A Very Different World

From the beginning the 1900's had a tumultuous start, starting with the assassination of King Umberto I of Italy. The next year brought the death of Queen Victoria and later President William McKinley was gunned down and later died.

But also in that first decade, the Wright Brothers flew, the first message made it around the world, the first silent movie (The Great Train Robbery) was released, and the world saw the first World Series and later pitched in to help San Francisco through its monstrous earthquake in 1908.

The world was already beginning to get smaller as tallfolk had learned to harness things like electricity, communications, and flight. Ships were crossing the Atlantic in record numbers and they kept getting bigger and grander.

Santa was truly visiting places nearly all over the world. The U.S. was still expanding and by 1900 was up to 45 states, the Commonwealth of Australia was officially recognized in 1901 and Santa was even making trips to China as Britain, France, Russia, Japan and Germany controlled parts of China and much of its economy. So with all the Christians and Christian converts, China had become as much a part of the Christmas Eve journey as the rest of the world.

Much of Africa was being ruled by other empires as well, mostly British and French. Now that the Suez Canal had been opened, the British had a stronghold in North Africa. They wrote letters to Santa almost as often as the populace in Britain itself.

Santa Claus was beginning to feel his age, now 160, and was seeing that it would not be many more years before he would have to turn the reins over.

Nicholas had become a strong and intelligent man and had (for the most part) taken over the manufacturing process from Annie and Carrow. Carrow would still match him step for step and would actually initiate any new changes himself. Nicholas had the good sense not to step on Carrow's pointed shoes and let him remain “in charge” of the production and manufacturing areas.

He would also spend a good deal of time around the stables, the trade schools and some days just would walk for hours around the vastness that was the North Pole taking in all its wonders. His parents' house was so large, he never felt the need for his own quarters and often he would be in the home never knowing if his parents were there or not. They did try to have dinner together every evening and would talk openly about the outside world and its problems.

“It's a whole different world than the one before,” Kris told Nicholas and Annie. “Try as we did to keep a lot of the inventions we have up here out of the hands of tallfolk, they have managed to figure out a great many of them on their own.”

“Well Father, while the elves are quite brilliant and have 'borrowed' ideas and processes from the future, everyone knew it would just be a matter of time until everyone else on earth found ways to create many of the same products,” said Nicholas. “There has to be a few other extremely intelligent people out there, and I believe this century will see advancements on an unprecedented level as one invention will lead to another.”

Annie said, “And wouldn't it be marvelous if they began using these improvements to help others instead of destroying each other.”

Kris shook his head saying, ”If only. I am afraid that for some strange reason they all feel the need to butt into the affairs of other peoples, which of course causes many conflicts. I have an uneasy feeling that we will see many new wars along with these new advancements. I just hope they do not become too serious.”

Then the topic switched back to production events at the North Pole, new composites that had been created and the like. Suddenly Kris looked up at Nicholas and began laughing.

“What's so humorous?” asked Nicholas.

“Your hair! I just noticed you have a bunch of gray streaks starting in your hair!” laughed Kris.

“I told you he was very observant about some things and not at all about others,” chuckled Annie.

“Father, I have had that for a few years now, and yes it seems to be getting whiter by the day. I also am having trouble keeping stubble off my face for even a day as it seems to be growing at an alarming rate,” Nicholas answered.

“Why not just let it grow?” questioned Kris, “Seems that I had a beard and mustache before I was 40.”

Nicholas shrugged, “Perhaps. And you were doing deliveries before you were 40 as well. Of course if I grow a beard, I may wind up looking even more like you, and the elves may pack the sleigh for me instead!”

Kris laughed and said, “The day is coming soon, my son. I expect that before the end of this century that will happen, but I have much to teach you before then. You still have difficulty driving the mail sleigh, and that never leaves the ground.”

Nicholas retorted, “Perhaps if you could take some time and begin working with me then I could start learning what I need.”

“I agree, and we will start this year, so long as you don't try to push too hard and only do what I am willing to teach you.” Kris stared at his son.

“Agreed,” answered Nicholas.

