Under the Mango Tree: 101 Tales (5)

THERE AND BACK

Challenge No. 88 - Word Association Exercise: Holiday.

Step 1: Brainstorm a list of images or ideas that you associate with the word holiday. What comes to mind when you hear the word—a vacation, special tradition, or Billie Holiday?

Step 2: Write a scene or story inspired by your associations.

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Troy had no idea when he got on the train or where they were going. All he knew was that the train was hurtling through the night. There were lots of children but the train wasn't packed. There were no adults.

Troy didn't know what to do.

"Tickets please!" A train conductor appeared and made a general announcement.

Troy was closest to the door so the lady started with him.

"Ticket please."

"Where are we going, please?"

"Don't you know? You're on the train after all."

"No. Please tell me where we're going? Where's my dad?"

"No adults allowed."

"But you're a lady."

The conductress laughed a big belly laugh. "OH! I don't count!"

"Will you tell me where the train is going, please?"

"Of course, little one. We're heading to the North Pole."

"The North Pole?"

"Oh yes." She addressed the group of children. "And who lives at the North Pole?"

"SANTA CLAUS!" Everyone including Troy shouted.

"That's right. Ticket please."

"I don't have a ticket," Troy said.

"Of course, you do. Everyone has a ticket. You can't get on the 758 Train to Kringle-Ville without a ticket."

"Sorry."

She scratched her chin, then reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out something. "Then what's this? A return ticket to Kringle-Ville."

"How'd that get there?!"

"Ahhhh." She tapped her nose. Punched the ticket and moved to the next child. "Tickets please!"

Soon she was gone and not long after that, the train pulled into Kringle-Ville Station.

The lady returned. "Hi. I'm Helga and I'm your guide for this tour of the North Pole. First stop is the dining room for milk and cookies."

"Yeah!" Approximately one hundred children shouted and followed.

There were cookies of all flavours and everyone had a milk moustache.

"All done?" When everyone nodded. "Then we're off to the stables to meet the reindeer."

They passed through an underground tunnel and popped up in the stables as promised.

"These reindeer over here are new. They arrived last month and are in training." Helga pointed.

"What happened to the others? Like Rudolph and Prancer and Comment?" A girl asked.

Troy was wondering the same thing. "They get to retire and we give the new team the same names."

It never occurred to Troy that the reindeer would retire. They spent some time with the animals then moved to the workshops.

The production line was awesome. They visited so many workshops that Troy was losing count. There was a workplace dedicated to making all sorts of stuff.

Then there he was.

"SANTA!" Someone shouted.

"HO! HO! HO!" He waved. "Congratulations on being such good boys and girls that you qualified for a day trip to see the magic. WELL DONE!"

With one final trip for more milk and cookies, the visit was over.

"BYE!" Mrs Santa waved.

Troy sat up suddenly. He was in his bedroom. Had he dreamed it all? Did he really get to visit with Santa?

In his hand was a half-eaten cookie.

© 27 May 2022