Criten Malbar

Criten Malbar lived on a rock in the middle of a swamp, far from everything Criten hated: people.

Rumor had it that Criten had once been a pirate who sailed the seven seas, raiding ports and ships alike. The local elders said that was nonsense and blamed the story on Criten’s eye patch.

When he went to town, the locals called him Mr. Malbar but never Criten, so great was the fear he might cut you in half with his scabbard.

Back home, Criten poured his ale, made a sandwich, and watched the sunset. He waited until the moon rose high before heading to bed with a hot cup of mint tea.

On rainy days, Criten would stay indoors and knit or bake bread. Sometimes, he even made small wooden toys, which he put into an old burlap sack.

On the winter solstice, Criten carried the sack into town, and when all were asleep, the fearful pirate would quietly place the toys on the doorstep of young and old to be discovered with glee at the morning’s light.

No one suspected the Yule Father was gruff Mr. Malabar, the terror of the seven seas. Criten lived alone, and he liked it that way.

“People never expect an old duffer with a patch over his eye to be anything but a pirate, and who would believe the pirate was once the King of Sweden’s baker,” said Criten as he took the fairy cakes from the oven for his afternoon tea.