Kris had a bad feeling about what was ahead of them in this new century. He had already seen some political moves that he thought might put the world on very shaky ground. He certainly did not want HIS son flying around while countries were shooting at each other.

Heads of state were being assassinated, powers were shifting, revolts and revolutions were taking place, and Kris thought this was just the beginning. He had even thought on more than one occasion about using the time continuum to see how bad things might get. He decided that whatever was coming he would deal with at its own time. One thing was certain, he knew that it was going to be bad. It wouldn't take too many years before he realized how right he was.

But no matter how bad things got in the world, there were still the children. He realized that their innocence was the one bright spot in a dark world. They knew nothing of conquest, of political strife, and while they were sometimes caught up in the troubles of the world, more often than not, they managed to keep their childlike qualities intact and could smile at a stocking full of candy canes and a simple toy to play with.

The future was as bright as their eyes. If Kris could only keep the light of kindness in them, they may remember that kindness when they were older. Was he being naive? Possibly, but if no one did this, then he felt the world might truly doom itself in the future. As long as he could inspire hope and love, he would visit every child who asked for him. He was already concerned that he was missing far too many children as it was. In spite of the thousands, no tens of thousands, of letters he received each year, he still knew that many couldn't read or write well enough to send a letter. And even if they all did, could he truly fill every request for all the children of the world? It was a daunting thought.

He thought about these problems often and they consumed a great deal of his time and concern. He had discussed them with some of the elves as well, like Denny and Frederick, who would listen with sympathetic ears, but had no practical advice.

Frederick asked Kris if Aeon had offered any more ideas on bending or manipulating time, to which Kris shook his head.

“If he knew more than he told me, he kept it to himself and assumed I would eventually figure it out,” replied Kris.

“Well when the time is right you will find the answer,” Frederick said with a shrug, “Aeon had more faith in you than he did with others of his own kind. There was something in you that he truly liked.”

Nicholas was also concerned about these problems and as he was out walking with Jackson Kilowatt discussing the new electric lights that were beginning to take serious foothold in nearly every advanced country, he brought up how to reach all the children of the world the way electricity was beginning to.

“It seems to me the answer to that riddle is in all your impersonators.” Jackson mused. “If there was a way to harness all the requests going to them instead of you, then perhaps you would learn who every child is, and what they wanted for Christmas.”

Nicholas' eyes got very large as he looked at Jackson, “That's it! I could work something out where, as they meet the children, the requests could somehow be transmitted to us here! And while we are at it, perhaps we could somehow tap into the hospitals to record the births as they happen, so we could at least be aware of their existence.”

Jackson looked at Nicholas and said, “This could take years to implement, but I could see the possibilities, especially since tallfolk are catching up with electric current. We could devise a system and just tap into the information for our own uses. Someone told me we have a couple very bright elves that are doing some wonderful things with machines that produce what they call “data”. Apparently, they can keep tabulations on an infinite variety and mass amounts of information. Perhaps you should talk to them?”

“Indeed, who are they?” Nicholas seemed genuinely animated at this new turn of events.

“I know one of them,” Jackson continued. “His name is Macintosh Gelfeeney, the other who I haven't met yet, is Ion Crosswire, his cousin. You can usually find them hanging around together near the Trade School up on Mount Elvish. They spend long hours working on their machines.”

“Hmm, I guess I will have to take a walk up to the trade school later,” smiled Nicholas.

“Probably a good place to start,” replied Jackson.

In the year 1914 the world boiled over into the “Great War” as it was being called. Many nations were fighting, and it was almost impossible for Santa Claus to go anywhere and not see destruction and the wounds of combat from nation upon nation everywhere. The one exception was that America was still neutral and was scarcely aware that year of the raging battles taking place across the oceans.

Kris wished he could skip the European theater all together, but remembered all the children who were desperately hoping for his visit. And he would not disappoint them by not showing up with their requests, regardless of the peril.

So he dutifully filled every request he had received during the year. Most were simple enough, but requests for Daddies to come home were a tougher lot. He had left notes that he and the elves had written explaining that this was in God's hands, and he would say a prayer for their safe return, which he and Annie did every night of the year.

