“Santa, as the union representative of the International Brotherhood of Reindeer, I have been authorized by the reindeer’s to start negotiations with you for better working conditions, better pay and shorter hours.”
“What do you mean better pay and better conditions? Why my reindeer get the best of everything. They have the best medical care, the best living conditions, and the best feeding schedule. What could they possibly want more of?”
“Well for one Rudolph believes that since he is needed to see the way he should be paid a supervisors salary. And some of the others believe that they are under paid. We also believe that the hours are not what they could be.”
“Well we only have one night in which to get everything done so it takes a whole night to do it.”
“We may have to see about dividing it up so that the reindeer don’t get overworked.”
“I fail to see how we can do that. Christmas is only one day a year.”
“Santa if we don’t get these negotiations done soon there may not be any Christmas.”
“WHAT!!! NO CHRISTMAS!!! Why that can’t happen. We will have to discuss this but I can tell you that there is not much room for negotiations.”
Santa left the meeting feeling very dejected. Wondering how his reindeer could turn on him in such a manner. He had always given them the best accommodations, the best care and all the food they could ever want. When Santa arrived home he was greeted by Mrs. Clause as always.
“Why Santa you look very down today.” She says to him.
“Momma Christmas may not happen this year. I just met with a man from the International Brotherhood of Reindeer. He says that Rudolph and some of the others are demanding better working conditions and better benefits. How could they do this to all the poor little boys and girls out there that depend on us for Christmas?”
“Now Santa you know you have never missed Christmas and I doubt that you will now. After all the world depends on you.”
“I know Momma, but how will we ever be able to get everywhere we need to go if the reindeer decide to strike. Who will pull the sleigh? How will I get to where I need to go with out being able to fly?”
“Well we will just have to sit down with the man from the union and see what we can work out. I don’t think Rudolph will let you down.
“Yeah but it just seems odd that they would do this at this time of the year.”
“Don’t worry about it. We are leaving tomorrow on vacation and we will have two beautiful weeks in Florida before we have to come back and get you ready for the big night.”
“HO! HO! HO! I forgot about our vacation Momma. I am so looking forward to relaxing a bit. Perhaps that will make me feel better about all this.”
Santa and Mrs. Clause set out for their vacation the next morning. Arriving at the airport in Florida they picked up their baggage and headed for the Condo they had rented for vacation. Once settled in Santa went out by the beach to relax and enjoy the warm sunny Florida air. It was a big difference from the North Pole. While relaxing on the beach he couldn’t help notice an airplane that kept flying by doing loops and rolls. Chuckling to himself he remembered a little girl who he use to bring toys to that loved airplanes and wished she could fly.
“I bet that little girl got her wish” he chuckled. “She was a determined little one.”
The next day Santa decided to take a ride out to the local airport and see what was going on around there. After all he liked to stay in touch with the local traffic control guys so that on Christmas Eve he could get all his traffic clearances processed right on through. When he got to the airport he went to the tower and talked with all the controllers there. While he was there he couldn’t help but notice the pretty old Stearman Aircraft flying in and out of the field.
“Ho! Ho! Ho! That sure looks like fun to fly in” says Santa.
“Yeah those are some great old airplanes Santa. They have been giving rides all week around here” says the lead controller.
“Really?” asks Santa.
“Yeah and they have been busy.”
Thinking to himself he wonders what it would be like to take a ride in an old plane like that.
Walking over to where the plane was parked Santa thought he would check out the old plane. As he approached he was suddenly startled to see that it was a young woman flying the old plane. And much to his amazement it was the same little girl he remembered.
Walking up to the young lady he sticks out his hand and shakes hers and says, “That’s a mighty fine plane you have there young lady.”
“Why thank you sir. I really love flying it” says the young lady.
“I hear your taking people for rides in this thing?”
“Why yes sir. Would you like to take a ride?”
“Oh yes my dear. I would love that” says Santa.
Much to his amazement not one single person hand recognized him in his jeans and shirt. Being the person he is Santa knew that if anyone recognized him it would cause a lot of problems. After all not everyone gets to see Santa.
With some help from John, Santa is soon suited up with his parachute and strapped into the front seat of the old plane. The young lady strapped into the back seat starts the engine and the old bird roars to life. They are soon taxing out for takeoff.
As the old plane lifts into the air Santa feels the thrill that he gets every year when he is flying all around the world. The plane flies out over the coast of Florida and is soon sailing along as peaceful as a bird.
“Would you like to fly some?” asks they young lady.
“Oh yes. I would love that” replies Santa
Soon they are doing loops and rolls and everything you can think of.
“WOW you’re a good pilot” says the young lady.
“Why thank you. I have a lot of flying time myself”.
