A Snowball Christmas: Chapter 9
- Henry Livingston
- Dec 1, 2025
- 9 min read
Updated: Dec 3, 2025
SLEIGH BELLS RING - PART ONE
Two Days Before Christmas Eve
The Christmas Countdown Clock chimes another hour closer to the magical sleigh ride, as new falling snow lightly covers the walkways and rooftops everywhere at the North Pole. Every available Elf is working to support the big night and ensure that children all over the world keep the joy of Christmas alive in their hearts.
Toys of all shapes and sizes are taken to the Departure Zone of Santa’s Sleigh, but the more advanced toys require special transportation. Nixie and several others are ensuring the last high-tech batch is right on schedule, however they are delayed due to an obstruction in their path. The hover-sled stops, and the Team Manager motions for an Elf to check it out. Patches, another Elf on the team and part time volunteer of the North Pole Emergency Response Brigade, goes in for a closer look. Cautiously he approaches the rather large item in their way. It is still hot, and steam rises from its exterior. Sparks pop and crackle every so often, but it lessens with every pop. It seems to be powering down.
“What is it,” the Team Manager questions.
“Looks like part of the power coupling or maybe a piece of the suspension undercarriage. Kinda like the one on Big Red’s Sleigh,” Patches responds a few moments after, “I’m not too sure though.”
“Nixie,” the Manager says softly, “would you take a look too?”
Nixie nods and starts over toward the piece in the way. A few moments pass and he returns to the Team Manager to report, “Patches was spot on, Mr. Kringleton. It is a power coupling for a suspension undercarriage lift system. My guess is that it is from the primary Runner ensemble. Someone should have reported this though.”
“Reported? Are you saying this is from THE sleigh?”
Nixie rotates the part to one side, “looks like it.”
“Where did it come from? They don’t just appear out of the blue,” Mr. Kringleton exclaims, “are we in danger of an overload?”
“Not likely, this one looks damaged. However, damaged power sources aren’t good to mess with either,” Nixie looks up, “if it is from Big Red’s sleigh, it must have fallen off during the flight to the departure zone. It is way too damaged to have just fallen off a hover-sled,” Nixie adds, “again, this would have been reported. Mr. Kringleton, do you want me to check this out?”
“Yes, please, then meet us at Dissemination Control Three. We’ll take this hover-sled and...,” Mr. Kringleton pauses and calls out to an Elf walking by, “Tancy, get Nixie another hover-sled to move this part back to Damage Central.”
“Right away, Mr. Kringleton,” Tancy says running to retrieve a hover-sled for Nixie, “be back asap Nixie,” he says running past Nixie investigating the scene to figure out how the item got there.
Nixie acknowledges Tancy with a head nod.
Before long, Tancy returns with a hover-sled and two Yetis to assist. The two Yetis pick up the part quickly and without hesitation.
“Careful,” Nixie voices with his eyes widened, “it could still have enough power to explode.”
The Yetis, unsure of Nixie’s words, shrug their shoulders and stare at each other, then back at him.
Nixie, understanding the simplistic nature of the Yeti mindset, speaks to them in a language they would understand, “gentle, it can go boom-boom and hurt you.
One Yeti nods toward Nixie, then speaks to the other Yeti, “ya rabs,” the second Yeti nods, and in unison they place the large piece on the hover-sled safely and cautiously.
Tancy scratches his head as they put the part on the lift, “is this from Santa’s Sleigh, Nixie?”
“Not quite sure, but I am on my way to find out. Be careful with transporting that coupling, Tancy, it still has a bit of juice.”
“Okay. We’ll take this to Damage Central so you can work on figuring out what happened. No time to waste with Christmas so close.”
“Agreed,” Nixie voices quietly and heads over to the Departure Zone.
Seven Hours Earlier
“Solo flying emergency testing sequence complete,” a digital voice sounds from the navigation control panel of Santa’s Sleigh.
“Good,” Nixie says from a small, hovering platform on the side of the sleigh, “start Virtual Reign System and Mitten Control Ring Devices.”