But even through the tumultuous problems in Europe, there was a tremendous bright spot that happened one fateful year. It happened while he was in New York City that Christmas Eve. That was the night he made one of his greatest discoveries.

While he was in a large estate, he had just begun to fill the stockings at the fireplace, when he looked to his left. There was a full length mirror reflecting his entire image. As the occupants must have wanted to enhance the size of the already massive room, there was a duplicate mirror on the opposite wall, which reflected the image in the first. Kris was fascinated looking at the image in the mirrors being reflected time and again, back and forth, between the two mirrors.

As he stared, a thought formed in his head.

He soon realized right then and there, that time would never again be an issue. The last puzzle piece of the time continuum had presented itself in that reflection. He was anxious to try his theory, but would wait and practice during the year, rather than possibly make an error on this important night.

But he knew instinctively that he was right.

The next year brought forth some major discoveries and implementations that would forever change the future of the North Pole and would set the stage for all Christmas deliveries to come.

Nicholas did indeed meet with Macintosh and Ion regarding the problem of reaching all the children who believed in Santa Claus and the North Pole. They presented several concepts and plans having to do with tapping into the information at hospitals and birthing units. The elves also suggested that every time a letter was received in the Pole, that as much information as possible be gleaned from it and put into what they called a “database”.

“Just consider it a massive list of information that can be sorted and manipulated in several ways,” beamed Macintosh. “I foresee some year these machines will be everywhere and people will use all the information they can hold in many different applications.”

Nicholas rubbed his newly bearded chin and said, “Well before that takes place, I hope we can get the maximum use out of it before the tallfolk get it.”

“Spoken like a true elf,” Ion snickered. “You are sounding just like your father and the rest of the Council. Information will someday be the most important thing in our world, and when that happens, perhaps tallfolk will quit beating each other up and share things better.”

Nicholas asked, “So how do we harness all this information for our own use?”

Macintosh said that first they need some communication equipment ideas from Ella and then they would need to develop a set-up for each potential “Santa Claus” that would record a child's request and transmit the information without wires to the North Pole to a receiving station so it could be entered into the information holding machine.

“Without wires?” Nicholas asked, “How can you do this without the impersonator not being attached to something?”

Ion laughed and said, “You know, calling them 'an impersonator' may not be the best choice of words. It may be difficult enough in soliciting their help without insulting them.”

Nicholas chuckled, “I guess you are right. Perhaps since they would be representing Santa Claus and the North Pole, a better title might be ambassador.”

“Certainly sounds more official and important,” agreed Macintosh. “But back to the issue, we already have one and two-way radio devices that can transmit information and recordings over a great distance. Similar, but far more advanced than the radiotelegraphy being experimented with in the South.”

Ion interjected, “But it is important that they are beginning to place radio sending and receiving stations around the earth that we can use as well, to broadcast the signal here.”

“Will this advance tallfolk's society using our technology?” asked Nicholas, “If so, we will have to run this past my father and the Council, and I am not sure how open they will be to the idea.”

“We are only talking a short time gap here, perhaps six months to a year or so,” answered Ion, “They seem to be making rapid advancements in communications with the telephone, telegraph and radio. So we wouldn't be providing anything they won't have themselves shortly.”

“Besides we have far more advanced products that they will not see for several decades such as we have already begun sending out images and building data transmitters that can be shared throughout the North Pole,” said Macintosh. “Pretty soon we will be coming to your home and installing all manner of machines for your work and enjoyment.”

Nicholas just laughed to himself.

“We are also working with Henri Muzak and Carol Joynote to put a system in place where soon music will be everywhere throughout the North Pole, so you can enjoy it as you are moving from one place to another,” grinned Ion.

Nicholas said how wonderful he thought that would be for everyone, “Now, let's get back to how we capture this vast amount of information, and how will we sort and use it once we have it?”

Nicholas and the two elves talked many more hours about how to implement the system and how they might initiate the first “Ambassadors” for the North Pole. Nicholas would have to go before the Council and talk about how much and what kind of information would be shared from the Pole in order to gain the necessary cooperation for the program.

