No Time To Lose

"I heard all that, Boomer. Oh, Santa! Santa!" he called. "I think there is something you should know."

Santa struggled to his feet and brushed snow off himself.

"What’s going on here?" Santa said.

"Tell Santa Claus the disgraceful thing you did, Boomer," Number One ordered. "Go on."

Boomer hung his head. "I overloaded the sleigh with some barbells. I’m sorry, Santa, I really am. But please forget what I did and give Olive a chance to go with you. That’s why I did it. Olive is as fast as greased lightning."

Santa shook his head. The accident had confused him.

"Olive?" he said. "Olive?" Then it dawned. "Yes, Olive! I was just talking to you. So you want to help deliver the presents, do you, Olive?"

"Oh, yes, Santa. That’s really why I came to see you."

Boomer gave Olive a surprised look. "Huh? You did?"

Santa stroked his beard. "So that was it! But why didn’t you say so? Oh, never mind. We’ve got no time to lose. Come along, Olive."

But Olive didn’t move. "I’d love to, Santa, but I don’t think it would be fair to go after this. If not for Boomer, you’d all be in the sky by now."

Boomer clenched his teeth. "Olive, you’re going to blow it."

"Hmm, I see," Santa said. "I see."

For a while no one knew what to say.

Finally Number One spoke up. He’d cooled off.

"Santa, may I say something?" he said. "Although I do not approve of such a deed, I think Boomer is a good fellow. He has served us well for many years. Perhaps we can overlook what he did."

Santa nodded. "I agree, Number One. We’ll give Boomer a second chance. So, Olive? Do you want to come? Yes or no?"

Olive could hardly believe it. Was her dream about to come true?

"Whoopee!" she shouted. "You’ll see I’m really fast and strong, Santa."

Santa’s eyes twinkled. He patted Olive on the head.

"Don’t worry, Olive," Santa said. "I’ve had my eyes on you and I know how fast and strong you are. You were going to be on the team sooner or later. So as of now, you’re officially hired."

Chip joined them. He was studying his calculator and he didn’t look happy.

"I hate to be a party pooper, Santa, but this won’t change much," he said. "With the help of Olive we can make Los Angeles just before sun up. But many other places will still get left out."

Santa sighed. "I know, I know, I hadn’t forgotten, Chip. How could I? All those children will be heart-broken. They’ll never forgive me. But — but there’s nothing we can do."