Uh-oh

As Brunie entered her office that cold December day, her phone was already ringing.  She could tell from the bright red blinking light it was a call from Santa's private line.

Uh-oh!

What in the world had she done, now!

This was December, the North Pole's busiest month.  Santa never had time to make calls in December.  This had to be bad, very, very, very bad.  Brunie didn't know whether to faint, or run back to her room and throw the covers over her head.

With grave despair, her shaking fingers lifted the receiver off the phone.  Santa wanted to see her in his office as soon as possible.  Brunie fell into her chair.  She closed her eyes and began going over the events of the past couple of weeks.  She thought things were going splendidly.

The barns were well heated and clean.  There was an ample supply of fodder, lots and lots of apples, carrots and sugar cubes to keep the reindeer happy.  The elves had the deer well cared for and kept them in excellent health.  What, what in the world had gone wrong? 

It was Brunie's turn to stew and fret, fret and stew.  She went through the motions of her daily routine, assigning jobs for each of the elves, walked through the barns, petting the deer on their noses and giving them apples.  All the while pondering what in the world Santa could want.  Oh, this could not be good.

At last, with all the 'busy work' completed, and the barns humming with activity, Brunie had no choice but to don her jacket, scarf and cap and head for Santa's office.

With heavy heart Brunie pushed open the door to Santa's reception area.  His Office Assistant, Matilda greeted her with a broad grin, mug of hot chocolate and shoved a plate of sugar cookies under her nose.

Brunie was taken quite a-back.

She was told to 'take a seat', Santa would see her in a few minutes.  Great...that was all Brunie needed, to have to wait.  Her stomach was already in knots, and she was getting a headache, too.

Before long the dark, heavy, mahogany door to Santa's office squeaked open, and there he stood, pipe limply hanging from the corner of his mouth.  "He spoke not a word", but motioned Brunie to come into the office.

Santa cleared his throat.

Santa:  "Well, Brunhilda, how are things going in the Reindeer Barns?"

Brunie gulped.  "I think things are moving along nicely, Santa."

Santa placed his pipe in his ashtray, placed his hands across his chubby tummy, and interlaced his fingers.  Leaning back in his chair, he nodded his head, "I see."

The silence in the room hung like a thick fog.  Brunie wished it would swallow her up.

The door creaked open, and all the Barn Elves entered the room.

Oh me, oh my.

Suddenly the room exploded in applause, and a ruckus of cheers.  Someone had to push a chair under Brunie's fanny, as she was about to crumble in a heap on the floor.

"Ho!  Ho!  Ho!"  Roared Santa.  "Oh Brunie, dear, dear Brunie.  You have been so misunderstood, your talents so hidden under a bushel.  Your mind wanderings so unappreciated." 

Brunie could not believe her ears.  Was this a dream.  A pinch of her own arm told her this was all true.

Santa continued.  "All these years, your true worth has been dormant, well no more dear Brunie.  We are here to honor you, and to let you know we're starting a brand new department, and you will be in charge.  Your robotic 'Scooper' has been a miracle to the Barn Elves, and they have been singing your praises.  As a result, you are going to be in charge of the 'brand new' North Pole's Research and Development Department.  You, and your 'wanderings' are going to imagine and create things to modernize all our departments and bring us into the Twenty-First Century."  Ho! Ho! Ho!

Brunie was beside herself in glee.  The elves placed her on their shoulders and everyone went to the North Pole Square, where there was a celebration to end all celebrations.  There was song and dancing, food galore and even a bit of 'spicy, innards warming' eggnog.  The party lasted until the wee, small hours, and (trust me) a good time was had by all.

Now, as I mentioned, no one knows how long elves live, but I'm here to tell you, Brunie is living out her days, in the job she should have had in the first place; the place where every day her mind is free to wander, and where every night she falls asleep in her room of the North Poles brand new, Research and Development Department.

And, a...

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night."