Fred the Elf

A determined Fred left on his mission once again. (Jeez, whatever does that mean?)  He had managed all of about fifteen feet when his snow-phone jingled at him.  He answered, and it was an emergency call from an old friend (well, old by human standards).  Just then, Bart appeared with a bandaged leg and empty saddlebags.  "Jeez, Bart, have you had enough time to heal?"

Bart explained that it had been two and a half weeks, and that he had been sent back in time, in this universe, to help him out.  Dr. Tickle Fingers had also put him on a strict diet that meant he couldn't eat any good stuff.

Fred mounted Bart, and they headed for Chicago.  Fred remembered the kid he had helped last Christmas.  He was sure glad everything had worked out so well.  But this call was for a guy in a little delicatessen, right on the edge of a very bad part of town.  Bart took them to an alley, and Fred dismounted and told Bart to stay invisible and out of the way.  He then walked out of the alley and looked up and down the block.  There wasn't a lot of traffic. 

Fred walked to the delicatessen and quietly entered.  The man behind the counter was jolly.  He was smiling and talking to the customers as he served them.  He made up the sandwiches with almost magical speed. Fred was impressed.

Fred noticed that although Jacob was balding, his remaining hair was mostly gray, with just a few remaining brown hairs left.  On the other hand, his beard was full, and snow white.  Fred couldn't help but smile.  Here was the man he had come for.

"So, little fella, what can Jacob fix for you today?"

Fred realized Jacob was talking to him, and smiled.  "Do you have snow cones?"

"No, sorry, how about a root beer?"

"That would be nice."  Fred reached into his pocket, and the exact change for the drink was there.  He had forgotten that he now had enhanced magic; he wondered if it was temporary or permanent.

Fred took his drink and went over and sat in one of the booths.  He enjoyed this 'root beer' and made a note that the North Pole needed to add this to their drinks menu.  After it got dark outside, Jacob came over and set a plate with a club sandwich, potato chips and a dill pickle spear in front of Fred.  He put a full frosty glass of root beer next to the plate.

Jacob sat across from him.  "So, do you have anywhere to stay tonight?"

"Ah, actually, no,"  Fred answered honestly.

"I have an empty guestroom upstairs, if you are interested."

          Just then two big, tough looking guys came in.  Jacob stood and faced them.  "So, what does Big Daddy want from me, now?"

They both laughed, and the sound did not make Jacob feel any better.  One of the thugs grabbed Jacob and forced him behind the counter, while the other one pulled the blinds closed, put the closed sign in the window, and locked the door.  Jacob was tied, none too gently, beaten, and tossed to the floor behind the counter.  The two thugs left to go search Jacob's upstairs apartment, searching for John and trashing everything they could, while they were at it.  They returned and took their time totally trashing the place and turning it topsy turvy.  When they tired of that, they told Jacob, "Big Daddy don't like it, when somebody tries to fool him.  He says he knows you helped John run.  Nobody makes a fool of Big Daddy, and lives to talk about it."

One of the thugs left and returned in a couple of minutes.  While he was gone, Fred got behind the counter and hid next to Jacob.  He whispered to Jacob, "Don't worry, I'm here to save you."  Jacob would have replied, but the gag kind of prevented that.

Then there was the smell of gasoline; at least Jacob thought he had smelled it, for a second.  What he couldn't see was the magic bubble of fresh air that Fred put around them.  When they were done, the one thug tried to light a match.  Fred made sure it wouldn't light.  Then the other took out a lighter and it wouldn't work either.  Fred was giggling.  He knew that help was about to arrive; the BIG Guy had said so.  (Not Santa, he's the Big Guy, we're talking the really BIG Guy.)  It wasn't often, but sometimes He would send elves messages, and Fred had received one tonight.

The two thugs moved to the door, and the one with the matches was getting ready to light the whole book.  About the time they opened the door, two men arrived on the scene.  Each of them had a gun and a badge.  They quickly had the two bad guys under arrest and secured outside; then one came back inside and released Jacob.  Fred smiled and waved to Jacob, then used his new magic to become invisible, as he made his escape, unnoticed by the others.  Bart was waiting outside, and Fred waited with him, both of them invisible.  The police arrived, and Jacob was taken away in an ambulance.  Fred and Bart followed Jacob's ambulance (the full 250 feet, but above, not behind).  Fred made sure that Jacob was a priority in the emergency room, and, after the doctor left, Fred appeared again.

"Hi! See, I told you that you would be okay,"  Fred said, as he entered the room.

"Thank God,  you are safe, son.  I didn't see you get out of the building."

Fred giggled, "Of course you didn't.  I'm magic, you know.  Now, there's one more thing I need to tell you.  Those men that helped you get out of the deli are going to offer to take you with them.  Go.  You are definitely on the 'Good List' and deserve a reward.  We'll be watching.  Bye."  Fred jumped down from Jacob's gurney and disappeared, as he left the cubicle.

Fred watched, smiling, as Nick and Eric returned and helped Jacob get checked out, and he followed, as they went to the hotel.  Bart waited on the roof, and Fred checked out the rooms below.  There was a trace of evil still present, but the three boys there were on the 'Good List', although one just barely made it.  The adults were all good, too.  Fred hoped the evil was gone.

