CHAPTER 13

No Time To Lose

Number One, the chief elf, marched towards them.
His face was red with anger.

"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 looked upwards with clenched 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 well meaning fellow. He has
served us well for many years. Perhaps we can overlook what he did."

Santa nodded. "I agree, Number One. Everybody is entitled to a mistake. 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, the computer ace, joined them. He was studying his calculator
and he didn't look happy.

"I hate to be a wet blanket, Santa, but this won't change much," he said. "With the help of this other reindeer --- pardon, 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."

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