“How much time do you have?” she asks
“Oh I have thousands of hours. But not in anything like this.”
“Well it shows. Not a lot of people can do some of those maneuvers. You must have some aerobatic training.”
“Ho! Ho! Ho! If you only knew some of the places I have been.”
Startled the young lady in the back seat wonders could this be who I think it is.
Santa realizing what he had done rolled the old airplane over chuckling “Ho! Ho! Ho!.
Smiling to herself the young woman thinks how much he sounds like Santa Clause. Why he is even jolly like him.
After they had landed and gotten out of the plane she asks,
“Well did you have fun?”
“Oh yes indeed. It was so much fun. It really lifted my spirits to get up and have some fun.”
“Well if you ever want to do it again here is my card with my number. We are always traveling around to different places. I would love to take you up again.”
“Why thank you. I will give you a call someday.”
After his vacation was over Santa returned to the North Pole to continue his usual routine getting ready for the upcoming Christmas season. Picking up the newspaper one morning Santa is shocked by the headlines. There in big letters it read, International Brotherhood of Reindeer vote to Strike.
Santa is shocked. How could they be scrooges and want to ruin Christmas for all the little boys and girls? Walking out to the reindeer stable Santa was surprised by the way the Reindeer just ignored him. Sadly Santa walks back to the house to tell all the elves and Mrs. Clause that Christmas may have to be canceled.
Calling a meeting of the elves and Mrs. Clause, Santa tells them all that Christmas may have to be cancelled. Everyone is shocked.
“How could the Reindeer do this at this time of the year?” they all ask.
The elves in charge of the reindeer couldn’t believe that they would even think of such a thing.
“Well it seems that the head of the International Brotherhood of Reindeer thinks they are underpaid, and deserve better working conditions” says Santa. “I have a meeting scheduled tomorrow with the Union bosses to try and advert this.”
The next morning all the Union people and Santa met to discuss their demands.
“We want a 30% increase in pay, better medical care, and better living conditions. We also want shorter working hours” says the union boss.
“We already give them the best feed, the best medical care at no cost to them, the cleanest living conditions you could ask for and they only work one night a year. How much better can it get?”
“Well as you know the one night is during the winter which can get extremely cold. And the only break they get is while you are delivering the presents and eating your cookies and milk that the kids leave for you. All the while the Reindeer are sitting on the roof in the cold and they get nothing to eat or drink. We hardly think that is fair. And besides as you know Rudolph has to lead the way all the time. Without his bright nose you may never get to all your destinations. Because of this Rudolph would like to be compensated for his extra duties.”
“Well this is preposterous. There is no way I am going to agree to all these demands. We cannot shorten the night of Christmas Eve and besides they only work one night a year. And they are paid very well for what they do. I am sorry but there is no way.” Says Santa
‘Then you leave us with no alternative but to strike. And we will set up picket line in front of your establishment to prevent anyone from crossing the picket line.”
“Well if you do this then the cancellation of Christmas will be on your hands.”
Santa paced the floor all day and night wondering, how he will ever be able to bring all the toys to the good little boys and girls. Suddenly, something magical happened the card that Santa had gotten in Florida came floating down into his lap.
“I wonder if this might work” thinks Santa.
Picking up the phone he calls the number on the card.
“Hello” he hears on the other end.
“Ho! Ho! Ho! Is this Gina?
“Why yes it is. I remember you. You went flying with me in Florida.”
“Yes I did and do you really know who I am?”
“Well I know from the name on the card you filled out but that is it.”
“Well Gina this is Santa Clause.”
“Now come on you wouldn’t be playing a game with me would you?”
“Well let’s see how about the time when you were 10 and you want an airplane for Christmas.”
“How did you know that?” she asks
“Well remember your mom said little girls don’t play with those things but you said that you didn’t want all those little girl toys. You wanted an airplane. And remember on Christmas morning there was an airplane under the tree for you. Now how would I know that unless I had put it there for you?”
“Wow you are Santa Clause. I can’t believe it I actually got to go flying with Santa.”
“Well I was wondering if you would like to do a big favor for me.”
“Oh that would be cool. “Anything for Santa.”
“Okay I want you to close your eyes and think of Christmas real hard and don’t open your eyes until I tell you too.”
“Okay” closing her eyes and thinking of all the fun things about Christmas.
“Okay now open your eyes.”
When she opened her eyes to her amazement she was standing in the middle of Santa’s workshop.
“WOW how did you do that?” she asks.
“Just some Christmas magic my dear.”
“Well what did you want me to do Santa?”
“Well it seems that the Reindeer and their union have decided to go on strike and they think that they can cancel Christmas. I was wondering if you would like to help me get all the presents to all the good little boys and girls of the world.”
