Joe sat up and raised his hand to touch his forehead.

“I must have hit my head a lot harder than I thought,” he said turning to look at his brother. “Did she just say that she was Mrs. Claus?”

“Yeah, she did.” Frank was thinking that Joe wasn’t the only who hit his head a little too hard.

As the woman came closer, her rosy cheeks became rosier and her blue eyes twinkled with merriment. She was placing the tray next to the bed when they heard footsteps approaching. There was a stained glass Christmas tree on the door, a shadow appeared from the outside.

“Ho, Ho, Ho!” laughed the shadowed figure.

The door opened to reveal a man wearing a red suit. There was a red cap on his head; curly silver hair came to his shoulders, his long silver beard rested on top of his chest. He placed his hands on top of his plump belly; friendly blue eyes twinkled underneath the bushy eyebrows.

Joe glanced at his brother: “Frank, I don’t think we’re in Bayport anymore.”

Frank didn’t say anything – the logical part of him was trying to comprehend what he was seeing. Santa Claus wasn’t real – of course there was Saint Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra. He was a real person, not some jolly elf! Frank had a strong urge to pinch himself – so he reached up and…pinched Joe.

“OW!” Joe rubbed his arm as he glared at his older brother.

The man in the red suit let out another laugh. “Yes, Frank, it’s really me – I’m really Santa Claus!”

Joe stared intently at the man and woman, who were now standing together. Something inside him told him this was real but he had to make sure. “If you’re really Santa – what did I ask you to bring me for Christmas when I was seven?!”

“You asked me for a BB gun because you had just seen the movie, A Christmas Story. But what you got was a train set!”

“That’s…that’s right! Why didn’t you bring me the BB gun?” asked Joe, his eyes wide in shock and amazement.

“Because your mother asked me not to and suggested the train set,” Santa explained.

“I remember that!” exclaimed Frank. “You were really upset when you didn’t find that BB gun under the tree! But he did really like that train set!” he added.

Frank didn’t know why, but he felt he had to reassure Santa that his gift was appreciated. Santa chuckled softly then he became serious.

“I’ve seen all the good work you and Joe have done as amateur detectives. I need your help.”

Joe was psyched! He and Frank were going to help solve a mystery for Santa! As the brothers followed Santa down to the workshop, Joe stared about himself with fascination and unreserved joy. He had always dreamed about visiting Santa at the North Pole. Frank was also looking with childlike fascination. The older teen wondered what kind of problem would Santa have.

Joe was grinning from ear to ear as he watched the elves working away. They worked in large groups – one group was building toy cars – another group was stuffing teddy bears. Joe watched as some were making computer games.

“Look Frank – geek elves for geek boys and girls like you and Phil!”

“Are you sure you want to be teasing me in front of…?” Frank jerked his thumb over at Santa.

“He knows I said it with love!” replied Joe with a twinkle in his eye.

Frank bit back a smile as he continued to follow Santa, who came to a stop. Santa was standing in front of a door; he opened the door and moved aside to let Frank and Joe enter first. The brothers found themselves in an office. A large desk was in the middle of the room. Two plush chairs were in front, and Santa gestured to the chairs as he sat behind the desk.

“How can we help you, Santa?” asked Joe with some concern.

“Two of my reindeer are missing. Donner and Blitzen haven’t been seen for several days now.” Santa let out a sad sigh. “Christmas is almost here…if I don’t find them soon….”

Santa trailed off, Frank and Joe were afraid of what would happen if the reindeer weren’t found soon.

“Excuse me, Santa but – don’t you have any back-up reindeer?” asked Frank hopefully.

“I do but…well, they all have colds!”

“Do any of the elves know they’re missing?” asked Joe.

“Just the elves that care for and feed them.”

“Could you show us where you keep Donner and Blitzen? We’d like to search for clues.” Frank gave Santa an encouraging smile.

Santa petted Comet while Joe searched Donner’s stall and Frank searched Blitzen’s. Several elves stood and watched, a few others went about their duties. There was one small elf that caught Frank’s attention. He was mucking out one of the stalls and kept glancing nervously at Santa and the Hardys.

