Folksburywoods Story Blog

Willy Winkle was an angry cuss. He’d fight with the door if it did open fast enough for his liking. Most folks steered clear of him, and he liked it that way.

The funny thing about Willy is he was a Christmas Elf, and you’d think he’d be jolly like Santa, but you’d be wrong.

“Blast this cold weather, always causing problems with the sleigh’s runners, and double blast the snow, always getting in the way of moving the tollies about. I wish I could go where I didn’t have to deal with all this mess,” Willy would say several times a day.

Santa was aware of Willy’s hullabaloo but figured it was a stage that he would outgrow or resign himself to the facts at hand. The North Pole was a cold, snowy place.

As Christmas grew closer, Willy’s frustration grew. One day, he exploded at Mrs. Clause, who had left the door to the reindeer shed open when she delivered cookies and cocoa to the other elves.

“Ya, daft woman, can’t you use the good wits that you were born with, or are you as dim as these flying beasties,” hollered Willy.

Typically, Mrs. Clause would have brushed off such negativity this close to Christmas, but she, too, was under pressure to fatten up the jolly old man and keep the workers fed and happy.

“You’re a cruel and spitful little demon, and I wish the North Wind whisks you away to Svalbard,” cried the woman as she hurried back to the main house.

Willy’s mouth opened, but no words came out; no one ever talked to him like that. To make matters worse, wishing someone to Svalbard was considered unwise since the wind’s children, the Merry Breezes, were everywhere, and if they heard the wish, they would race back and tell their mother.

“Gee Willy, you put your foot in it this time. Do you think Santa will come and yell at you,” asked one of the other elves.

“It’s not Santa I am worried about. The lady of the north has ears everywhere, and they never miss a trick,” said Willy, who now was white with fear.

Word spread quickly about the confrontation in the barn, and soon Santa appeared looking surprisingly jolly. “Willy, you have managed to do the one thing I thought no one could do: put a bee in the Mrs’s bonnet. I wouldn’t worry about her. She’ll be fine, but word is you are not doing so well,” said Father

“Nye. Sir, I mean no disrespect. The good woman wished me away to Svalbard, and I fear the Merry Breezes will see to it that the lady comes for me,” said Willy, looking more glum than ever.

Santa’s jolly expression faded, and his face turned ashen. “Willy, I am dreadfully sorry for this. All we can do now is be on guard and hope the Breezes did not hear,” said Santa.

Over the next few days, Willy refused to leave the barn without a circle of elven guards in case the North Wind had gotten the wish. “If that witch shows her icy face anywhere near here, we’ll take care of her, Willy,” said the captain of the guard.

After a week, it appeared that the Fates had granted Willy a reprieve, and after apologizing to Mrs. Clause, Willy was back to his old self minus his sharp tongue.

It was the night before Christmas, and everything was ready for Santa’s big trip. “Willy, will you go to the barn and fetch a collar for Blitzen? This one is broken,” said Santa.

Willy rushed out the door and made his way to the barn. Just as his hand pulled on the door handle, a blast of icy wind nearly knocked him off his feet. “Ha, Ha, You thought I wasn’t going to collect my due, little man,” said the North Wind.

Clinging tightly to the door’s ring, Willy screamed for help, but no one came as they were all engaged in frantic preparations for Satna’s flight. “No one will help, so let go and come along with me,” said the lady of the north.

“No, I’ll stay here and do my duty for Father Christmas. It’s you who needs to go! You old bundle of icicles” snapped the elf.

The North Wind let loose a blast that ripped Willy’s hand from the door ring and sent him sailing toward Svalbard. “Tis my fate then,” said the elf glummly. Just as he began to rise, something jerked him back and set him firmly on the ground.

“There be no thieving of my elves tonight or any night. Now be gone, or I shall have words with the other winds who would love nothing more than to come and play in your realm,” said Santa sternly.

The North Wind knew Santa had the power to cause great havoc to her world. “I shall bide my time, little man, and when it is right, I will have you,” hissed the wind and then sped away to Svalbard.

“Well, that went well. Now, about that collar,” said Santa with a wink. Willy was never so happy to be working that he even hummed a Christmas tune, which did not go unnoticed by the other elves.

From then on, Willy was a joyful helper in Santa’s workshop. Even Mrs. Cluase took a shinning to him and ensured he always had an extra cookie on his plate at snack time.