“Initiating Virtual Reign System and activating Mitten Control Ring Devices.”
“Good. Activate Tracking Locator Beacons for Santa and all reindeer.
“System checks for Virtual Reign System and Mitten Control Devices complete. Initiating protocol measures for tracking locator beacons.”
“Good. Test Emergency Recall Transporter using subject Echo Lima Fox Oscar and secondary reindeer selection.”
“Initiating…”
In front of the sleigh on a multiple reindeer harness rig, eight beacon lights glow bright green. A beacon in the sleigh glows green as well.
Santa enters the room and Nixie bows, “pause Emergency Recall Transport.”
“Pausing Emergency Recall Transporter using subject Echo Lima Fox Oscar and secondary reindeer selection,” the digital voice answers, as the reindeer harness rig and sleigh light beacons change from green to red.
“Santa, it is always a pleasure,” Nixie smiles walking toward the jolly old Elf, “to what do I owe this visit?”
“Just curious about the new modifications to old Bessie here,” Santa responds, shaking Nixie’s hand.
“I wouldn’t say old, she has so much life to give.”
“No truer statement has ever been said about her my friend. I just need her so the guys over in suspension can add their new touches to her.”
Nixie’s face changes ever-so slightly.
“Something the matter Nixie,” Santa asks, touching his sleigh softly.
Nixie taps on his tablet and brings up the suspension data on it, “It may be nothing, but I checked the schematics and found a flaw. It is minor so it could just be that the numbers are off.”
“I trust your numbers, Nixie,” Santa pauses, “I’ll have them double check the schematics. Will that do?”
“Yes sir, but with Christmas being so close maybe I should…”
Santa interrupts by placing his hand on Nixie’s shoulder, “you cannot be everywhere at once Nixie, you have to trust others to do their part.”
“I understand that but…”
“No buts this time. Okay?”
Nixie nods, “okay. Can I show you some of the new improvements?”
“Of course! Show away,” Santa says eager to see the new modifications to his old favorite.
“I have harnessed magic and technology abilities over the past fifty years and have put them into place as emergency protocols. This is of course if anything were to happen to you or the girls during your busiest day.”
Santa nods.
The first emergency protocol is a new Virtual Reign System that appears as a backup if you ever lose the reins during a flight. I have added control ring devices to your mittens. They will activate by simply saying the lead reindeer’s name. Don’t worry about it going off at any time other than as back-up because there is a chip in your physical reins that prevents activation while it is in your hands.”
“Nice.”
“In extreme cases, if you should ever be trapped or be somewhere other than the sleigh against your will, I have installed devices in your coat, belt, hat, and boots that sync you to your sleigh.”
Santa looks confused holding a partially eaten sugar cookie, “not sure I follow, Nixie. I was good up until just now though.”
“Perhaps it is easier to show you,” Nixie says, looking Santa up and down.
“What,” Santa questions.
Nixie smiles, “just making sure you aren’t wearing any of the items I mentioned. Bessie, continue Emergency Recall Transport, please.”
“Initiating Emergency Recall Transporters using subject Echo Lima Fox Oscar and secondary reindeer selection,” the digital voice responds, and the reindeer harness rig and sleigh light beacons change from red to bright green. They glow brighter until eight reindeer and a plump Elf in Santa’s coat, belt, hat, and boots, not fitting it at all, in fact almost swimming in it, appears in the sleigh.
“Amazing,” Santa exclaims.
"Emergency Recall Transporters using subject Echo Lima Fox Oscar and secondary reindeer selection complete.”
“I got the idea from Star Trek,” Nixie replies with a smile.
Santa walks over to the sleigh, “Cheery.”
“Santa,” Cheery returns.
“Make sure these are returned quickly.”
Cheery begins gathering Santa’s things, “of Course, Santa. Right away.”
Nixie offers his appreciation to his old maintenance pier, “Thanks for doing this, Cheery. Make sure you tell me if you are feeling any side effects from the transport, please.”
“Will do, Nixie,” Cheery fires back.
