Chapter 17

Santa looked so different from his usual jolly self that the Toothy Fairy was worried.

“This boy, Jake Williams, says he has proof that I don’t exist,” explained Santa. “Photographs, he says. And he’s going to put them out over the Internet.” Santa paused for dramatic effect. “He also says he can prove you and I are not real, and our friend the Easter Bunny. He sent a message out on the Internet telling the world to check his home page at midnight on Christmas Eve for details. I’m always too busy to keep a check on all the children this late in the year, so I have no idea what he’s been up to. The only thing I do know is that it’s getting close to bedtime for the children, and yet, since his letter appeared, the late requests for toys have dried up to a trickle.”

The Tooth Fairy looked concerned. “But you’re usually flooded with letters at this time,” she said. She paused, smiled, and then said: “Oh by the way, did you get mine?”

Santa sighed. “The one asking for a new, diamond-studded wand, yes I did, and I can tell you Head Elf had a great deal of trouble with it. He’s not in the same class as Artie Elf when it comes to design.”

“Does that mean I’m going to get it?” asked the Tooth Fairy eagerly.

“You’ll have to wait and see, like everybody else,” said Santa.

“Is that silly elf is still on the missing list?” asked the Easter Bunny.

“Unfortunately yes,” said Santa. “However that’s not why we’re here. We have to find a way to stop Jake Williams from spreading his so-called evidence around the world.”

“Jake Williams,” said the Tooth Fairy. “The name is familiar.” She thought for a minute then she snapped her fingers and said: “Got it. I went to visit his sister Natalie the other night. She seems to be such a nice girl.”

“She is,” said Santa, “She wrote me a lovely letter - on paper, and she posted it with a Christmas stamp on the envelope.”

“So Jake is her brother,” said the Tooth Fairy. “He doesn’t seem to be so nice. Do you have any idea what this evidence is?”

“Apart from the fact that it consists of photographs, no,” said Santa. “He’s been very secretive about it, but whatever it is, if it gets posted on the Web we could all be out of work.”

“You mean out of existence,” said the Easter Bunny softly. He took off his sunglasses as he realised the seriousness of the situation. “I think the boy’s mean. What do you think should we do, Santa?”

“How about not giving him any presents this year,” suggested the Tooth Fairy. Then her faces brightened. “I can certainly make sure he gets nothing the next time he loses a tooth,” she said

“And I can conveniently forget where he lives at Easter,” added the Easter Bunny.

Santa shook his head. “We need something more drastic than that,” he said. Santa’s face hardened. “He needs to be taught a lesson he will never forget,” he said. “Something he’ll remember even as an adult.”

“Hey, how about covering him in hot chocolate,” said the Easter Bunny, brightly.

“I don’t think his parents would like that!” said Santa

“I could sneak in tonight and steal all his teeth - well all his baby teeth,” said the Tooth Fairy.

“There’s no time,” said the Easter Bunny. “He’d have to be asleep for you do that. And it’s Christmas Eve; by the time he goes to bed it will be too late.”

“So whatever we do, it must be done now,” said the Tooth Fairy, gravely.

They sat in silence for while, each furiously trying to think up a solution. They were so deep in thought that they jumped when there was a knock on the door.

“Who on earth could that be?” said Santa as the knocking continued. “Do come in,” he called.

The Head Elf, with a worried look on his face, entered.

“Sorry to intrude Santa,” he said. “Oh, hi you guys,” he added when he saw the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny. He turned his attention to Santa again. “There’s more trouble. I just received a dozen cancellations. Children are stopping believing - and Jake hasn’t even sent out his proof yet. Is there nothing we can do to stop him?”

Santa shook his head slowly. “It doesn’t seem like it,” he said.

“Not even a simple piece of magic?” said Head Elf.

Santa sat up and a wide grin crossed his face. “Magic! Of course! Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Probably because you’ve got lots of other things on your mind, like checking the reindeer and the sleigh for your journey,” said Head Elf. “It is almost time for the countdown,” he added, meaningfully.

“I still have time for that Head Elf,” said Santa. You’ve just given me an idea. If what I have in mind works, we’ll never have to worry about Jake Williams again. Thanks Head Elf.”

“What exactly did I do?” asked the puzzled elf.

“You helped me solve the most difficult problems I’ve ever faced,” said Santa. “Now just you get back and keep on working, ignore the cancellations. I think we can save Christmas after all.”

The Head Elf, who felt much more confident, left the room a lot happier than when he entered it

“I’m intrigued,” said the Easter Bunny. “What exactly is this idea of yours?

Santa looked around and then turned on his radio full blast and a joyful and noisy “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” bounced round the walls.

The Easter Bunny covered his ears. “Why all the noise?” he yelled.

Santa beckoned his two friends closer.

“Security,” he yelled. “I don’t want anyone to hear what I’m going to say, apart from you.”

Santa explained his plan and then turned off the radio.

The Tooth Fairy looked at Santa in admiration. “What a brilliant idea!” she said.

“Excellent, truly, excellent Santa,” said the Easter Bunny.

“I’d like to give it a shot first,” said the Tooth Fairy. “I still have lots of work to do tonight and if it doesn’t work, you can have a go Bunny. It won’t hurt if you go back to your holiday a day later will it?” she asked.

“So long as I’m back in time for Christmas morning,” said the Easter Bunny.

“You can manage that easily enough, Hawaii’s in a different time zone, but I still have my rounds to do, teeth don’t stop falling out just because it’s Christmas,” said the Tooth Fairy.

“She has a good point,” said Santa. “Okay, Tooth Fairy goes first - and good luck.”

With a flash of her wand the Tooth Fairy was gone.

“Let’s just hope this works,” said Santa as he and the Easter Bunny sat down to wait.