Finding Mrs. Claus Read online

  Kris Kringle is a thin, negative, lonely young man looking for meaning in the big city. One day, his life is about to change when he meets a strange elf on the street. He soon discovers his destiny is to become the Santa Claus, but in order for the magic to come alive, he’s got to find the perfect mate to complete him.

  Kris must overcome his own personal obstacles and learn the true meaning of Christmas. With the holiday looming, he searches the city streets for the perfect wife. Can Kris find his soul mate and learn about the spirit of giving in one night? Anything is possible.

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Finding Mrs. Claus

  Copyright © 2009 Shannon Rouchelle

  ISBN: 978-1-55487-456-9

  Cover art by Angela Waters

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Devine Destinies

  An imprint of eXtasy Books

  Look for us online at:

  www.devinedestinies.com

  Finding Mrs. Claus

  By

  Shannon Rouchelle

  Dedication

  Finding Mrs. Claus is written for my son Michael. His imagination brought this story to life.

  A long time ago before Santa Claus was plump and jolly, lived a thin young man in a small apartment. He had a simple life working as a shopkeeper. During the day, he helped his customers with their shopping needs and in the evenings, he made toys. Even though Kris found his job to be very rewarding, deep down he always thought something was missing. One night as he locked the shop for the night, a small boy dressed in a green outfit approached him. He tugged on the hem of his long coat.

  “Excuse me, sir.”

  Kris knelt down to meet his gaze.

  The young boy had a strange gleam in his blue eyes. He wore a thick green outfit with a hood to cover his head. His face was round and pudgy.

  “Why do you look so glum?”

  The boy pointed to his shop window. “I’m on a mission,” he spoke. “The star of destiny has led me to this street and your store.”

  “What is the star of destiny?”

  “I’m looking for the right man to complete a quest. The toys you build make kids happy, but does it make all of them happy?”

  “I don’t understand.” His brow wrinkled in confusion. “Why are you out so late at night? Do your parents know where you are?”

  The boy laughed. “I’m five hundred years old. I think I can stay out after dark.”

  “Five hundred years old,” Kris repeated. He thought this young kid had one wild and crazy imagination. “Listen, if you need a ride home, I can give you a lift.”

  “That won’t be necessary.” The boy reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a compass. The dial spun wildly in a mad circle, then slowed to a stop.

  “What are you doing?” Kris inquired. He leaned over to see a flash of red light.

  A loud voice shook the tiny gold compass. “You found him! We’ll alert all personnel.”

  “Where did you get this thing?” Kris touched the gold rim with his hand. Suddenly, the compass was aglow with many festive colors. Moments later, what sounded like hundreds of excited voices joined in celebration.

  “Come back to headquarters immediately!”

  The small boy saluted the voice in the compass. “Yes, sir.”

  Kris stood to his full height and stared down at the boy. “That’s some weird contraption you’ve got. Where did you buy it?” He reached out to touch the object. “Do you mind if I take a look?”

  The boy hesitantly handed him the compass. “Be careful with that!” he warned.

  “I’ve never made something like this before. Is it like a walkie-talkie?” Kris fiddled with some of the dials.

  “This is not a toy!” The boy reached up to grab it. “Give it back!” he ordered.

  Kris placed the trinket into his tiny palm and sighed. “I need to go home,” he said. “It’s late and I’m tired.”

  The child shoved the compass back into his vest pocket and eyed him critically. “I can’t believe you’re the one.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I thought you would be bigger.” He moved his hands wide apart.

  Kris glanced down at his own slender form. “Do you have a problem with how I look?”

  The boy sized him up and down. “There will have to be some drastic changes made. You can’t be seen looking like this. As for your attitude, you don’t seem like the jolly man that is required. So much work and so little time,” he muttered.

  Kris had heard enough from this snot-nosed kid. He was about to leave when the small voice stopped him.

  “We haven’t properly introduced ourselves. I’m Mike, but everyone calls me Mikey. And you must be Kris Kringle?”

  “How did you know that?”

  “It’s great to finally meet you.” He held out a small hand to shake. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”

  Kris eyed him critically. He slowly reached out and shook his palm. “If you could explain—”

  “You need to go home and look in your closet,” the boy interrupted. “There will be a new outfit for you to wear. Try it on and the magic should come alive.”

  Kris laughed and reached into his coat. He pulled out a five-dollar bill from his wallet and handed it to the child. “Why don’t you buy yourself some candy? I enjoyed your interesting story. It was amusing.”

  The boy brushed the money aside. “I’ve never been so insulted.”

  Kris was surprised by this reaction and hastily placed the bill back into his wallet. “I’m sorry. I thought you might like…” He glanced up for a second to watch a car pass by. As he turned to the boy, he realized he was gone. “Hello!” he called. “That’s strange. Where did he go?” The street was deserted. He stood all alone in the darkness and watched as the snow began to fall. Shoving his hands deep inside his pockets, he walked the five blocks back to his apartment building.