Doors open and several elves enter to return the reindeer to the stables.
“Please monitor the reindeer for the next few hours and let me know your findings. I want to make sure they are fine with the transfer,” Nixie sounds off to the group of elves.
They all give an understanding nod.
Nixie turns to Santa and apologizes, “Sorry for taking them without your permission Santa. Mrs. Clause and I wanted it to be a secret, just in case it didn’t work. Her words, not mine.”
“Ho-Ho-Ho, no worries, Nixie. You have got this down to a science.”
“Thanks, Big Red.”
Santa looks at Bessie and starts to reminisce, “I can remember when there were only four things to worry about for old Bessie. A chassis, a runner system, the frame and steering mechanisms. Now you’ve got structural reinforcements, vertical takeoff, better runners, advanced chassis materials, sophisticated navigation and safety features, digital tracking, and now transporters for me and the girls. If these are secrets, I say, keep them ideas coming.”
Nixie, excited at Santa’s attention to detail, offers another secret he is keeping, “I do have one more to show you, if you have a few more moments,” Nixie says moving toward a large door several feet away from them.
“No can do, Nixie. I wish I could, but I must check in with production. Another time, okay?”
Nixie, hiding his disappointment while shaking Santa’s hand, grins enthusiastically, “Of course, Santa. Another time.”
Departing Santa continues, “please make sure that Bessie gets over to suspension as soon as possible.”
“Yes, sir,” Nixie adds, opening another door and motioning to a group of elves in a breakroom to come to him. When they come close enough, he instructs them to take the sleigh to suspension as soon as possible.
Santa exits.
“Right away,” they respond in unison
Present Day
“I knew it,” Nixie whispers looking at the suspension schematics. He remembers seeing the part number on the street as being the same as the number on the schematic, “he can see them when they are sleeping and knows when they are awake, but he forgets to have suspension double check the numbers,” he sighs heavily and continues walking to the departure zone.
Cheery rushes up to Nixie out of breath and in a slight panic, “Umm, we have a bit of a problem.”
“We?”
“Yes, in my hurry to return all of Big Red’s items, I have somehow lost, umm..., his belt.”
“Tell me you’re kidding, Cheery.”
“I could say it, but it would not be true.”
Nixie exhales, “walk with me, I have another pressing issue.”
“Is it regarding the missing part on Santa’s sleigh?”
“Yes,” Nixie answers without asking how Cheery knew that.
Cheery’s face lights up, “I’m excited.”
“AND worried.”
“About?”
Nixie shakes his head, “Santa’s missing belt...”
“Oh yeah, I am also very sad about that too.”
They arrive at the departure zone to find Santa’s sleigh listing to one side.
“That can’t be a good thing,” Cheery blurts out.
“No, it is not,” Santa says surprising them from behind.
Nixie and Santa’s eyes meet, “You don’t have to say it. In all the rush to get to production, I inadvertently forgot to tell the elves in suspension to double check the numbers,” Santa says regrettably, “can you fix it?”
“Let me get a better look at her,” Nixie speaks, holding back the tears of seeing Bessie in this state. As he moves in, he notices that there is a large hole next to a severely damaged portside runner, “Santa...,” he whispers, keeping the damage down to only those that need to know. Any louder and it could spread panic with Christmas Eve being only two days away.
Cheery walks over with Santa.
“Cheery, do you want to tell Santa about why you’re traveling with me today?”
“Not presently. Wow, she does not look flight worthy,” Cheery says, following a very audible gasp and moving in closer to the damaged sleigh.
“Cheery?”
“Yes.”
“Please wait over with the others,” Nixie says still speaking just above a whisper.
Cheery, apologizes and moves away from Bessie, “gotcha. I’ll be over there if you need me.”
“Thank you, for all your hard work, Cheery,” Santa adds smiling at the helpful Elf walking to be with the others, “what is the verdict?”
“On a glance, she is not flying anytime soon.”
“Can she be fixed before Christmas Eve?”
“Sadly, her current state, she will not.”
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