Fred kept watch on these humans and actually enjoyed watching Neal testifying on the stand in the third court case.  The hard decision came the next day, when everyone was heading back home.  Fred decided that he would watch over Jacob, and followed him back to Phoenix House.

Fred watched, as Jacob was reunited with John and Peter.  You would have thought they were really father and sons.  It was a shame they wouldn't be able to spend all their time together in the future.  There was a nice empty apartment next to the one Shorty and Tym were using, and Jacob was surprised that the things he had shipped were already there.  The staff had put things away, as best they could, and the clothes had all been washed and neatly put away.

Fred was so happy to see John and Peter being boys again.  They would definitely be on the "Good List" this year.  As a matter of fact, all the boys here were now on the "Good List," and some were just amazing in the way they really were shining.  Jason was probably the most improved in the bunch, and Aaron was always very good and sweet. 

Fred was enjoying his time out of time.  Since he had traveled back to take care of some details, he now had to wait for time to catch up with him.  He thought of the fact that, right now, back at the North Pole, Beatrice was still carrying his triplets (okay, their triplets).  He wondered just what it meant that they would have done that.  No elf in recorded history had ever had to raise three babies at once.  He decided that he should join Shorty on his visits to see Martha, so he could see how well Linda was doing with her triplets. As he looked at them sleeping, he saw their angel faces, and almost giggled out loud to think what a difference there would be when they awoke.

Sometimes, it seemed like total chaos, when the three woke up wet and hungry.  Linda's secret was lots of help.  Mitch, Travis and Andy would come running when they heard the crying.  They would each take one of the babies and deftly change him or her, and Linda would alternate nursing one of them (the babies, jeez), and the boys would get bottles for the other two.  It was a system they had worked out for themselves and seemed to be working just fine.  During the day, when the boys were in school, Martha was right there to help.  Fred knew that, when he could return home, he would have a talk with his adoptive sons and put this same plan into effect.  Beatrice would be proud of him and the boys.

Bart's ankle was healing quite nicely, and he was really enjoying playing reindeer games with Walter, who was actually pretty good, considering he couldn't fly or become invisible.  Now Max and Ginger were a totally different story.  Max could be that horse-like companion, and Ginger could slip into an alternate plane, in effect disappearing.  She liked to do that, and then reappear, standing right on Bart's back.  Needless to say, they only played like that, well out of sight of any of the human children, or so they thought.  Lou did a wonderful picture of that big white horse with the big blue eyes and silver hooves, standing behind a reindeer with a bandaged front leg, and Ginger sitting on his back.

Fred got into a routine which included watching as much of what was going on as possible.  He noticed that Jacob was getting a bit antsy, and one night, after John and Peter had left him, Fred visited him and became visible.

Jacob nearly jumped out of his skin when Fred suddenly appeared in his living room.  "Kid, how do you do that?  You nearly scared me to death."

"Sorry, Jacob.  I'm not quite used to this new magic, yet.  I used to have to be with Bart to be invisible.  So, what is bothering you? Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"I'm crazy, right?  A little kid just pops in out of nowhere and asks me what is wrong.  Just who are you, anyway?" 

Giggles.  "I'm Fred.  Actually, you aren't crazy at all.  I'm an elf."

"That's supposed to make me feel better?  Oy!"

"Right, adults are weird.  So, what is your problem?"

"I don't have very much to do.  I've set up the little deli line at dinner, but the rest of the day I don't have anything to do."

Fred grinned; it was almost time for him to return to the North Pole, anyway.  "So, Jacob, have I got the ideal job for you."

Author's Notes:
No, I'm not telling.  I still can't see chapter 4...  
          Neal

Editor's Notes:
A Jewish Santa?  Oy, oy, oy.  No, I'm sorry, Neal, that doesn't work.  However, I don't have a clue as to what is going on in that head of yours.
          Str8mayb

The Other Editor's Notes:  
Hmmm, I haven't any more information than Str8mayb has.  I think it's cute and a little sad that no one has let Neal see chapter 4, but I think, in some ways, it makes sense, since there is time travel involved. We wouldn't want to mess up any timelines by revealing something before its time, so to speak.  

I am going to send this off to the Associate Editor, so he can correct my mistakes, and add his own charming touches to this interesting story.  I still can't believe that this is the fifth chapter.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Associate Editor's Notes:  
Uh, Darryl, just what did you mean by that--"correct my mistakes, and add his own charming touches"?  Should that be read "correct my mistakes and add his own mistakes"?  We'll have to have a chat later, I think!

I sort of have to agree with Str8mayb that the idea of a Jewish Santa is a little bit out there.  I'm not convinced that Jacob is the new Santa, but I think he's very close to Santa.  Fred may have special plans for him.  He's the Dad that John and Peter needed, and they're just blossoming under his care.  But, of course, I can be wrong.  It wouldn't be the first time.  Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.  Come on, Mr. Author, we really need chapter 6.  (Neal, stop wasting your time hunting for chapter 4, and get busy on the next chapter.  Little hint:  Darryl keeps copies of everything!  If you ask him, I'll bet he'll send you a copy of chapter 4.) {He's tried and I get $#!*.}

Aloysius Abercrombie (sometimes known as Arli J)

Fort Chief Editor's Notes: Neal [Str8mayb] has done it again I have absolutely no idea where he is going with this story.

TSL