It too was going to be a very long discussion for a much later date.

Meanwhile, Kris was anxious to try his new theories. It involved using and practicing with the time continuum. Kris had decided the best place to begin putting his theories into practice was the very place he learned of the time continuum.

The house was vine covered and showing signs of abandonment, but the gardens were still pristine, and Kris wondered if old Aeon might come back secretly from time to time to tend them. He still wished he would catch the elf back in his home, but a quick survey showed he hadn't been there since he left the Pole, now many years ago.

Kris did a little clean up of the inside and decided it was good enough for his purposes. He took a deep breath and began concentrating. Soon he vanished from the cottage. When he returned it was only for a moment and then he disappeared again.

When he returned the second time, he had a big grin on his face. Okay, he thought to himself, let's see how many overlaps we can do, and how, and if, they affect each other.

Kris spent much of the day at the woodland cottage, though he wasn't there physically very long at all.

He returned later to Annie and explained the exciting new breakthrough he came upon. Annie gave him a broad grin and said, “I told you that you would eventually figure out how to continue doing more and more to fulfill your legacy!”

Kris shook his head and wondered out loud why Aeon never told him.

“Perhaps he knew you would figure it out all on your own,” said Annie. “I know you said he knew a good deal about your future travels, perhaps he had seen this in one of them and left you to discover it yourself.”

“You know I still get the feeling I will see him again?” said Kris softly. “I feel like he is just out there somewhere in the shadows. He said so much and so little at the same time. I still feel he has a significant part to play in all this.”

“Speaking of, you had made a promise to your son about beginning his training this year,” Annie reminded Kris.

“Annie, my love, it is such a dangerous world. I dread the idea of something happening to Nicholas. We waited more than a century to finally have a child of our own and I am so proud of him. What if he was injured, or worse?”

“Kris, did you believe what Aeon told you about your descendants?” asked Annie, to which Kris just nodded. “Then you know this is his destiny and he will be safe. Besides not one person, including all the elves, has said it is too dangerous for you to go. If I have to, I will put it before the Council to make certain he is trained by them and you if necessary.”

“Believe me the elves down south look concerned enough when I make my run, but you are right, and there is no reason to bring this before the Council, yet,” Kris sighed. “I will begin his training. But I must ask you why are you so anxious to put him in harm's way?”

Annie looked disgusted. “You know I am just as concerned as you are, and I hate to be indelicate, but just as you had recently noticed your son turning white, have you looked at your own face in the mirror, lately?”

“What do you mean?” asked Kris.

“My husband, you are looking tired and a bit worn out. I have had to give over a good portion of my duties to Nicholas, but you have given none. You have been able to accomplish so much more than can be explained, and it is getting time to let another give you some much needed rest.”

Kris nodded and admitted more to himself, “Yes, I have been feeling it lately. Each night gets longer, and there seems so much more to be done. But I think you're right. It is time I seriously contemplate giving the reins over. But even so, it may take a while to complete his training.”

“Then the sooner you begin, the sooner you can retire and enjoy more of my company!” laughed Annie.

Kris smiled, “Well I guess that should give me plenty of incentive, Ho, ho, HO!”

That year Kris had asked the Council to do a moratorium on the elves contest in order to allow him to take Nicholas with him instead.

Ulzana Stitchinsew said it was about time he had asked that, and volunteered to make several suits for Nicholas that would match Kris' outfits. She said she would come by later to measure him.

Almost nothing else was said about the issue, and Kris was surprised to realize that the Council had been patiently waiting for him to make this suggestion. They must have realized, like Annie that my flying days are soon coming to an end, he thought to himself.

When Ulzana came by to measure Nicholas, he made a request to her. “A good many of my father's suits are cut with a long robe. I would like to ask the coat be made shorter to where it just falls below my caboose.”

Ulzana cackled and said, “Whatever our prince requests, but won't your legs get too cold?”

Nicholas thought for a moment, “Not if the pants are made of a heavier material. Besides things are popping up on roofs and they might snag longer robes and could rip them.”