“Hey Joe, would you come over here for a minute?”

Santa looked up curiously as Joe joined his brother. Frank noticed that the elf had stopped what he was doing and was staring wide-eyed at him.

“Did you find something?” asked Joe as he knelt beside his brother.

“Maybe…does that elf look scared to you?” whispered Frank.

Joe raked his hand through his hair as he casually glanced towards the other stall. He turned his attention back to the floor.

“He sure does. You think he had something to do with the disappearance of Blitzen and Donner?”

“Let’s find out.”

Frank stood up and brushed straw off his jeans. He started to walk towards the elf. To the older Hardy’s surprise the elf took a defensive stance and pointed the pitchfork at him.

“Edward, what are you doing?!” Santa was shocked when he saw the elf threatening Frank.

“Easy now….We just want to ask you some questions,” said Joe in a soft voice.

“Edward, if you know anything about Blitzen and Donner…” began Santa.

“They’re going to blame me! They’re going to say that it’s my fault they’re gone!”

Joe grew concerned when he saw how pale Santa had become. He went to him and led him over to a stool. Signaling to another elf, Joe asked for some water for Santa. “Santa are you okay?” he asked as he gave the jolly elf the cup of water.

“Don’t worry about me…I’ll be fine.” Santa looked sadly at Edward. “Edward, if you know anything, please tell us. No one is going to blame you.”

Edward looked around the room. The other elves stood by Santa, waiting patiently for him to answer. There was no anger or accusation on their faces. Edward lowered the pitchfork and stared at the ground.

“I don’t think Blitzen meant to be gone this long. Something must have happened,” said Edward. “He went to Alaska…the last time you were there he met a female reindeer. Donner went searching for him….I asked him to when Blitzen didn’t return at the appointed time.”

“I wish you had told me sooner but thank you for telling us. Simon, Daniel…hitch up the small sleigh. Frank and Joe, we’re going to Alaska!”

Taking Comet, Dasher, Dancer and Prancer, the Hardy brothers soon found themselves riding in a flying sleigh to the Alaskan tundra.

“Santa, the Alaskan tundra is a pretty wide area! How will we find Donner and Blitzen?” asked Frank.

 
“Not to worry, Frank. Why do you think Edward sent Donner out?”

“The deer can sense where each other are?”

“Very good, Frank!”

“Santa, look!” Joe pointed down to a herd of caribou.

The sleigh suddenly swerved and began to descend down to the ground. As it glided to a smooth landing, two reindeer, an adult caribou and a fawn broke away from the herd. Blitzen and Donner, along with a female deer and the fawn walked over. 

“Blitzen…you’re a daddy! No wonder you stayed so long!”

Joe was wondering how they were going to take the new mommy and baby back. He soon found out – he got on Blitzen’s back while Frank rode Donner. Santa was able to get the female deer and baby onto the sleigh. They were soon off to the North Pole.

While Santa got the new arrivals settled comfortably, Joe and Frank were sitting in front of the fireplace located in the living room.

“I have to say that was our easiest case ever!” said Joe as he took a sip of cocoa.

“Yeah and you didn’t get kidnapped!” teased Frank.

Joe wanted to stick his tongue out but he let out a huge yawn instead. He leaned back into the comfy chair and blinked his eyelids a few times. He didn’t know why he felt sooo sleepy. Joe turned to look at Frank and saw that his brother was sound asleep. As his eyelids grew heavier, Joe soon slipped into a deep sleep.

Santa and Mrs. Claus quietly entered the room. Giving each boy a kiss, Mrs. Claus smiled at Santa.

“Time for them to go back home?”

“Yes dear, it’s time.”

“Will they be all right?” asked Mrs. Claus.

“Don’t worry, they’ll be just fine,” Santa assured her.

*****

“Frank, Joe, can you hear me?”

Joe let out a groan, and his eyelids fluttered open. He found a very concerned and worried Con Riley staring at him.

“Con, what are you doing at the North Pole?”

The North Pole? Now Con was really worried. He yelled out for a paramedic.

“Hang on Joe, help is on the way!”