Written by Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard
Translated by Cyan Caruso-Comas
While the children at the North Pole Animal Daycare are napping, their teacher, Rudolpha the reindeer hears the intercom buzz.
It must be an emergency, she thinks, everyone knows the children are sleeping at this time of the day. But then she hears a familiar voice.
“Sorry Rudolpha, I tried to turn on the light in the pantry and accidentally pressed the button on the intercom,” says Bright, the elf who often helps Nougat the chef elf in the kitchen.
“No problem, my friend. I’m just glad nothing’s wrong,” says Rudolpha, relieved.
She looks up to see five pairs of sleepy eyes peering at her. The call had woken up the children. Knowing they love to listen to stories about the residents of the North Pole, she decides to tell them one about Bright. Gathering her students around her, she starts her story.
“A few years ago, Bright went to a festive little village called Marmot River to try out some new tricks. In the town square was a mailbox reserved for letters to Santa Claus.
“This box already had quite a few letters packed inside. Included in the stash were two red envelopes, one with a message written by Sophia and one with a letter penned by Liam. The two children were sick and confined to the hospital where they shared a room on the third floor. They spent their time there dreaming and talking about the wonderful presents Santa was sure to bring them for Christmas.
“One windy evening, Bright went out to admire the holiday decorations in the village. As she walked merrily along, she saw a snowplow hit Santa’s mailbox. It opened and two envelopes flew out. They were the letters that Sophia and Liam had sent.
“Lifted by a gust of wind, the red envelopes went flying. One landed on a school’s roof and the other on top of a huge pine tree in the playground. Bright knew she had to get them fast, because another blast would likely send them flying even further adrift.
“Luckily, Bright’s an excellent climber, so she was able to easily scramble up the school and tree. However, grabbing the letters wasn’t so simple. The roof was very slippery and the pine needles pricked at her palms through her mittens as she climbed. Finally, with frozen fingers and covered in scratches, she jumped to the ground triumphantly. She put the two red envelopes back in Santa’s mailbox.
“Sophia and Liam never knew that they had a very special elf to thank when they opened their Christmas gifts that year.”
“Did the children get better?” asks Frost the snowy owl.
“Bright was in Marmot River just a few days ago,” says Rudolpha, smiling. “Sophia and Liam are now very healthy grown-ups who own a rock climbing gym together.”
