One by one, he bundled he sheep into his sleigh. The ice finally cracked open just as the last animal left the ice. Se, ay SS and sound. —y 44 = Santa returned the sheep to the grateful farmer. Thank you Santa! One flock, safe “San was exhausted. He returned to his sleigh and set a course for the North Pole. When he got home, he staggered into his living room. 45“My hot chocolate will be cold Even Santa’s slippers were by now,” sighed Santa. “And I warming by the newly lit fire. bet that cake is as dry as dust.” Elves flooded into the room. But he was in for a surprise. Welcome home, “How kind,” smiled Santa. On a ae Bs his arnichate “Our pleasure, Santa,” said stood a mug of steaming hot Paddy. “You’ve shown us that chocolate, a pile of fresh cream kindness is what Christmas is cakes and a stack of storybooks. all about.” 46 47