‘Twas the night before Christmas and all the little rabbits were nestled all snug in their beds, with thoughts of dolls dancing in their heads. All the rabbits, except Silly Willy, who was about to see Santa slip on a banana peel, break all his sisters' toys and learn about the real meaning of Christmas.
I wrote the story for my kids many years ago and now that they're old enough, I was even able to cajole them into illustrating it. I hope you enjoy it.
2. ‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, nothing
stirred not even a mouse. All the little rabbits were nestled all snug in
their beds, with thoughts of dolls dancing in their heads.
All the rabbits, except Silly Willy.
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3. Silly Willy heard the clatter of eight tiny reindeer on the roof and the whoosh of
Santa sliding down the chimney. He jumped from his bed and ran into the living
room.
Just in time to see Santa slip on a banana peel.
Beard over boots, the jolly old elf tumbled, not once, but twice, till he plopped to a
stop on his bowl full of jelly. Santa’s bag full of toys burst open and a half-dozen
toys broke into two-dozen pieces. 3
4. Silly Willy grabbed his belly and laughed and laughed until his rib cage hurt
and tears streamed down his furry cheeks. But Santa just looked at him – not
smiling, not crying, not furious, just sad.
“Silly Willy,” he said. “I’ve just flown from the North Pole to bring you and your
sisters your presents. I ignored the bad reports the elves gave about you. And
instead of milk and cookies, you give me a banana peel to slip on.”
“Was that nice?” he asked, holding a headless doll. “I’ve got no spare toys and
your sisters will be awfully sad when they wake up to a box of broken toys.”
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5. Silly stopped laughing, as he pictured his sisters dashing to the
Christmas tree, only to discover a broken Barbie, a cracked car and
a snapped wand with all the magic missing.
“I’m sorry,” he said, looking down and downcast. “I was just
joking.”
“Silly,” said Santa. “There’s good jokes and bad jokes. Good jokes
bring laughter and joy, bad jokes make people laugh but at
someone’s expense. And Silly, you’re old enough to know better.”
Suddenly Silly let out a big sob as a tear rolled down his cheek and
off his whiskers before plopping onto the floor.
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6. “What can I do to fix it?” he pleaded. “Maybe I can fix them with some Super Glue.”
Santa shook his head sadly, looking at the shiny shards of painted porcelain on the floor.
“There’s not enough glue in the world to fix her,” he said.
“What will I do?” cried Silly.
“Come with me, I’ll call the elves from my sled phone and see if they can’t make a new one
or two for your sisters. Hurry! Follow me we don’t have any time to waste.”
Santa snapped his fingers and suddenly Silly found himself sitting in Santa’s sled in the
middle of the freezing night.
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7. Santa whistled and Silly’s head snapped back as the reindeers rocketed into the
moonlit sky – rising high over the frozen landscape.
In no time at all, first one house, then two, then one block, then two, all had
presents packed under the tree. But no matter how fast Santa went, he always took
time to eat a cookie or two.
“I need my energy, you know,” he told Silly, “My doctor told me to pace myself and
take a break every 1500 houses. You’re doing a good job, would you like to do some
deliveries for me?”
“Really?” Silly asked.
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8. House after house, down Silly went delivering goodness and joy to all
the good little girls and boys, till every house in every city, in every state
in every country in every continent received their toys.
All except one.
“But what about my sisters?” he cried as the first hints of dawn
appeared on the horizon.
“Don’t worry,” smiled Santa. “The elves work fast.”
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9. With that they landed on his house and before Silly could say a word he
was staring at the Christmas tree with a handful of presents.
He carefully put them under the tree. A porcelain doll for Analia, a
wonderful wand that glowed in the dark for Pauline and a princess
outfit for Paloma – but nothing at all for Silly.
Silly picked up the banana peel and swept up the floor – then fell asleep
even before he pulled up the sheets.
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10. The next day Silly woke to the screams of joy as each
one found their toys. He wondered, “Was it a dream –
did I really see Santa?”
“Silly!” they screamed. “Look at our presents, but
where’s yours? Did you already get up and get it?” they
plied.
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11. Just then, Pauline
noticed the card
next to the empty
plate of cookies.
“Dear Silly,” it read.
“Thank you for
joining me on my
sled. My doctor and
my eight reindeer all
thank you.”
Signed Santa.
Silly smiled wide
and knew he got the
best present of all.
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12. If you enjoyed this story, please feel free
to share with anyone and everyone.
Have a Merry Christmas, Happy
Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanza and a
Wonderful Winter Solstice
From the Mireles Family
@kevinjmireles
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