“But Santa how can I help”?
“Don’t worry my dear. If you agree, with my help and a little Christmas Magic we can make it work.”
“WOW that would be so cool.”
“HO! HO! HO! I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Mrs. Clause opened the door and there stood the Union leaders.
“Santa we are here to give you one more chance. If you don’t agree we will make sure that Christmas is cancelled this year.”
Suddenly with a flash of light and the blink of an eye there before the Union boss’s stood a tall beauty with her hair flowing down her back and her cape flowing in the cold breeze of the North Pole. With the crack of her whip she looks into the eyes of the union boss and says.
“How dare you talk that way? You have no right to threaten to cancel Christmas and you have no right talking that way to Santa.”
“Who do you think you are? I can do what ever I want to do.”
CRACK… the sound of her whip causes lightning to flash. Everyone gasp as the woman growls at the union boss.
“I am Wonder Pilot, Female Pilot Extraordinaire and no one talks like that to me or especially to Santa Clause.”
“Well that does it. We are going to set up the picket line and I dare you to try and bring in other reindeer to take the place of our people. We will not be intimidated.”
“Well you and your reindeer can do as you wish but I, Wonder Pilot will see to it that Santa does not miss his appointed rounds.”
With that all the Elves shout with Joy and applause as the Union boss turns and walks away.
“Santa I will see to it that you get where you need to go. No one will stop Wonder Pilot, Female Pilot Extraordinaire.”
“I had a good feeling about you my dear,” Said Santa.
Shortly outside of Santa’s workshop is a group of Reindeer walking in a picket line. Shouting we will not be denied. We will overcome.
In the blink of an eye Wonder Pilot leaps over the picket line with Santa and all his toys for the good little girls and boys and they are soon in the Old Stearman ready to blast off.
Turning to the picket line Wonder Pilot points and says
“You Rudolph should be ashamed of yourself. You know that Santa depends on you every year. But fret not for I Wonder Pilot Female Pilot Extraordinaire shall see to it that Santa makes his rounds.”
With that the engine of the old plane roars to life and quick as a flash they are off to their appointed rounds. Faster than light they went from country to country, town to town, and house to house making all their rounds. Happily Wonder Pilot flew with great skill as Santa took care of getting all the toys to the good little boys and girls.
When they were through they headed back to the North Pole. As they landed they pulled up to the workshop and there stood all the Reindeer and the Union Bosses.
“We will see you in court Santa” shouts the Union boss.
With a leap and a flash of light Wonder Pilot leaps to the ground in front of the Union boss. With her whip in hand there is a loud CRACK as she snaps it at the feet of the Union Boss. As the whip cracked lightning flashed and the ground shook. Suddenly there is a look of terror in the eyes of the Union Boss and the Reindeer are shaking on their hoofs.
“You sir are a dirty a vial man. Who do you think you are trying to steal Christmas from so many little boys and girls? The nerve of you to use Santa’s own Reindeer against him, you sir will kneel before me and beg for your worthless soul. And you will apologize to everyone for trying to steal Christmas.”
Shaking in his boots the Union Boss kneels before Wonder Pilot.
“Please forgive me. I see now that I was wrong. I didn’t believe in Santa as a child and I never got any toys from Santa. I figured I could make things right by turning all the boys and girls against Santa. I see now that I was wrong. Please don’t hurt me.”
All the Reindeer and all the Elves are shocked to see the wicked old Union Boss kneeling before Wonder Pilot.
Suddenly Santa is standing beside her and places his hand on her shoulder.
“You have done well my child. You have shone him that Santa is real and that no one should steal Christmas. I think he has learned his lesson” says Santa.
Looking down on the pitiful old Union Boss she reaches out and places her hand on his head.
“Rise mister and behold the beauty of Christmas. For this is the day that Santa has blessed you and I have given you a second chance. Now go and do good work for all the poor little boys and girls and you shall not be punished. But remember that I, Wonder Pilot, Female Pilot Extraordinaire have forgiven you for what you have done but I will be watching.”
As the old Union boss rose a cheer erupted from everyone around and suddenly Christmas cheer was everywhere.
“Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas” shouts Santa.
“Before you go my dear the Elves have something for you.”
Standing before all the Elves in Santa’s workshop Wonder Pilot is presented with an plague. On it are inscribed these words.
Be it known that this day December 25, 2007 is the day that Christmas was saved by a true kid at heart. May it ever be know that Wonder Pilot, Female Pilot Extraordinaire is forever known as Santa’s Personal Helper.
With tears in her eyes and a smile on her face she hugs each and every Elf. And turning to Santa she says,
“I will forever be your friend. And if ever I am needed I will be here for you. For I am Wonder Pilot, Female Pilot Extraordinaire.”