“Will rip them,” said Ulzana flatly. “I spend quite a bit of time mending your father's robes because of it. Very well, we will bring you more 'up to style' and give you more maneuverability.”

Nicholas was well aware of the dangers of the world after listening to his father and visiting several places himself, but he was excited to finally begin what he knew God had put him on this earth for.

So while the world was trying to blow itself to bits, Kris and Nicholas tried to hold it together with faith, hope, reindeer and a sleigh full of toys and gifts, to convince all who lived during this time that better days were coming.

Nicholas was learning the control of the sleigh, and was working on the time continuum, but was having a trouble mastering all its secrets.

Kris on the other hand had perfected the last part of the continuum, and was able to bring the “multi-destination continuum” as he called it into play.

On Christmas Eve in 1953, he had popped into a home without using the 'stop-time' continuum and was approached by the dad. The young man explained he was a soldier home on leave, and that his two children had asked how Santa was able to accomplish so much in just one night.

Kris who was having trouble getting this concept through to Nicholas thought that this might be good practice, and put the soldier and him into the stop time continuum. Santa Claus said while it may be difficult for him to understand, it worked as follows:

“The first thing is you need to think of time as a destination and stop thinking of it as a thing. Imagine a place you want to visit and then imagine yourself there. But even more important than that, imagine yourself in many places at the same time.”

The soldier looked confused and said, “Different places at the same time?”

Santa nodded, “How I discovered it was like this, if you put two mirrors facing each other and put yourself between them you see yourself endlessly reflected in them, right?”

The soldier nodded.

“Now, imagine that each of those reflections was actually a different place even though it remained in the same time. It would allow you to fold many different actions and layer them within the same time frame. So you could actually visit many different houses and leave different gifts, and yet, still maintain the same amount of time doing it.”

The soldier just pulled a hand through his wavy hair and said, “I can almost understand it, but I just can't imagine it.”

Santa chuckled and said, “Well as I keep telling my son, when you can understand it AND imagine it, then you will be able to accomplish it!”

“Huh, a son...I never imagined that either. Aren't you eternal?” the soldier questioned.

“HO, Ho, Ho! No I am actually the tenth Santa Claus and my name is Kris Kringle. And soon I hope to retire and have my son, Nicholas, who will be Nicholas the eleventh, after our ancestor St. Nicholas, take over. Although I have been around quite a long time,” stated Kris.

“Santa, I have a special Christmas wish to ask of you,” the soldier blushed as he spoke. “I want to be around to see my children grow up. Can you help end this damn war...sorry, this confflct?”

Santa Claus looked solemnly into the young father's eyes, “My friend, my powers and abilities are limited, especially against what seems to be a destiny man has against his neighbors. I can only pray that you and your family will someday see the peace you seek. In the meantime, make sure you give your children, Becky and Robert, all the love you can and teach them to be respectful of others. If you do this for your children, than perhaps you can create a change in future generations. I have been Santa Claus for almost two hundred years, and unfortunately too few of those years haven't consisted of war being waged somewhere.”

With that Kris announced that it was time for him to leave. The father thanked Santa for taking time to talk with him, and promised he would do everything he could to find peace in their lifetime.

Santa smiled and shook the young man's hand. “I wish you a very Merry Christmas and pray for a safe New Year for you.”

And just as quickly as he came, Santa Claus disappeared from sight with only the gifts and full stockings left behind to show he had been there at all.

When Kris returned to the sleigh, Nicholas noticed a tear in his eye and asked if his father was alright.

“These wars do so much harm to so many, and most of the people that get harmed or killed in them have no wish to be involved. Maybe if all the soldiers would just stay home, then there would be peace. Let the people wanting to wage the war fight it out themselves, that might change their black hearts,” Santa wiped his face with his fur lined cuff and snapped the reins.

Nicholas knew when to speak, and when not to, around his father. This was a time for silence.

The number of people being visited by Santa Claus near the mid 20th century was staggering. And while Kris would occasionally help Nicholas pop in and distribute the gifts, he said that until he could master all the secrets of the time continuum, he could not officially take over the reins from him.

Kris suggested that the following year they would spend a good deal of time in Aeon's old cottage.