  Once inside, he turned on the kitchen light and kicked off his boots. Opening the hallway closet, he searched through the few garments hanging on the rack and laughed. The child said there would be a new outfit for me to wear. What a riot! Hanging up his coat, he closed the closet door and glanced around the empty apartment. He realized how sad and alone he felt. Kris wished he had someone special to share these cold winter nights.

  The more he immersed himself in his work, the harder it was to justify why he was doing it. He knew deep in his heart that he was making some children happy, but was it enough to keep toiling away night after night?

  Kris opened his kitchen cupboard and studied the numerous tins aligning the shelves. His stomach rumbled in hunger. He pulled out a can of spaghetti and pried off the lid. Grabbing a fork from a drawer, he ate the cold pasta at the dining room table and wished his life had more meaning. After he finished his meal, Kris entered the bathroom and brushed his tee
th. He carefully studied his thin appearance. His pale face had dark circles under the eyes and his blond hair was unkempt. He had a hint of a mustache growing above the lip. In the past, he had attracted the attention of several women, but it never amounted to anything permanent. He wanted to find someone to grow old with. Was it possible with his hectic lifestyle and long hours? He doubted it.

  He rinsed his mouth with water and studied himself in the mirror. Staring back at him was a thin, twenty-something man who desperately needed to gain more weight to look his best. In the past, the doctors had encouraged him to eat more fattening foods to put extra meat on his bones. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. His clothes still hung off his thin frame. If I was truly happy, maybe I would gain the weight.

  Kris brushed this pathetic analogy aside and stepped into his bedroom. He pulled open the closet door to change into his pajamas. His eyes widened in surprise. A red shiny outfit sparkled in the shadows of the room. Kris flicked on his table lamp to make sure he wasn’t seeing things. A thick red suit was hanging from a gold hanger. He pulled it out and held it at arm’s length. His hand shook with fright. How is this possible? He swallowed nervously and told himself it was all a dream. Hesitantly, he touched the fabric. It felt soft against his fingertips. Stop this nonsense. It’s not real. He threw the suit onto the closet floor, grabbed his pajamas and slammed the door shut. After changing into his comfortable clothes, he crawled into his nice warm bed. He fluffed the pillows and rolled over onto his side. It took awhile for his mind to shut down. Hours later, his meeting with the strange boy and the findings of the bizarre red suit became a distant memory.

  Early the next morning, Kris woke to see a thick blanket of snow outside the window. He rose from his bed and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. As he surveyed the yard, he thought about his encounter with the stranger the night before. He laughed it off and reminded himself that he’s been working too many long hours. Kris walked over to his closet and stood undecided. Had I imagined things last night? He wasn’t sure. Thinking it was all a bad dream, he swung the door open and gasped. The red suit still hung in the closet, but this time instead of only one outfit, his entire wardrobe was red. He screamed and fell backward onto the bed. He lay immobile for the longest time. Kris didn’t have the strength to regain his feet. He silently reminded himself to get a grip and took a long, deep breath. He shakily stood and approached the closet.

  Warily eyeing the numerous red garments, he reached out and touched the fabric. He saw a note attached to the sleeve of one coat. Carefully, he unhooked the paper and read the sloppy handwriting.

  Put on the suit, already. They are all the same size. Do I need to cover your entire apartment with these clothes? Get the hint.

  Your pal, Mikey.

  Kris rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Who is this clown and how did he break into my apartment? Realizing there were no logical answers to these questions, he shook his head in disgust. This is totally insane. I need to go to work. I don’t have time for child’s games. He grabbed the same shirt and pants he wore the day before, then entered the bathroom to shower and dress. By the time he shaved the stubble from his chin and departed the steamy shower, he covered his mouth in shock. The entire bedroom was a heap of red suits. Everywhere he stepped, a plush red garment lay under foot. He walked around the red heap and entered the kitchen. To his surprise, the mounds of red suits touched the ceiling. I’m losing my mind. This isn’t possible.

  Pretending he didn’t see them, he went about his daily routine. He opened his refrigerator to grab a jug of milk and found the rack packed to the brim with red clothing. A cry escaped his lips. Turning, a red suit hung from the knob of a cupboard with an even bigger note attached.

  Is your brain filled with rocks? What does it take to get it through your thick skull? Put on the suit!

  Your pal, Mikey.

  In anger, Kris grabbed the suit from the doorknob and stripped in the middle of the kitchen. He took the warm red garment and draped it over his body. Buttoning up the coat, he laughed at how silly he would look. The top was much too big for him and the pants kept falling down to his knees. He noticed a black sash and tightened it around the waist. To complete the ensemble, he placed a set of shiny black boots on his feet. They were the only things that fit properly.

  Walking over to the mirror, he stared at his silly reflection. Kris couldn’t help but chuckle. If anyone saw him, they would say he was dressed for Halloween as a giant apple. He waddled out of the bathroom and was about to strip off the ridiculous suit, when all the garments in his closet disappeared. He looked around in disbelief. Where did they go? He glanced down and noticed that he still wore the red suit. He tried to remove it, but to his horror, it wouldn’t come off.

  He entered the living room and noticed something peculiar lying on the carpet. Holding onto the waist of his pants, he bent over and picked up the red hat. It had a white ball of fluff dangling from the end of it. Placing the hat carefully onto his head, he felt a whirlwind surround him. The suit sparkled brightly. Kris felt his feet begin to leave the floor. He stared down in horror. What the heck is happening? He rose higher and higher until his head was pressed against the top of the ceiling. Feeling the pressure against his scalp, he let out a cry for help.

  He came crashing down to the floor, landing in a red heap. He lay there, unable to comprehend what had occurred. Just when he thought things couldn’t get worse, the small boy from the street appeared in the fireplace. Kris rubbed his eyes. Struggling to regain his feet, he stared hard at Mikey. “What the heck are you doing here? And what in the world is happening to me? I want an explanation and I want it now!” Mikey grinned up at him and lifted his hand. He made a fancy little twist with his wrist and Kris appeared before him.

  “I’ll explain everything, if you’ll just calm down.”

  “Calm down!” Kris rushed over to Mikey and grabbed the boy roughly by the collar. He pinned him ruthlessly against the wall. “I want some answers!”

  “Is this any way to treat a boy!” he gasped.

  Kris released his stranglehold and took a step back. He ran his hand anxiously through his blond hair. “I’m starting to believe you’re not a boy, but a small man.”

  “I am a man,” Mikey replied. “Where I live we’re called elves.”

  “I’ve never heard of an elf before. Who are you and where do you come from?”

  “I already told you, I’m an elf and I live at the North Pole. I’ve been sent on a mission to find the perfect man to fulfill the quest.”

  “What quest is that?”

  “I need to find a man to wear the red suit and make toys. According to the magic compass, you’re that man. See for yourself.” Mikey pulled out the compass and held it outward.

  Kris watched with fascination as the dial pointed directly at him. “That’s only a child’s toy. I believe you have somehow used magic to create these optical illusions.”

  Mikey’s blue eyes sparkled. “You think this is an optical illusion?”

  “Yes, I believe it is,” Kris laughed. “But how did you do it?”

  “The boss isn’t going to like your negative attitude. If you don’t change, you’ll never be able to deliver toys to all the little girls and boys around the world.”

  “Who said anything about delivering toys? I don’t have the time or the money to make a trip around the world. How can one person do something like that? Now get the heck out of here. I’m late for work!”

  “I’m not leaving without you!” Mikey said. He stood with his arms draped defiantly across his chest. “I now realize why the magic isn’t working properly. It’s your weight.”

  “What’s wrong with my weight?” Kris glanced down at his lean body.

  “The suit is made for a man that is round and jolly. You’re just…”

  “I’m what?”

  “You are thin, negative and cranky. Only someone who is happy, jolly and positive can make the magic in the suit come alive. Once this happens, you’ll be
able to fly the reindeer—”

  Kris held up a hand to stop him from talking. “I’ve heard enough of your fairytale story. I want you to pack up your amateur talent show and leave at once!”

  “But—”

  “I told you to leave or I’ll call the cops! I can charge you with breaking and entering!” Kris pointed at the door.

  Mikey stared up at him with a look of sadness. “You know there will be many disappointed children this year…”

  “Listen, little man, I’ve had about enough of you! I own a successful toy business downtown and live in a nice cozy apartment. I’m content with my quiet life. If you will kindly—”

  “Before I leave, I must warn you,” Mikey interrupted. “Unless you stop thinking about yourself and start caring for others, the magic will never happen.” In a blink of an eye, he disappeared.

  Kris stared around the room in shock. He searched his entire apartment and couldn’t find any signs of the man. Relieved that the little annoyance finally left, he tried once again to remove the red garment. This time, to his pleasant surprise, it slid off. He entered the bedroom and opened up the closest door. He was happy to discover all of his regular clothes hung on the racks.

  Kris dressed and was ready to leave the apartment when a shiny gold object caught his eye. He stepped into the living room and studied the compass. He contemplated whether he should leave it lying there or pick it up. Afraid the annoying little elf would return, he placed his boot over top and stomped on it. When he lifted his foot, he was surprised to find the gold compass was still intact. He hesitantly picked it up and threw it into the fireplace. Good riddance.

  As he walked toward the front door, he swore he heard a voice. Kris paused in the open doorway and listened. A faint cry for help rang out. He edged his way back into the room and his eyes widened. The sound came from the discarded compass. He leaned closer to the fireplace.